The Wasp — 1893 — page 386: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a demon or devil-like figure carrying a basket of people across a fence, likely representing the U.S.-Mexico border. The basket is suspended from bat-like wings. On the right, a plank labeled "RESTRICTION PANIC" shows Chinese immigrants descending, with text reading "Chinese Must Go" and "Down with the Coolies." The satire appears to criticize anti-immigrant sentiment by equating deportation efforts with demonic behavior. The comparison between Chinese exclusion (referenced through the plank) and Mexican immigration suggests the cartoonist is mocking restrictionist panic about multiple immigrant groups simultaneously. The demon's casual transport of people across the border implies the cartoonist views restriction as inhumane and absurd. The magazine's title, *The Wasp*, was known for satirizing social hypocrisy.