The Wasp — 1891 — page 232: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features Hon. Benjamin Butterworth, a Member of Congress and Chief Secretary of the World's Fair and Columbian Exposition, alongside a satirical article questioning whether Canadian annexation would benefit the United States. The upper cartoon depicts Butterworth in a formal portrait style. The accompanying article discusses reciprocal trade treaties with Canada, arguing the economic benefits are one-sided. It references the 1848 Reciprocity Treaty and debates about free trade versus protectionism. The lower cartoon, titled "Beyond Offending," shows two men in conversation about a character named Van Schmer Blueblood being rude and unaccountable. This appears to be satirizing upper-class social behavior and lack of accountability among wealthy individuals. The page reflects late 19th-century American political debates about trade policy and class-based social criticism.