Life — May 3, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Life" Magazine, Page 285 This satirical page depicts early 1900s American political conflicts through multiple vignettes: **"Coxey's Army"** (top): References Jacob Coxey's 1894 march of unemployed workers to Washington, shown here as locusts descending on the Capitol—mocking the protest movement as a plague. **"Tariff Reform"** (center): A man struggles to control a bull labeled with this issue, suggesting tariff debates were chaotic and uncontrollable political forces. **"Peixoto Wing"** and **"Keep Off"** (sides): Appear to reference Latin American political figures or diplomatic tensions, with architects barred from construction—possibly critiquing foreign policy or interference. **"Uncle Sam's New Armor"** and **"Dark Deeds"** (bottom): Comment on American military preparations and murky political dealings, respectively. The overall theme satirizes contemporary political instability and reform movements.