The Wasp — December 20, 1879 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Passing Regno—Backing Greenback" This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be a corrupt financial arrangement. On the right, a wealthy plutocrat or politician (depicted with exaggerated features) holds a large bag marked "$400" and wields a gun labeled "$400." On the left stands a smaller, uniformed figure—possibly a government official or soldier—being threatened or intimidated. The title suggests a play on "regno" (reign/rule) and "greenback" (money), implying that political power is being bought and sold through bribery or extortion. The cartoon critiques how wealth translates directly into political control, with money literally backing (supporting or forcing) governmental decisions. The gun imagery emphasizes the coercive, violent nature of this financial-political corruption.