The Wasp — 1894 — page 373: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes a hypocritical journalist—likely one of San Francisco's reform-minded editors—preaching moral virtue while engaging in violent or reckless behavior. The image shows two figures at a rifle range in Sausalito: one firing wildly (the "moralist") while his companion ducks for cover. The exaggerated pose and chaos suggest the absurdity of someone claiming ethical authority while acting dangerously. The accompanying text discusses a newspaper editor's inconsistent career—criticizing others' moral failings while his own conduct contradicts his stated principles. The cartoon's title ironically equates "moralism" with careless destruction, mocking sanctimonious journalism of the era. The satire targets San Francisco's reform press for preaching standards they didn't practice.