Puck — April 30, 1879 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "How to Settle It" This April 30, 1879 *Puck* cartoon satirizes international dispute resolution between two nations (indicated by the flags and shields bearing American eagles and British symbols). The central image shows two figures inside a large horseshoe—a traditional symbol of luck and fortune. The caption "THE ONLY FAIR WAY TO DECIDE THE CLAIMS OF THE TWO NATIONS" ironically suggests that settling territorial or diplomatic disputes through chance (gambling/luck) rather than negotiation is equally valid to whatever serious methods are actually being employed. The cartoon mocks the apparent absurdity or futility of current diplomatic efforts, implying that leaving outcomes to luck would be no worse than the actual negotiations occurring between the nations.