The Wasp — 1888 — page 465: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts a figure climbing a ladder toward a woman holding various medals and ribbons labeled with what appear to be political offices or honors. The title "Cleveland's Message" suggests this relates to President Grover Cleveland. The cartoon satirizes what appears to be Cleveland's approach to political appointments or patronage—the practice of distributing government positions as rewards. The ladder suggests the ambitious effort required to reach these prizes, while the woman's abundance of medals represents available positions. The small wasp figure in the upper left is *The Wasp* magazine's mascot, emphasizing the publication's satirical "sting." The exact offices referenced on the medals are difficult to read clearly in this reproduction.