The Wasp — 1892 — page 182: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a formal dinner gathering where various political and social ideologies are personified as dinner guests. Visible place settings are labeled with phrases like "American Independence," "Social Equality," "Religious Liberty," and "Universal Suffrage," suggesting a debate about competing principles. A tall, bearded figure (right) appears to be presenting or advocating a position to seated diners, while the Capitol building is visible through a window—indicating this concerns national governance. The satire likely critiques how political ideals are discussed in elite circles while potentially being ignored or compromised in practice. The formal dinner setting suggests these principles are treated as polite conversation rather than serious action items. Without the magazine's date or additional context, the specific historical moment remains unclear.