The Wasp — 1888 — page 325: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page depicts nine male political figures labeled as "Convention Buds," with the caption: "Some will bloom and some decay—We'll know it all on election day." The cartoon appears to reference candidates or party figures being considered for nomination at a political convention. The phrase "buds" suggests these are emerging or potential candidates whose viability remains uncertain—some will succeed ("bloom") while others will fail ("decay")—with the outcome determined by voters on election day. The figures are identified by name labels, though without additional historical context, I cannot definitively identify the specific convention year or determine whether this represents Republican, Democratic, or another party's selection process. The satirical premise is that political fortunes are unpredictable until actual voting occurs.