The Wasp — 1888 — page 252: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This September 29, 1888 *Wasp* cartoon satirizes American diplomatic negotiations, likely regarding trade or territorial disputes. A well-dressed diplomat or politician (right) confronts a grotesque, multi-headed dragon-like creature emerging from a ornate archway—representing either a foreign power or the complications of treaty-making itself. The figure holds a scroll or document while gesticulating at the monster, suggesting frustration with negotiations. The title "No More Treaties" indicates the cartoonist advocates abandoning diplomatic efforts in favor of a more aggressive stance. The exaggerated, nightmarish depiction of the opposing force suggests the cartoonist viewed ongoing negotiations as monstrous or untenable. Without more specific historical context from 1888, the exact dispute remains unclear, though it likely reflects contemporary American foreign policy debates.