Puck — March 6, 1878 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Puck Page (March 1, 1898) This page contains satirical commentary on the **Silver Bill debate in Congress**. The main cartoon criticizes senators laughing about the bill's passage despite its controversial nature regarding currency policy. The satire mocks **wealthy silver mine owners** ("silver men") who profited from the legislation, questioning the morality of laughing while the nation's finances faced serious consequences. The text pointedly asks: can they "laugh" while potentially harming the country? Key figures referenced include **President McKinley** (who vetoed the bill), **Senator Edmunds**, **Senator Whyte**, and other unnamed senators engaged in parliamentary debate. The central complaint is that politicians treated a serious economic measure as a joke rather than addressing its genuine impact on national interests—a classic Puck approach of exposing hypocrisy in governance.