Life, 1912-02-22 · page 17 of 44
Life — February 22, 1912 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes debates about establishing a constitution for China, likely during the early republican period following the 1911 revolution. The figure "Sun Yat-Sen" (founder of modern China) is consulting with an American advisor about what type of governmental structure to adopt. The satire mocks American political corruption by having the advisor cynically offer constitutional "models"—plain, fancy, or "gilt-edged"—each with predictable outcomes. The "fancy" version makes money for its creators before collapsing into monarchy; the "gilt-edged" version enriches leaders for a decade before they're violently overthrown. When Sun Yat-Sen asks for something "lasting" that pleases ordinary Chinese people, the American instead recommends importing American corruption wholesale: central banks, high tariffs, political machines extracting millions, and women's suffrage movements. The joke critiques American hypocrisy—exporting democratic ideals while actually spreading institutional graft, cronyism, and special interests. The cartoon suggests America's "model" constitution is merely a vehicle for concentrated wealth and power, not genuine popular governance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUNCTILIOUS PERKINS “MARTHA, DO RAISE MY HAT TO HER AT ONCE, OR THINK US UNMINDFUL OF THE PROPRIETIES.”” * Sure, old man. What kind of a constitution do you want? Plain—fancy—or gilt-edged?” “What would you suggest?” “Well, the ordinary plain constitution lasts for a couple hundred years, and then naturally peters out. The fancy constitution makes lots of money for everybody who starts it and winds up in a limited monarchy in about eight months, The gilt-edged constitution is something that offers a career of glory and usually lands you as king or emperor or some kind of a high monkey-monk. You live on the fat of the land for about ten years, and then SHE'LL get blown up, or die some pleasant death like that.” Sun Yat-Sen reflected. “T leave the matter entirely with you,” he said. “Just give us something that will be lasting, if possible, and will please the rank and file of the Chinese people.” I took out my typewriter and began to get ready. “T think,” T said, “something with a little hot dog in it would suit you. How would you like a Central Bank; a high tariff; say half a dozen political machines, with a boss at the head of each who is drawing about a million dollars a year out of the treasury, and a woman's suffrage move- comicbooks.com