THREE STRIKING AND TIMELY CARTOONS.
By Editor
THE first we mention is in Puck of March 29. The central figure is that of the roof, tower, and dome of the United States capitol. Climbing to this dome by means of a ladder which reaches from the roof to the base of the dome is Leo XIII., having on one shoulder a cross, and on the other a hook ladder, by which he hopes to reach the top. Below is Uncle Sam, in coat of blue, beckoning with his hand and shouting to the climbing prelate. The conversation runs thus:— “Uncle Sam—What are you going to do up there?
“The Pope—I thought it was time to nail this cross over the dome.
“Uncle Sam—Well, you come down. We’ve got a figure up there that will last for some time yet!” It has been well remarked by one who viewed the cartoon that when the pope gets as high as that represents him to be in the affairs of State, he will not “come down.” Puck has done well, however, to call the public’s attention to the danger, which is even greater than indicated in the picture. The second is from the same journal, also by Mr. Keppler, on the Peace Congress. In the upper part of the picture is dreamland, around the fragile, angelic form of Peace, holding over her head a scroll on which is the word “Millennium,” are dancing the symbolic figures of the European nations, the bear, the lion, the wolf, eagles, cocks, and dogs, holding each other’s hands, laughing and jubilant. This is the millennial dream of Europe at Easter time, represented at the bottom of the picture by a beautiful, regally-clad woman sleeping. From her hand is slipping a scroll on which is inscribed: “Proposal for a Universal Peace Congress.” At her feet are open boxes of munitions of war. By her side is a pile of mammoth cartridges, and at her head an open barrel of powder, in which is inserted a lighted candle fiercely burning away, the fire rapidly nearing the powder. Editorially the same paper says that while professedly the European nations seemed to be pleased with the czar’s proposal, it is not interfering with their other business. “Russia is taking care that she shall have a respectable number of arms to lay down when the day for disarming comes. Germany has passed a new army bill; France is joyful over a new submarine torpedo-boat; England is exceeding her income to build new battleships; and it is a poor day when a new gun or a new explosive is not invented. China, we believe, would attend a peace gathering in perfect good faith. Perhaps Aguinaldo would, too, if he could find the time. But they are about the only two against whom suspicion would not run. In truth, if the angel of peace [the world’s angel] were searched to-day, he would probably be found to have concealed weapons on his person.” The third cartoon is from Judge, of April 15. It is entitled, “Springing up like Mushrooms,” and represents the great trusts as a forest of gigantic mushrooms, covering the entire ground, and encroaching upon each other. We have named the cloth, champagne, banana, oyster, cast-iron, electric, coffin, beef, nail, gas, starch, sugar, biscuit, oil, coal, tobacco, flour, leather, rubber, steel, threshing-machine, plow, furniture, and milk trusts, and a dozen others, more or less, covering nearly every necessity of life. Being crushed to death by the trusts, or already fallen, are small merchants, tradesmen, miners, bakers, mechanics, farmers, and consumers, while, in the center, Uncle Sam has been thrown on his back by these sudden mushroom growths, and is floundering, trying to rise to his feet, a thing it is seemingly impossible for him to do, while he lustily shouts, “Something MUST be done, and quickly!” The abnormal growths are crushing the very life out of men and nation. Each and all of these represent great and far-reaching evils. Religious monopoly, money monopoly, and the war demon hold the nations of the world, ready to throttle them forever. God has forewarned concerning them all, and presents also the only remedy and safe refuge in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.