Life, 1900-05-03 · page 13 of 20
Life — May 3, 1900 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American imperialism and Republican politics circa 1900. The main article mocks a proposed "University of Benevolent Assimilation" in Manila (the Philippines, recently acquired by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War). The satire targets: - **McKinley and Hanna** (Republican leaders): teaching "Modern Political Methods" with deliberately vague policy - **Theodore Roosevelt**: his "Strenuous Life" philosophy, mocked as needlessly aggressive - **American imperialism**: the crude euphemism of "benevolent assimilation" (forcing American control while claiming to help Filipinos) The cartoon below satirizes masculine honor codes—a man agrees to demand an apology to prove he's a "gentleman," despite being hurt. It mocks performative masculinity divorced from actual courage or sense. The overall message: Life magazine views Republican imperialist policy and its rhetorical justifications as hypocritical, vague, and absurdly destructive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Education. HERE has been lately drawn up a rough draft of the prospectus of the University of the Benevolent Assimi- lation, which is to be founded, as soon as conditions make it wise, at Manila. Indeed, preparatory work is now being carried on there. The finished prospectus is to appear shortly before the November elections, The plan discloses some startling novel- ties in pedagogy, to which we shall doubtless accustom ourselves, as does the preceptor of the abattoir, when he gently but firmly dims the soft eyes of his bovine pupils. Politics is the specialty. A course on ‘* Modern Political Methoss ; or, Every Man His Own Electorate,” is conducted by Professor Hanna (assisted by Mr. McKinley). Special attention is called to the danger of having definite lines of policy. Fora -LIFE- "385 degree, this course may be substituted for either (or both, at the option of the student) of the two courses on Government and Statesmanship, those in charge of these courses being on leave of absence. Professor Roosevelt has a very interesting course in Strenu- osity. During the tirst term, occasions for the exercise of the strenuous life will be furnished pupils, But as the course advances, these extraneous aids will be dispensed with. The administration has appropriated the State of Kentucky for purposes of illustration, for which gift it piously repays itself by repeating : ‘‘ [t is more blessed to give than to receive.” Cursory examination does not reveal whether or not this quoting of appropriate Bible texts is designed to catch the church vote, As this course is sustained by heavy cndow- ments, there is no extra fee for breakage. There is a Seminary Course in Anthropology, whose work for the first year is to inquire into the status of the man who is neither a citizen nor subject of any country. The instructor is ordered to keep the class from formulating anything posi- tively. Really an interestingdocument. Some points are left vague— everything scems to be tentative. For instance, no reason is given for putting study of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in the department of Dead Languages. But such obscurities will surely be cleared up when the plan is put into opcration. — Non-Committal. €£(7AN you depend on what Jones says?” “Tf you know Jones.” “But is he truthful?” “Well, if Ananias had been a contemporary of Jones's, he'd never have become celebrated.” “ DAVID BAILEY, IP YOU DON'T GO RIGHT BACK THERE AND DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM THAT MAN WHO JUST INSULTED ME, YOU AKE NO GENTLEMAN.” “TLL Do IT, DEARIE. “ARR YOU MUCH HURT, DAVIDT” “Es (gasping), BUT—YOU—SEE—1—4M—A GENTLEMAN,”