The Wasp — 1876 — page 107: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page consists primarily of dense political commentary text rather than cartoons. The main articles attack **Governor George L. Woods of Oregon**, detailing allegations of official misconduct including: - Abuse of executive power in filling legislative vacancies - Improper issuance of teaching certificates - Corruption involving the Penitentiary A section titled **"The 'Democratic Roughs'"** criticizes Republican newspapers for harsh political attacks, suggesting both parties engage in dirty tactics. The final article, **"Protective Night Police,"** discusses San Francisco police closures and a civilian "Merchants Protective Police" organization, questioning its legitimacy and independence. The satire is largely **textual rather than visual**—typical of 19th-century satirical journalism that used editorial invective and investigative reporting as its primary weapons against political corruption.