The Wasp — 1877 — page 176: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques American naval spending and foreign policy. The bottom panel shows two figures at sea: a U.S. Navy sailor (labeled "United States Navy") on the right and what appears to be a European naval representative on the left. The caption reads: "What the U.S. Government Gets for Their Money — and What They Get in Europe." The underwater creatures visible below suggest the U.S. is investing in naval power (seen as living things) while Europe receives dead or worthless returns. This likely comments on post-Civil War debates about military expenditures and whether American foreign involvement—particularly naval expansion—yielded meaningful diplomatic or economic benefits compared to European powers' returns on similar investments. The satire questions the wisdom of American naval spending in this era.