The Wasp — September 6, 1879 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Municipals Behind It" This political cartoon satirizes municipal government corruption in late 19th-century America. The scene depicts a crowd of working-class citizens gathered below two ornate civic towers, where officials perch on balconies. A banner reads "The Laud Smoke of the Mint is Hushed" — likely referencing municipal misuse of public funds or mint operations. The title "Municipals Behind It" suggests city officials are orchestrating or concealing something from the public below. The contrast between elevated officials and the street-level crowd emphasizes power disparity. The dogs and chaotic crowd suggest disorder or manipulation. The cartoon appears to criticize how municipal governments operated behind closed doors while ordinary citizens remained ignorant of corruption or financial schemes affecting their communities.