Life, 1901-05-30 · page 8 of 22
Life — May 30, 1901 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire: Western Imperialism in Asia This page satirizes Western imperial attitudes toward Asia, particularly China and Germany's imperial ambitions. The two cartoons present contrasting stereotypes: **Left cartoon** ("I can well afford to sneer"): Shows a Chinese woman with parasol and child, mocking Western pretensions. The caption suggests China's ancient civilization gives it reason to dismiss Western claims of superiority. **Right cartoon** ("I'm an Emperor"): Depicts a German military figure with sword and spiked helmet, aggressively asserting imperial dominance. The sign reading "THIS IS MINE WILHELM II" references Kaiser Wilhelm II's expansionist policies. The surrounding poetry criticizes both Christian missionary efforts and militaristic conquest as tools of Western imperialism, questioning whether "Christianizing" through force constitutes civilization or merely exploitation. The satire challenges Western moral authority in imperial ventures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
456 Will produce a larger measure of results utilitari Than pursuing methods prematurely drastical tis better fur to wait, As traditions oft remind us, Till the force of Church and State Aud the army is behind us. Then indemnities we gather for the glory ot sulvationists, While heathen homes the allied arms are battering, And only those who hesitate are rightly termed pre sists, With heathen b spattering. 8 the walls of temples For to sniflle first of all Is our solemn duty pious, ‘Till the bloody sword shall fall On the unconverted nigh us. (They mareh vp and down to stow music and distribute tracts to right and left to the rice Christians,” who have gathered to applaud. A weird strain now breaks in on the music, which auddenty ceases, and from the back of the stage steps the Empress of China.) Sono or Sunrexpen. When the tricky rom the western hemisphere Gives his puerile exhibition, 1 can well afford to sneer; Express or Cita. “Tcan well afford to sneer.” ‘LIFE: When the statesman ponderific At an intrigue tries his wit, Tho’ I'm quite unscien Tecan smile with scorn at it; When the Yankee man financial Offers bait for me to take, With a humor quite substantial, Why, my diaphragm I sha’ For the wiles of countless ages Lie within my subtle brain, And on Anglo-Saxon sages 1 can look with keen disdain. But T must confess, tho’ wary, As I surely ought to be, hat the Christian missionary Is by far too much for me. When upon the territory Of my ancestors he stood, ‘There was no intention gory In his humble attitude, Waich, extremely penitential (Tho’ it seemed to us absurd), We all thought inconsequential, And we heeded not © the-word.”” But we soon caught the connection, When this pious man, so mee For our Orient inspection Did present the other cheek And we learned this fact surprising— pw our race is nearly run— That the art of Christianizing Is to conquer with a gun, Which for us there's no competing With, tho’ we have tricks galore, And I cannot help repeating What I ventured on before, As I hear the deadly rumble Of the near artillery : ‘That the missionary humble Was a dose too much for me! Crores, ‘Tho’ the western politician Makes a painful exhibition On the side acutely mental, To the mind that’s Oriental, She declares without demur— As she hears that deadly rumble— That the missionary humble, Who upon her territory Talked at first of heaven's glory, Was too much by far for her. (A loud noise is now herd, the rush of horses® hoofe and the bursting of shells, as a company of German cavalry enters, bearing on their spears a number of Chinese heads and loaded with the spoils of battle. They are followed by the German Emperor. who seeps his Kand around tre hortzon, whale all genufect.) Soxo or Coxquest. Witttam of Germany. I'm an Emperor appointed by Divinity ! Came spread the news, ye minions, all abroad! And I claim the right to slaughter from a trinity : Myself, the Bible and the ruthless sword! THIS 1S MINE WILHELM O + 1m an Emperor.” comicbooks.com