The Wasp — February 28, 1880 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The Enfranchised Vampire-Corpse-Eaters" This appears to be a satirical cartoon criticizing political corruption or undesirable politicians gaining power through voting rights ("enfranchised"). The grotesque imagery depicts demonic or vampiric figures with exaggerated, monstrous features—including fangs, horns, and corpse-like characteristics—seemingly devouring or preying upon society. The text labels visible on the creatures suggest specific political references, though they're difficult to fully decipher in this reproduction. The style indicates this is late 19th-century American political satire, typical of *The Wasp* magazine's sharp commentary on contemporary politics. The central message appears to be that certain political groups or politicians are portrayed as parasitic, destructive forces feeding on the body politic—a common metaphor in Gilded Age political cartooning. Without clearer text visibility, the specific targets remain somewhat unclear.