The Wasp — 1878 — page 57: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **text and advertisements** rather than political cartoons. The masthead shows *The Illustrated Wasp* was published weekly at 602 California Street, San Francisco. The editorial section critiques California's **weak city government** and **labor suppression**. It argues authorities illegally disbanded workingmen's meetings without legal cause, violating constitutional rights. The piece advocates for stronger government that protects civil liberties rather than merely serving the wealthy. The page includes notices about the magazine's ongoing "Old Man of the Sea" serial and an upcoming cartoon about San Francisco street life. A brief satirical note mocks a journalist's failed attempt to start a newspaper by plagiarizing the *New York Tribune*. The content reflects 1870s **labor disputes and free-speech tensions** in San Francisco.