Judge — May 20, 1911 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon references the USS Maine, a U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana harbor in 1898, killing 266 sailors. The incident became a rallying cry for American intervention in Cuba's independence war against Spain—"Remember the Maine" became a famous propaganda slogan. The tall figure in the bowler hat appears to be a political leader (likely President William McKinley or a similar authority figure) standing over what looks like a grave or memorial, with military figures flanking him. The silhouetted composition treats the Maine's loss as a somber, pivotal moment. The cartoon likely critiques how politicians exploited the tragedy to justify war, using it as emotional leverage to sway public opinion—a satirical commentary on using patriotic sentiment for political purposes.