Life — February 21, 1918 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Skinning the War Cat" This cartoon satirizes President Wilson (identified in the caption) as a naive figure being manipulated by militarists. The image shows Wilson at a table with what appear to be military or political figures examining a machine labeled "War Dept." The caption "Don't Criticize" suggests suppression of dissent. The article discusses whether military preparation actually prevents war. It references General Freytag's argument that German armament secured peace for forty years, while questioning whether such preparation truly deters conflict or merely enables it. The satire targets Wilson's stated pacifism against pressure from warmongers ("skinning the war cat" = exploiting war ambitions). This reflects pre-WWI American debate over neutrality, preparedness, and whether arming encourages rather than prevents warfare.