The Wasp — 1877 — page 272: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1877 *Wasp* cartoon satirizes alleged hypocrisy regarding international neutrality. The caption references "John Bull" (Britain), "Uncle Sam" (America), and "Krupp & Co." (the German armaments manufacturer). The scene depicts figures in a weapons arsenal surrounded by cannons, rifles, and ammunition. The satirical point appears to be that while Britain and America publicly claimed neutrality in international conflicts, they (along with German weapons manufacturers) were actively profiting from selling arms to combatants. The cartoon suggests these nations' proclaimed neutrality was dishonest—they maintained official non-involvement while commercially enabling warfare through weapons sales. This reflects 19th-century debates about war profiteering and the ethics of neutral nations supplying belligerents.