The Wasp — 1890 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **biographical profile**, not a political cartoon. It features a portrait of **General John Bidwell**, a prominent California politician and landowner. The text describes Bidwell's career: his election to California's Constitutional Convention (1849), service in the Mexican-American War, appointment to command the Fifth Brigade during the Civil War, and subsequent political campaigns. Notably, he ran for Governor on the **Anti-Monopoly ticket** in 1882, polling about 30,000 votes despite lavish spending against him. The profile emphasizes Bidwell's "public-spirited" character and opposition to Chinese immigration, which was a significant political issue in 1880s California. The page concludes with an unrelated anecdote ("Just as Expected") and advertisements for wine importers—typical *Wasp* magazine content mixing news, satire, and commerce.