Puck — November 5, 1879 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck cartoon satirizes American imperialism and foreign policy in what appears to be an early 20th-century context. The central figure labeled "Schurz" (likely Carl Schurz, a prominent anti-imperialist) gestures toward a barrel labeled "Monkey Tub" containing grotesque caricatures. The figure with the rifle represents American military intervention, while the well-dressed gentleman appears to represent American business or political interests. The scene depicts imperial powers engaged in colonial exploitation—the "monkey tub" label suggests dehumanizing treatment of colonized peoples. The Capitol building visible in the background indicates American responsibility. The cartoon's title, partially visible ("IS THIS THE WAY TO..."), critiques whether such interventionist policies represent American values, positioning anti-imperialists like Schurz as moral objectors to these practices.