The Wasp — 1879 — page 262: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains political commentary rather than a traditional cartoon. The main illustration shows a portrait labeled "DENIS I," identified in the caption as someone "of the Irish nation" who was "full of self-irritation" and whose "close is bad vocation." The text sections titled "ADVICE TO DENIS" and "JOHN'S MISTAKE" appear to satirize political figures regarding Chinese voting rights and governance. The commentary suggests Denis is politically naive and making poor decisions, while criticizing John's approach to allowing Chinese participation in American elections and political processes. The satire targets what appears to be late-19th-century debates over Chinese immigration and voting eligibility in California, mocking both political positions on this contentious issue.