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Cartoon, Humble Pie (Gladstone and San Juan Island)
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Cartoon, Humble Pie (Gladstone and San Juan Island)
Cartoon, Humble Pie -- a satirical comment on a government failure regarding a boundary dispute between the UK and USA over the island of San Juan in the Pacific North-West. The German Emperor had acted as arbitrator and decided in favour of the American border preference, much to the annoyance of Canada. There had already been an earlier failure (though it was part of the same issue), which leads John Bull to complain to head waiter Gladstone that he is being served humble pie two days running. Date: 1872
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Media ID 23361566
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1872 Analogy Comment Customer Gladstone Liberal Metaphor Negotiation Punch Relationship Satire Satirical Tenniel
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This satirical print, titled "Cartoon, Humble Pie (Gladstone and San Juan Island)," dates back to 1872 and offers a scathing commentary on the ongoing boundary dispute between the United States and the United Kingdom over the San Juan Island in the Pacific North-West. The dispute, which had already resulted in an earlier failure, saw the German Emperor acting as an arbitrator and ruling in favor of the American border preference, much to the chagrin of Canada and the British government. In this cartoon, John Bull, a symbol of British national identity, is depicted as a disgruntled customer at a fancy dining table, surrounded by other world leaders. He is seen complaining to the head waiter, Gladstone, a British Liberal politician, about being served "humble pie" for the second day in a row. The term "humble pie" is a metaphor for a situation where one is forced to acknowledge one's error or accept an unwelcome situation with humility. The cartoonist, Tenniel, masterfully uses the analogy of a dining table to highlight the international negotiations and diplomatic relationships between the major powers of the time. The failed negotiations and the subsequent arbitration by a third party have left John Bull feeling humiliated and frustrated, as symbolized by the humble pie he is being served. The satire in this print offers a biting critique of the political climate of the 1870s and the challenges of international diplomacy during the Victorian era.
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