The Wasp — 1879 — page 134: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon from *The Wasp* (March 1, 1879) satirizes apparent hypocrisy regarding law enforcement and breweries. The left figure, labeled "US REVENUE LAW," represents a law preserver—likely a federal revenue officer or politician claiming to uphold liquor laws. The right figure, labeled "BREWERY," is a caricatured man holding a large pot marked "$4000," suggesting illegal profit or bribery. The cartoon's title suggests the irony: someone sworn to preserve revenue laws is actually breaking them—presumably by accepting bribes from breweries or turning a blind eye to illegal operations. The "$4000" likely represents either smuggled alcohol value or a bribe payment. This reflects 1870s debates over alcohol taxation, corruption, and enforcement.