The Wasp — 1878 — page 223: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts "The Almighty Dollar Rail" — a locomotive powered by money rather than steam. Two well-dressed men in civilian clothes occupy the engine car alongside a military officer labeled "LIEUT. GENERAL." A fly hovers above, suggesting disease or corruption. The satire critiques the marriage of corporate wealth and military power, suggesting that financial interests drive military decisions rather than genuine national defense. The "almighty dollar" metaphor indicates that profit, not patriotism, motivates the enterprise. The specific identities of the figures remain unclear from the image alone, though the high-ranking military officer suggests this critiqued American railroad magnates' influence over military policy during an era of rapid industrial expansion and potential conflicts of interest.