Life, 1902-05-01 · page 5 of 22
Life — May 1, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 367 **Main Cartoon ("A Bystander's View"):** This seesaw cartoon depicts imperialism's imbalance. One side shows "Billionaires" (American businessmen) sitting heavily on a plank, while the opposite end labeled "World" rises up with diverse people. The artist critiques how American wealth concentration tilts global power dynamics unfairly. **Secondary Image ("Feminine"):** The dark illustration appears satirical, depicting a woman in an exaggerated pose with text suggesting mockery of feminine behavior or expectations. **Text Commentary:** The article references Goldwin Smith's critique of American imperialism and commercial greed, arguing that wealth-driven foreign policy compromises national principles. It criticizes American business interests' influence on international relations and suggests this "bystander" perspective exposes hypocrisy in American political claims.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SEESAW. Bystander’s View. T is natural to say ‘ Thank you” to the friend who criticises our enemies, and ‘* Mind your own business” to the friend who criticises us; but Common- wealth or Empire, a Bystander's View of the Question, by Goldwin Smith, contains a bit of quiet advice to the thoughtfal American that Lire wishes heartily to en- dorse. Lire agrees with Goldwin Smith that The Imperialist of to-day, when he attacks the weak, burns their homes, takes posses- sion of thelr land, and if they “rebel sends" punitive expeditions against them,” Japs bimself tn the deluston that he ts the elect instru- ment of destiny, or, if he 1s plous, of God, What ts his “destiny or bis “ God" but the sbadow of his own Tapacity projected on the clouds? Lire sorrowfully acquiesces in the statement that When the people of the United States, after recognizing the Filipinos as thetr allies, bonght them with their land of Spatn, as they would buy the contents of @ catte-ranch of a sheep-fold, and proceeded to shoot them down for refusing to he delivered to the purchaser, they surely broke away from the principles on which thelr own polity is bullt, and compromised the national character formed on Tespect for those principles. Goldwin Smith, who stood our friend in the sixties against the commercial jealousy which dictated England's hostile policy, consistently stands our friend to-day against the commercial greed. FEMININE. which urges our own political apostasy. Let us remember that Miss Elephant; om, TUK 11's 3UsT LovELY To BE it is the ‘bystander’’ who sees most of the game. ENGAGED! My! wow 17 does SPARKLE! comicbooks.com