The Wasp — 1890 — page 353: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The prominent cartoon depicts **Lady Liberty being attacked or restrained**, representing California's political autonomy under threat. The imagery suggests the state's independence is being compromised by political forces. The accompanying text articulates the cartoon's meaning: the article warns that **"bosses" and corrupt political machines** control California politics through patronage and intimidation. It specifically references the McKinley tariff bill debate and urges voters to reject candidates backed by political bosses who exploit the state for private gain. The satire targets **machine politics and bossism**—the practice of political elites controlling elections through corruption rather than honest governance. The cartoon warns Republican voters that Buckley's machine represents exactly this threat to democratic principles and the state's interests.