The Wasp — 1889 — page 290: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon commemorates the centennial of George Washington's inauguration (1789-1889). The illustration depicts a chaotic scene of political and social figures gathered around what appears to be a monument or ceremonial object labeled "First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen" — Washington's famous epitaph. The satire appears to mock the hypocrisy of celebrating Washington's virtues while contemporary politicians and society engage in corruption, scheming, and unseemly behavior. Various caricatured figures surround the memorial in disarray, suggesting that late-19th-century America has strayed far from Washington's ideals of integrity and patriotic leadership. The contrast between the noble inscription and the undignified chaos critiques Gilded Age politics.