Life, 1899-11-23 · page 13 of 20
Life — November 23, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Bishop Fowler's claim that the Philippine-American War is a "great missionary movement." The text is heavily sarcastic, pretending to celebrate the bishop's interpretation while actually mocking it. The satire targets those who justify military conquest as Christian expansion. Life ridicules the logic that: - Cannon fire and bullets are acceptable methods of "conversion" - The Founder of Christianity didn't use such methods (obvious irony) - Americans should ignore the war's cost in lives and money because it's framed as religious duty The cartoon titled "The Manicure of the Desert" (bottom right) appears to satirize the beautification or "civilizing" of colonial territories through military force. The top photo caption "Life's Album of Friendships" names Eugene V. Debs (Socialist politician/labor leader) and Chauncey M. Depew (Republican railroad magnate)—unlikely allies—perhaps suggesting the war united strange political bedfellows. The overall message: Life exposes religious hypocrisy masking imperial ambitions in the Philippines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
cand Ai Oeics oa: LIFE'S ALBUM OF FRIENDSHIPS. BUGENE V. DEBS AND CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW, A Glorious Interpretation. } ISHOP FOW- LER in a recent interview proclaimed the glad tidings that our war in the Philippines is “a great missionary , movement.” Because of this authoritativeand timely assertion it is to be hoped that many of the deluded opposers of the Presi- dent’s expansion policy will 413 appreciate their unchristian attitude and will take immediate measures to enter the pathway of love and duty. For it would be a most grievous set- back to the progress of religion if these * people—after having been so creditably informed that the real object of our Struggle fn the archipelago is the conversion of the Catholic Tagulogs; aod, if it be possible, of some of the Mohammedan Moros—should still refuse to sunctiun the sacrifice of a few lives aud the giving of a few paltry dollars. Of course, unhuppily, there area few— those whose necks are irremediably stiffened —that will continue to find fault with the plan of sending the Cress to deserving heathen by cannon balls and bullets, though they bave no reason for their opposition save the fact that the Founder of their religion did not employ such methods. They cannot be made to understand that cannon balls acd bullets could not have been used eighteen hundred und sixty-seven years ago, a8 these articles of civilization were then unknown quantities For, to such people, the march of evolution shows no footprints. But. and let us be thankful for it, the great majority of the citizens of our lund of freedom will now see clearly the true purpose of the campaign in the Filipino country, and their hearts will go out in gratitude to the bishop for his comfort-giving interpretation. All credit will they give the reverend gentleman for the welcome {iuformation that the many items of millions and of huodred millions are not entered in the Government ledger under a “Conquest” TUB MANICURE OF THR DYSERT. [comicbooks.com