The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-02
POWER OF THE CARlCATU1E.
Needed Reforms Hnstened by This
Newspaper Weapon, Judtctously

\ n
Needed Reforms Hnstened by This
Selected.
1t is said of a politician who -four
ished in New York a quarter Of cen
tury ago that he cared very little what
people said or papers printed about
him, but that he was exceedingly sens
tive to a caricature and the ridicule'
expressed in the illustrated papers OF
his day. Comparatively few people
seem to realize what a wonderfully
effective weapon, judiciously managed,
caricature is. According to the New
York Ledger, it is almost safe to assert
that any needed reform may be-
brought about more quickly by means
of properly handled caricature than in
any other way. But to be the most eff
fective it must not be too broad. 1t
should be suggestive rather than ag-
gressive, and must stop short Of any.
thing approaching the license that.
would disgust the observer. The
strength of caricature lies in it's truth
fulness and in the clear way in which
it is presented to the eye. Caricature
for partisan or personal ends is rarely
as successful as when it is enlisted in
the cause Of some much-needed reform,
for it appeals to only limited num-
Der Of persons. When it strikes at
! abuse, something that needs general re-
form, everybody understands it aud
everybody appreciates It,, Then let it
be truthful, clear and to the point, and
it is an almost irresistible force.
Good caricaturists are few, and the
best of them have for the most part
been guilty Of the most offensive par
tisanship. They have lost sight, not
alone Of truthfulness, but Of common
decencv In their deliueations. The
young artist who desires to take up this
form Of illustrating will do well never
for one moment to lose sight Of the
fact that the higher the moral tone of
his work the more acceptable it will be
and the more effective. The arrows Of
low caricature fall almost powerless,
while the truth brought out in such 4
way is as keen rs a two-edged sword
If more Of this sort of Journalism were
available and it's judicious handling
were better understood very many
abuses that now afflict the human fam
lily might be put an end to. That such
service. well performed, is appreciated
is evident in an English caricaturist
who has recently been knighted as q
recognition Of his talents. and of him
it may be said that the strength Of his
work was its truthfulness; that he was
never unreasonably partial to friend
or unjustly severe II an enemy. He
scaricatured situations rather than peo-
pie, bringing in the public characters
of the day more as figures in grouping
than as objects for his keenest satire.
It would be well for younger and less
experienced artists to learn q lesson
from such careers. 1t would, indeed.
be well always to remember that the.
successful wars are waged not against
persons, but against conditions An in.
dividual has his supporters, be he ever
SO dishonorable or unjust. A public
abuse, while it may benefit a few.
does so in a way that makes it difficult
for even its most enthusiastic support
ers long to sustain it when opposed b.
honest, keen satire and truthful md
trenchsut arguments.