The Wasp — 1877 — page 310: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a two-panel satirical cartoon titled "The Press There" from *The Wasp* magazine (page 297). The cartoon depicts a blindfolded female figure representing "The Press" or free speech, seated between two military officers in Germanic/Prussian uniforms (identifiable by their spiked helmets and formal military dress). She holds a banner reading "ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT," indicating forced compliance. The satire critiques suppression of press freedom by authoritarian military regimes. The blindfold symbolizes censorship; the military flanking suggests coercion. The caption "The Press There" likely references a specific foreign government—possibly Germany or another European autocracy—contrasting their state-controlled media with American press ideals. The cartoon warns American readers about the dangers of unchecked military or governmental control over journalism and public discourse.