Puck — April 1877 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes a political figure (caricatured with an elderly, stern appearance) through the metaphor of a "Cabinet" — likely referencing a government official's controversial cabinet appointments or policies. The quote attributed to Wendell Phillips criticizes how "this ship" (the nation) was "tossed on the hot indignation of twenty million Northerners and the tireless hate of ten millions at the South." This suggests the cartoon addresses sectional tensions, possibly during Reconstruction or a related period of North-South conflict. The devil figure looming above implies the cartoon portrays the politician as serving evil or destructive purposes. The "Pure Water" pitcher suggests hypocrisy — a contrast between claimed virtues and actual conduct. Without the specific date or clearer identification, the precise political target remains unclear.