“The yellow peril”

A man representing Russia holds a cat-o’-nine tails labeled “Russia” with the lashes labeled “Absolutism, Persecution, [and] Tyranny.” Next to him, on the left, are several dead or wounded people with the word “Kish[i]neff” written on the ground, and in the background, clouds labeled “Finland” and “Poland” are hovering above large groups of people being persecuted by the Russians. The man is shielding his eyes against a burst of sunlight on the right in which is a Japanese woman labeled “Modern Japan” surrounded by the words “Justice, Progressiveness, Humaneness, Enlightenment, Tolerance [and] Religious Liberty.” The figure of a Japanese man labeled “Medievalism” lies on the ground, crushed by the light of “Modern Japan.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

With the commencement of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 in the month before this cartoon’s publication, Puck clearly chose sides, as seen in this cartoon by Keppler. The world learned that the failure of often harsh diplomatic exchanges was quickly followed by Japan’s overwhelming victory over the Russian fleet in Port Arthur (occupied Manchuria).

Japan was largely viewed as a civilized Asian culture that was opening to the world’s trade and intellectual exchanges. Russia, at best, was regarded for the most part as a hybrid people recently freed from serfdom; a frequent oppressor of minority races, religions, and classes; and continuously at war with many neighbors in its vast coastline. There were reasons aplenty for the world to share in Puck‘s comparison of the combatants.

Russia, virtually bankrupt of funds and arms, and with a restive population across its broad expanse, quickly looked a way to escape further military conflict with Japan. The Czar importuned his cousin, German Kaiser Wilhelm II, and others, to intercede, or find a party to do so. As history knows, President Theodore Roosevelt accepted the challenge; a challenge it proved to be, but he persuaded the parties to end hostilities. For this work in 1905 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904-03-23

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

Period

U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)

Repository

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Page Count

1

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation