Puck — August 22, 1877 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The cartoon depicts "Diogenes Conkling Finds His Honest Man." This is a satirical reference to the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, who famously searched with a lantern for an honest man. The figure on the left with the lantern appears to be Roscoe Conkling, a prominent Republican politician of the era. The cartoon suggests that Conkling's search for honesty in politics has been successful—he's found his "honest man" among the various figures gathered outside what appears to be a German hotel in Greenwich Street, New York. The satire likely mocks Conkling's political integrity or reputation, implying that finding an honest man (even among questionable characters) represents a notable achievement during this era of political corruption.