Judge — April 25, 1903 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Magazine Cover Analysis (April 25, 1903) This cartoon satirizes Admiral George Dewey following the Spanish-American War. The caricatured figure in naval uniform holds a telescope and a warship, depicted as an exaggerated military hero. The poem references Dewey's famous May 1898 victory at Manila Bay during the Philippines campaign ("Down on Manila Bay"). The satire mocks Dewey's subsequent political ambitions and inflated public reputation. The poem's tone ("And dewey were the regent's eyes / Them orbs of royal blaze") ironically celebrates his celebrity status. The small figure on the left appears to be a political rival or critic. Judge uses this to critique how military victory had transformed Dewey into a potential presidential candidate, suggesting the public's uncritical hero-worship was excessive and problematic for democratic governance.