Judge — January 9, 1904 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes American imperial ambitions, specifically regarding the Panama Canal. The large Uncle Sam figure (identifiable by his characteristic top hat and goatee) stands possessively over smaller figures representing the "Panama Canal" project, which lies at his feet like a captured prize or possession. The smaller dog-like figures appear to represent other nations or rival powers competing for control of the canal. Uncle Sam's dominant posture and the title "To Have and to Hold" mockingly reference marriage vows, suggesting America's aggressive determination to maintain exclusive control over the canal—a crucial strategic and commercial asset. The cartoon critiques American imperialism during the Theodore Roosevelt era.