The Wasp — 1879 — page 426: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a wasp attacking or stinging a donkey, illustrating the accompanying article's political metaphor. The donkey represents the Democratic Party, a standard 19th-century political symbol. The text discusses a man—likely a political candidate or figure—who prioritizes party loyalty over serving his country's best interests. The "suggestion" is satirical: just as a wasp stings a donkey, political reformers should aggressively challenge Democratic hypocrisy and poor governance. The article criticizes Democratic politicians for maintaining power through patronage and partisan manipulation rather than honest administration, comparing their approach to Napoleon's methods. The cartoon visually reinforces this critique through the violent imagery of the wasp attacking the symbolic donkey.