The Wasp — 1889 — page 94: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This August 1889 *Wasp* cartoon satirizes efforts to repeal the **Chinese Exclusion Act** through what appears to be casual, backroom dealing. The image depicts five men (likely politicians or lobbyists) casually discussing the repeal of Chinese immigration restrictions—shown as a document labeled "CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT"—while one figure holds up what appears to be a laurel wreath or victory symbol. The title's irony suggests the cartoonist is mocking how easily congressmen might overturn significant legislation through informal negotiation, implying corruption or insufficient democratic process. The caricatured figure on the left uses stereotypical "Chinese" visual depiction, typical of 1880s-90s xenophobic imagery. The satire criticizes both those seeking repeal and the perceived ease of legislative manipulation.