The Wasp — 1896 — page 997: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1896 *Wasp* page features two cartoons critiquing American politics during the Free Silver campaign. **"The Sliding Scale"** (top) depicts various political figures and groups aligned on a scale, apparently satirizing how different constituencies positioned themselves on the currency issue—a major 1896 election debate between Free Silver advocates and the gold standard. **"Dubious"** (bottom) shows a woman viewing campaign posters promising "free silver" for Guatemala, South America, China, Japan, and Mexico. The caption mocks the contradiction: politicians promise wage increases through free silver while opposing tariffs to protect American workers. The satire suggests politicians make impossible promises to voters while lacking genuine solutions. Both cartoons attack the inconsistency and opportunism of 1896 campaign rhetoric around monetary policy.