THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The pent-up feeling throughout the United States, which reached a
dangerous degree of tension during the weeks preceding the declaration
of war against Spain, was forcibly symbolized in the Minneapolis
_Herald_. The dome of the National Capitol is portrayed, surmounted by
a "Congressional safety-valve." McKinley, clinging to the cupola, is
anxiously listening to the roar of the imprisoned steam, which is
escaping in vast "war clouds," in spite of all the efforts of Speaker
Reed, who is freely perspiring in his effort to hold down the valve.
[Illustration: Be Careful! It's Loaded!
_By Victor Gillam in "Judge."_]
One of those cartoons which are not to be forgotten in a day or a week
or a month; one which stirs the blood and rouses the mind to a new
patriotism even when seen years after the events which inspired it, is
Victor Gillam's "Be Careful! It's Loaded!" which appeared a few weeks
before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War and which we deem
worthy of being ranked among the twenty-five or thirty great cartoons
which the nineteenth century has produced. To realize to-day its full
force and meaning one has to recall the peculiar tension under which
the American people were laboring during the months of February,
March, and April, 1898. The _Maine_ had been destroyed in Havana
Harbor, and although, now that anger has died down, we can no longer
cling implacably to the belief, which was then everywhere expressed,
that it was an act emanating from the Spanish Government, at the time
it was too much for our overwrought nerves; the condition of Cuba
was growing every day more deplorable, and everyone felt that the
inevitable conflict was hourly at hand. In the picture American
patriotism is symbolized by a huge cannon. A diminutive Spaniard has
climbed to the top of a mast of a Spanish vessel and monkey-like is
shaking his fist down the muzzle. Uncle Sam, standing by the gun and
realizing the Spaniard's imminent peril calls out, excitedly, "Be
Careful! It's Loaded!" a warning to which the latter seems little
inclined to pay any attention. In its very simplicity this cartoon
differs greatly from most of those of the school of _Puck_ and
_Judge_. There is none of that infinite variety of detail which makes
an elaborate study necessary in order to arrive at a full
comprehension of the meaning of a cartoon. "Be Careful! It's Loaded!"
like the most striking English and French cartoons, may be understood
at a glance.
[Illustration: Speaker Reed to McKinley--"You've got to bank the fire
some way or other: I can't hold in this steam much longer."
_Minneapolis "Tribune."_]
[Illustration: The Latest War Bulletin.
_By Hamilton in "Judge."_]
A cartoon like Grant E. Hamilton's "The Latest War Bulletin" we find
amusing at the present time. We did not find it so a little over five
years ago. This latest war bulletin, printed in asbestos, is supposed
to have been just received from the infernal regions. His Satanic
majesty, with a sardonic grin upon his face, has just composed it to
his own entire satisfaction. Marked up on the burning furnace of Hades
it reads: "Only Spanish will be spoken here until further notice--P.S.
Guests will please leave their crowns and Spanish 4's in charge of the
night clerk."
[Illustration: A Knife for the American Pigs.
PIRATICAL--(Spain accused an American ship of flying the Spanish flag
in order to cut the cable)
The result of the war--defeats.
SAMPSON--"Where is Cervera's fleet?"
McKinley and England.
McKINLEY--"I wonder what he holds?"
The Minister of Revenue has a spoon for the war kettle.
Spanish Cartoons of the Spanish-american War.
_From "Don Quijote" (Madrid)._]
Another equally hideous cartoon by Hamilton is that entitled "The
Spanish Brute Adds Mutilation to Murder." It shows a hideous ape-like
monster representing Spain, one blood-dripping hand smearing the
tombstones erected to the sailors of the _Maine_ and the other
clutching a reeking knife. All about him under the tropical trees are
the bodies of his mutilated victims. The expression of the monster's
countenance is a lesson in national prejudice. It shows how far a
well-balanced nation may go in moments of bitterness and anger.
[Illustration: The Spanish Brute--Adds Mutilation to Murder.
_By Hamilton in "Judge."_]
One of the most striking and amusing of all the cartoons evoked by the
results of the Spanish-American War appeared in _Punch_ at a time when
our departure from our traditional policy began to cause comment in
Europe. There are two figures, that of Dame Europa and that of Uncle
Sam. Dame Europa is a lady of frigid aspect, with arms folded, and who
has drawn herself up to full height as she gazes scornfully at the
complacent and unruffled Uncle Sam. "To whom do I owe the honor of
this intrusion?" she asks icily. "Marm, my name is Uncle Sam." "Any
relation of the late Colonel Monroe?" is the scathing retort.
No less interesting than the American cartoons of the Spanish War are
those contributed by Spain herself, although in the light of
subsequent events they are chiefly amusing for their overweening
confidence and braggadocio insolence. Among the more extravagant
flights of Spanish imagination, which later news turned into
absurdities, may be cited "Dewey's Situation," in which the victor of
Manila is represented as a disconsolate rat, caught in the Philippine
mouse-trap; "Cervera bottles up Schley," a situation which the sober
facts of history afterwards reversed; and "McKinley's Condition," in
which the President is represented as swathed in bandages, and
suffering severely from apocryphal injuries received at Porto Rico and
Cienfuegos. All of these cartoons appeared at different times in the
Madrid _Don Quijote_, which did not always keep on this level of empty
boasting, but occasionally produced some really clever caricature. A
regular feature of the Spanish War cartoons was the American Hog as a
symbol of the United States, and some of the applications of this idea
in the _Don Quijote_ were distinctly amusing. For instance, in
reference to Spain's accusation that an American ship flew the Spanish
flag at Guantanamo in order to approach near enough to cut the cable,
America is shown as a fat hog, triumphantly strutting along on its
hind legs and ostentatiously waving the Spanish colors. Again, the
Sampson-Schley controversy is hit off in a picture showing Sampson
surrounded by a number of naval "hogs," each armed with gigantic
shears and bent upon obtaining the Admiral's scalp. Still another
cartoon seeks to explain the "real purpose" in getting Cuba away from
Spain. A drove of pigs have clustered around a huge barrel of Cuban
molasses and are eagerly sucking the contents through tubes. Of a
more dignified type are the caricatures representing Spain as a
beautiful and haughty Senorita, boldly showing how she keeps beneath
her garter "a knife for the American pigs"; or pointing to her shoe on
which Cuba serves as a buckle, and arrogantly challenging a
diminutive McKinley, "you can't unbuckle that shoe!"
[Illustration: "You can't unbuckle that shoe."
Cervera bottles up Schley.
McKinley's condition.
Dewey's situation.
After Sampson's scalp.
America's Real Desire.
Castelar writes a letter.
"This is for you if you don't behave."
Spanish Cartoons of the Spanish-American War.
_From the "Don Quijote" (Madrid)._]