William II, German Emperor, 1859-1941

Commerce vs. conquest

John Bull, labeled “England,” holds a model ship labeled “Trade.” Uncle Sam, also holding a model ship labeled “Trade,” is behind him. They stand before the Chinese Emperor who is frightened three men standing nearby: William II holding a sword labeled “Germany”, “France” holding a rifle, and Nicholas II holding two pistols labeled “Russia.” Caption: Uncle Sam (to John Bull)–Don’t scare him, John, the way those other fellows are doing. Tell him all we want is to have him open his harbors and markets to everybody!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-02-02

A puzzled kaiser

William II, the German Emperor, wearing a robe and a large sword, and holding a crown and a scepter, looks puzzled over why these symbols of authority no longer command the respect he thinks they deserve. Caption: Medieval Wilhelm–‘T is passing strange! – here are all the attributes of me kingly power; – me crown, me sceptre, and me royal robe – but the people won’t revere them as of yore. By my halidome! – is Divine Right played out?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-06-05

Puck’s suggestion for the German Kaiser’s benefit

William II, the German Emperor, wearing a crown and a regal robe with a ribbon that states “Sons of Cold Water,” sits at a table with other military figures. Count Leo von Caprivi pours a glass of “Ice Water” for William to drink. The others are drinking wine or champagne. Caption: His actions are praiseworthy, but his speeches at banquets indicate his great need of a strict adherence to cold water when he dines out.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-10-03

A new legend in an old dress

William II, Emperor of Germany, is a knight holding a large sword labeled “Germany,” keeping guard over two female figures in chains labeled “Alsace” and “Lorraine” in the tower of a medieval castle, while across a body of water sits an angry knight, Félix Faure, holding a sword labeled “France.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-02-16

Coal is king in the far east

John Bull stands on a “Private Dock” to an island labeled “Coaling Station” that shows an anthropomorphic mountain of coal. In the foreground are William II, bowing next to a ship labeled “Germany,” Nicholas II, kneeling next to a ship labeled “Russia,” and Felix Faure, tipping his hat next to a ship labeled “France.” They are supplicating John Bull.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-04-20

Satisfying their curiosity

John Bull sits on a strong fortress representing England, with a telescope in one hand and strings attached to battleships in the other. On the edge of the continent are four figures representing “Germany” (William II), “Austria” (Franz Joseph I), “Italy” (Umberto I) and “France” (Felix Faure) wondering what John Bull is doing. In the background, a battle rages between the United States and Spain around the island of Cuba. Caption: The Continental Powers–What are you doing there? / John Bull–Oh! nothing, nothing at all; – just looking on!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-05-18

No chance to criticize

Uncle Sam, wearing a military uniform and holding a sword labeled “U.S.,” sits at a table on which is a small cake on a platter labeled “Cuba,” with a decanter labeled “Philippine Islands” on the table and a bottle labeled “Porto Rico” in an ice bucket. On the left, John Bull is holding a sword labeled “England,” slicing a large cake on a platter labeled “China.” Around the table, with him, are four figures representing “Russia” (Nicholas II), “France” (Felix Faure), “Germany” (William II), and “Japan” (Meiji), each using a sword to carve up the cake which is labeled “Wei-Hai-Wei, Coal Fields of Shan-Si, Ta-Lien-Wan, Port Arthur, Hainan, Kai Chau, [and] Formosa.” Looking on from behind a wall on the far left are Italy (Umberto I) and Austria (Franz Joseph I). Caption: John Bull (to the Powers)–What are you mad about? We can’t grudge him a light lunch while we are feasting!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-05-25

The survival of the fittest

A scene is depicted of dueling grounds in a wooded area where a duel has taken place between a tattered buccaneer labeled “Spain” and “Medievalism” and Uncle Sam, who is holding a sword labeled “19th century Enlightenment.” On the ground between them is a broken sword labeled “Misrule.” Two figures, possibly acting as seconds, one labeled “Austria” (Franz Joseph I) and the other representing Germany (William II), are supporting “Spain” between them, and a man carrying a doctor’s bag labeled “France” is rushing from behind to attend to the wounded man. John Bull and “Japan” (Meiji) are standing behind Uncle Sam. Caption: Uncle Sam–By Jingo! I’m sorry for the poor fellow; but he made me do it.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-06-01

The tug of war in the far east

Print shows Uncle Sam with John Bull and Meiji, Emperor of Japan, standing beneath a flag labeled “Open Door Policy”, in a tug of war contest for “Trade Supremacy” with “Russia” (Nicholas II), “Germany” (William II), and “France” (Felix Faure) who are being pulled through a gate labeled “Trade Restriction.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-09-14

Our queer way

General William R. Shafter, larger than life, is pictured in Europe standing before the rulers of France (Felix Faure), Austria (Franz Joseph I), Germany (William II), Italy (Umberto I), and Russia (Nicholas II), and with John Bull representing England. They bow, tip their hats, and salute him, acknowledging his success during the Spanish-American War. Depicted in an insert is the treatment Shafter received in the United States from the dogs of “Yellow Journalism” and hands with pointing fingers labeled “Amateur Magazine Strategist” and “Know-it-all Critic” holding a quill pen labeled “Hate,” and other hands labeled “Sensationalism” and “Impudent Newspaper Reporter” holding clubs labeled “Malice” and “Revenge,” as well as a boot labeled “Jealousy.” Caption: How our hero of the most remarkable campaign of the century is regarded abroad, and how some of us treat him at home.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-11-02

A modern crusade without fire and sword; – will it end in a rival establishment?

German emperor William II, wearing a two-tiered tiara, is welcomed by throngs of Arab Muslims who carry a banner that proclaims “Allah is Great, and William His Prophet.” Across a narrow body of water, Pope Leo XIII, wearing the papal tiara, sits on St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-11-16

The threatened revolt in the jungle

A group of animals are gathered in a jungle, some showing the facial attributes of the rulers of “Austria” (Franz Joseph I), “Germany” (William II), and “Italy” (Umberto I). A monkey labeled “France” is speaking and gesticulating to “Japan, Turkey, Russia, Italy, [and] Austria,” while the British lion looks on disapprovingly from above. China is in the background, Spain in the foreground, and Uncle Sam appears as an eagle behind the British lion.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-12-07

The next thing to do

Uncle Sam stands at the top of a wall labeled “Prohibitive Tariff” on land labeled “U.S.” He looks across a body of water at the “Chinese Wall” being torn down by European and Japanese rulers labeled and caricatured as “France” (Felix Faure), “Germany” (William II), and “Japan” (Meiji), “England (George V), and “Russia” (Nicholas II). Caption: Uncle Sam – By Jingo! That reminds me that I’ve got a wall like that; – I’d better take it down, myself, before other people do it for me.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-06-29

Celebrating July 4th, 1898 – “the triumph of the American battle-ship”

A gleeful Uncle Sam sits with John Bull, who is a sailor representing England, and six figures representing “Spain,” “Italy” (Umberto I), “Austria” (Franz Joseph I), “France,” Germany (William II), and “Russia” (Nicholas II), watching a fireworks display that shows the outline of a huge American battleship that illuminates the ruins of the “Spanish Fleet.” The clouds of smoke show portraits of “Schley, Sampson, Hobson, [and] Dewey.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-07-06

Speech of Theodore Roosevelt at Dexter Pavilion, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Wednesday evening, September 26, 1917

Theodore Roosevelt praises the Armed Forces and veterans of the Civil War. He also praises Father Edward Vattmann and other speakers of the evening as proud examples of loyal Americans with German ancestry. He calls for all of the various ethnic groups in America to come together under one language and one flag and condemns pacifists and anti-war politicians like Senator Robert M. La Follette. Roosevelt says all able-bodied men should join the fight and that America needs to be better prepared for war in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-26

Speech at Racine, the Hun within our gates

Theodore Roosevelt speaks out about “the Hun within our gates”, or German Americans he says are helping Germany from within the United States. Roosevelt says the term Hun was attributed to the German forces by William II himself and that it matches the atrocities committed by the German military in Europe and Asia. He gives examples of the Huns within our gates, particularly pacifists, and compares them to the “Copperheads” of the Civil War era. He calls for all Americans, regardless of ethnic origins, to unite under one flag and one language.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-27

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at St. Louis, Missouri. Saturday, Feruary 9, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt says that all Americans must be loyal to their country, regardless of their ethnic background or home country. He calls anyone who does not have undivided loyalty a traitor. He says the United States must continue to fight hard in the world war and make every effort to “speed up” the war. Note: This speech was not delivered due to sickness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-09

Colonel Roosevelt’s speech to be delivered at Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 14, 1918

Theodore Roosevelt calls for all Americans, no matter their ethnicity or home country, to have a spirit of Americanism and be loyal only to the United States. Otherwise, he says, they are traitors to their country. He says America must make every effort to “speed up” the world war and must be better prepared in the future by instituting universal military service. Note: This speech was not delivered due to illness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1918-02-14

“The Kaiser’s coat”

William II, the German Emperor, sits on horseback before an effigy mounted on a pole with a “Notice” that states, “All civilians must bow before those who wear the Kaiser’s coat.” A group of officers are gathered around him and a long line of citizens are bowing before them.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-12-16

The European “concert”

A crazed man representing the Czar of “Russia” sits on a throne, manipulating marionettes that represent “France” (Felix Faure), “Austria” (Franz Joseph I), “Italy” (Umberto I), “Germany” (William II), and “England” (John Bull) playing musical instruments.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-05-05