Life, 1890-10-30 · page 5 of 14
Life — October 30, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Passage of the Bill" - Life Magazine Political Satire This page satirizes the passage of a significant legislative bill, likely the tariff legislation referenced in the text. The central image depicts a ornate carriage carrying political figures over a crowd of common citizens—a metaphor for how legislation affects ordinary people while benefiting elites. The surrounding vignettes mock various political figures and their responses: "The President on the Prairies," references to a "Silent Senator from Pennsylvania," and commentary on Mormon polygamy and British-Irish policy disputes. The cartoon critiques how political leaders remain disconnected from consequences their policies impose on ordinary Americans, while pursuing their own interests and agendas. The "High Priests of Republicanism" steering the carriage suggests party leadership driving policy regardless of public welfare.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[7 ase’ taken long for the High Tariff to show that it was a Juggernaut. Even while the High Priests of Kepublicanism are chanting their prans of victory over the passage of the bill, the people are begin- ning to feel the fatal powers of the god they are compelled to worship. THAT uncouth but wily individual, the Mormon. elder would have us believe that he has a genteel sufficiency of wives and that polygamy is a lost art. Nevertheless, his missionaries are hard at work and additional wives keep on coming over by the ship-load. THE Silent Senator from Pennsylvania isenjoying the hardest fight of his political life. Perhaps his enemies—that is to say all the good citizens of Pennsylvania—are enjoying it more than he is, and here's hoping their enjoyment will be largely in- creased the day after election. + ° T q € te N THE stupid policy of the British Government in Irish affairs bids fair to fit Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien with ante mortem halos of martyrdom. While the government is trying to get hold of those HE PRESIOENT political refugees, for the purpose of locking them up OF THE PRAIRIRS 2 in Irish bastiles, the tender hearted British public ts ~ hard at work signing remonstrances against the Russian Czar’s persecution of political of- fenders. Z —" sonDieR UNRKCOCNI ZO. TOUCHING SPECTACLE OF A MORMOMY ELDER ABJUTIING TURTHIR PLURAL MARRAIGLS comicbooks.com