The Wasp — 1892 — page 101: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts an exaggerated male figure labeled "American Employer" holding a torch and sword. His body is composed of various labeled containers and materials: "Gas," "Editorial Slush," and a basket containing items labeled "Scandal." The caption states: "Here is the Constitution of the equal. What does free m[ean]? It means that you [are free to]..." (text cuts off). The satire appears to criticize how American employers interpret constitutional freedoms—suggesting they use newspapers ("Editorial Slush"), scandals, and possibly intimidation (the weapons) to control narratives and workers. The decomposed body made of "slush" and "scandal" implies the employer figure is constructed from dishonest, inflammatory rhetoric rather than genuine principles. This likely critiques labor-era exploitation and media manipulation by industrial powers.