The Wasp — 1894 — page 40: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts the militarization of American government. Two uniformed soldiers (labeled "U.S." and "N.G."—likely U.S. Army and National Guard) stand in the foreground, armed with bayoneted rifles. Behind them marches a procession of crowned, authoritarian rulers representing foreign powers. The soldiers are being "loaded" with ammunition "as rapidly as possible" from a large supply marked "For Sunstroke," suggesting excessive military buildup. The subtitle, "The Passing of a Republic," expresses alarm that democratic American institutions are being replaced by militaristic autocracy. This appears to critique either American imperial expansion or domestic militarization policies, likely from the early 20th century when such concerns about losing republican values to military power were prominent in progressive publications.