The Wasp — 1890 — page 253: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes Democratic legislators' fiscal mismanagement. The image shows a hand-written message on a wall reading "This is the handwriting on the wall that makes the managers of the opposition figure the Republicans made an issue of economy, and the farmers and business men are behind them." The satire mocks Democrats for proposing new taxes and expenditures despite claiming fiscal responsibility. The accompanying text criticizes the previous Democratic Legislature for depleting state funds through excessive appropriations and "Buckley's cave" favoritism, then demanding additional taxation. The cartoon suggests Republicans would exploit this hypocrisy—that Democrats "stole all there was in sight and a good deal more" while now requesting further funds. It's partisan attack-rhetoric using fiscal irresponsibility as the primary critique.