A Useless Barricade, from Puck Possibly 1890

"A Useless Barricade," a political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple, depicts Uncle Sam, a personification of the United States, striding forward, his path littered with barrels of money and signs reading "Notice No Thoroughfare," signifying a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Uncle Sam carries a flag that reads "Tariff Reform," a central topic of debate in American politics in the late 19th century. This satirical illustration, which originally appeared in the popular magazine "Puck," uses humor and symbolism to comment on the complexities of American economic policies.