Puck — April 1877 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon criticizes the incoming Hayes administration's approach to Native Americans. The main image shows a group of armed soldiers or officials confronting a Native American figure, with musicians playing instruments in the background. The caption reads: "Music Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage Beast," and the subtitle states Puck suggests using this "Peace Policy" with the new administration—sarcastically implying that music or cultural appeasement would be an absurd solution to conflicts with Native Americans. The satire mocks the government's proposed peaceful approach to Indian relations as naive or ineffective, suggesting it's equivalent to trying to calm violence with musical instruments. This reflects contemporary debates over Indian policy during the Reconstruction era's conclusion.