The Wasp — 1894 — page 199: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts **Senator Stephen M. White** (identified in the caption) presiding over a dinner where Democratic Congress members celebrate their legislative achievements. The large "SOUP" bowl is a metaphor for the political situation they've created. The caption criticizes their boasting: they claim to have accomplished reform and passed beneficial legislation, yet acknowledge plunging the country into "unprecedented commercial depression." The satire suggests Democrats are serving themselves (literally dining) while the country suffers economically from their policies. The figures appear to be prominent Democratic politicians of the era, toasting their own success despite obvious economic harm. The cartoon mocks their self-congratulation and disconnect from the public suffering caused by their governance—a common critique of the party in power during economic downturns.