The Wasp — 1887 — page 104: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes conflicts over immigration and morality laws. A bearded authority figure (likely representing law or government) wielts a whip over a woman labeled "United States Record," while caricatured figures—appearing to represent immigrants or marginalized groups—crouch below. The woman represents America itself being manipulated. The title "The Law and the Lily" suggests tension between harsh legal enforcement and feminine innocence or purity. The cartoon critiques how legal power is wielded selectively: protecting some while targeting vulnerable populations. The "United States Record" document suggests concerns about how America's reputation and legal system are being shaped by prejudicial enforcement during this era of heightened nativist sentiment and social anxiety.