The Wasp — February 21, 1880 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Wasp, February 21, 1880 The main content is an editorial titled "VERBAS SIMPLEX ORATIO EST" (plain speech is best), addressing German immigration and perceived German dominance in San Francisco. The central image shows a **German Imperial eagle** (Prussian symbol), representing Germany or German power. The text argues that Germans are accumulating excessive wealth and influence in San Francisco, "squandering" money frivolously and behaving arrogantly. The editorial calls for Irish and other groups to unite against German economic and social dominance, framing it as a threat to the city's character. This reflects late-19th-century **ethnic tension and nativist anxieties** about German immigrant success and cultural influence in California. The satire positions Germans as threatening outsiders despite their prosperity.