The Wasp — February 28, 1880 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp - February 28, 1880 The masthead cartoon depicts a wasp attacking what appears to be a Chinese figure or representation, illustrating the magazine's anti-Chinese stance. The accompanying editorial "Convicts Must Go" argues that Chinese laborers should be expelled from California, characterizing them as "a pest" and comparing them unfavorably to other immigrant groups. The text criticizes Chinese workers as economically destructive, claiming they undercut wages and working conditions. It frames their presence as a threat to white workingmen's livelihoods and moral standards. The piece also references the Folsom Prison investigation and attempts to portray Chinese immigration as fundamentally incompatible with American society. This reflects the intense anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent in 1880s California politics and labor movements.