The Wasp — 1890 — page 237: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon critiques Republican party tactics during the 1880 election cycle. The imagery depicts a figure being torn apart by competing forces, illustrating The Wasp's claim that Republicans employed a "rule or ruin" strategy—threatening to destroy the party rather than accept defeat or compromise on candidates like Col. Markham. The accompanying editorial argues that this antagonistic approach damages Republican unity and credibility. The Wasp accuses party leadership of using intimidation and internal sabotage against moderate members, warning that such divisive tactics undermine democratic principles. The cartoon visually reinforces the text's central complaint: that rigid party dogmatism and power struggles are literally destroying the organization from within.