The Wasp — 1892 — page 205: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a debate over **Free Trade** policy, as indicated by the banner overhead. The central figure on the right—a portly, well-dressed man with a prominent beard—appears to be championing free trade ideology, gesturing enthusiastically while holding what looks like a document or treaty. He's confronted by several skeptical or opposing figures to his left, representing those who questioned or opposed free trade policies. The cartoon likely comments on **late 19th-century American trade debates**, when free trade advocates clashed with protectionists who favored tariffs. The exaggerated caricature suggests The Wasp's satirical stance toward one side of this economic dispute, though the specific historical moment and which position the cartoon supports remains somewhat unclear from the image alone.