Life, 1897-03-25 · page 4 of 24
Life — March 25, 1897 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, March 25, 1897 - Political Commentary This page contains editorial text addressing multiple pressing issues of the 1897 period: tariff policy, Cuba (likely referencing tensions preceding the Spanish-American War), and newly elected President William McKinley's administration. The illustrations appear to be decorative political cartoons rather than specific caricatures. The text urges American voters to engage thoughtfully with complex policy questions—particularly regarding trade protectionism, interference in foreign conflicts, and equitable distribution of national wealth. The editor argues that citizens should balance concern for national policy with personal concerns, while cautioning against "light-headed" responses to political agitation. The tone suggests skepticism toward both radical economic proposals and hasty foreign intervention, appealing for measured deliberation rather than emotional reaction to contemporary crises.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
While there is Life there's Hope.” VOL. XXIX MARCH 2 tg West Tiurty. 1897. No. 744. street, New York. Published every Thursday, $5.00 @ year in advance. Postage to foreign countries In the Postal Union, $1.04 a year extra. Single copies, 10 cents, Rejected contributions will be destroyed unless accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope. The illustrations in Live are copyrighted, and are not to be repro- duced without special arrangement with the publishers. ND you, brother, provided you have thus far sur- vived the grip season—which is on at the time of this writing how do you get on, and with what mind do you meet the advancing spring? Are you They say that in of the people have been mighty rest- bearing up? Kansas, where some less during the last five y have wished for different con- ditions, and tried hard to bring them ation and talk, and have been imperfectly successful, one result of the unusual cerebral activity has been a very marked increase of insanity, coincident with a falling off of population. and about by legis We have good hopes for Kansas now, and of all com- munities which have been agitated as she been, and only mention her as an example of the wear and tear of thought and anxiety on human tissues. IFE trusts, brother, that you do not + feel yourself growing light-headed in the e of statecraft morals. ort to solve mooted questions and public policy and Have you come to any con- < clusion about trusts? Do you believe that the tendency of prevailing condi- tions is to enrich the few and impoveris the many, and if so, do you know of any safe method of i Have you come to any conclusion as to the expendi- ture of moncy for luxuries, and whether it does good or evil? If you think it does good, do you see any prospect of having terference ? money to spend in the diffusion of benefits by that method, and if not, have you matured any plan for spending the surpluses of people who have surpluses, so that the lives of people who have no surpluses shall be pl nter and more profitable? Have you any scheme for getting funds into those parts of the country which of the medium of exchange that the folks who live in them have gone back to barter? Are you reconciled to the prospect of a new high-protection tariff? Are you.sure that you know just what should be done about Cuba, and whether it is our duty to endure the distresses of that island, or to seize the first chance to interfere? HE solution of all these perplexities and a lot more at this writing invites the energies of every con- scientious, newspaper- reading, American voter, Even if he should reach convic- tions as to all of them a it Ae would not be enough, nor could he enjoy absolute ease of mind unless he could assure himself that Uncle Sam had reached the same conclusions that he had, and was able and willing and ready to take action accordingly. Meanwhile, to have one’s mind divided between the settlement of the policies of a nation and various com- monwealths, the solution of intricate social problems and the care of one’s personal concerns, is liable to be detri- mental to the concerns, Come, brethren, comrades in the great army whose daily bread results from daily labor, let us try to be easy in our minds, and confine our attention, in so far as may be expedient, to solving, each for himself, our personal problem. W E havea new President, a new Cabinet, a Con- gress partially repaired ac- cording to the latest phase of _, the popular taste, and thousands of enthusiastic and vociferous newspapers, each of them ready to set the government right whenever it veers from its proper course, and to ON # personal suggest action whenever it hesi- \ tates. Let us for the present leave these gentlemen to their jobs, and give them a fair chance to earn their salari If we wait until they bring in the millennium before we settle down, there is danger that the delay may not only strain our patience, but embarrass our material resource Pitch in, breth- and serve rival ends by the same measure of statecraft may not be within our power, especially if we have not been endued with the garb of authority, but to make both ends meet is a very pretty exercise in itself, and worth attention; and, after all, whether they meet around a great space or small does not signify, if only they meet. ren! To reconcile conflicting tkeorie: