Judge — August 9, 1919 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Westward the Star of Empire" This political cartoon by Elinson Hoover satirizes American isolationism and interventionism debates following World War I. The central star represents "America First," surrounded by five points labeled Monroe Doctrine, Protection, Lower Cost Living, Reduced Taxes, and Tariffs. The surrounding vignettes mock the consequences: a bloated German militarist, starving Allied nations and Russia, the League of Nations being kicked away, and an old fisherman ("sucker") hooked by American isolationist policy. The cartoon argues that America's self-interested focus on domestic prosperity and trade protection comes at the expense of international stability, feeding future conflicts. It critiques those advocating protective tariffs and isolationism as naive—the "big sucker" foolishly believing his selfish policies avoid international entanglement when they actually invite disaster.