The Wasp — 1879 — page 268: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts a demonic figure holding a bat-wing labeled "2014 LEGISLATURE" above a podium. Two caricatured men present what appears to be a new constitution to a crowd below. One figure wears a label reading "BIRD LABOR" (likely referring to labor interests), while another holds a document mentioning "FOREIGN" concerns. The cartoon criticizes the 1879 California Constitutional Convention, suggesting that corrupt or demonic forces—represented by the evil figure—control the legislature's adoption of the new constitution. The satire implies the process is illegitimate or serves special interests rather than the public good, with the crowd below representing ordinary citizens excluded from meaningful participation.