The Wasp — 1891 — page 527: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts Russia as a bearded military figure sitting atop pirate ships labeled "PIRATE." The caption reads: "Russia—I say, Sam, why don't you let go of those strings to your revenue cutters and protect the interests—" The cartoon criticizes Russian imperial expansion and piracy in North American waters. The lower panels show coastal settlements (labeled "NORTH AMERICAN COM'Y CO," "HOSPITAL," "SCHOOL") vulnerable to Russian naval aggression, with warships approaching. The "strings" reference suggests Russia controls pirate vessels threatening commerce and American interests, likely alluding to 19th-century tensions over Russian colonial expansion in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. The satire portrays Russia as both militaristic aggressor and puppet master of maritime lawlessness.