The Wasp — 1879 — page 458: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **text-based political commentary** rather than illustrated cartoons. The main article, "The Monroe (Burnside) Doctrine," discusses threats to American institutions and commerce, particularly regarding a proposed canal across Panama. The piece criticizes those seeking to destroy American interests through indirect means, warning against schemes that would weaken the nation's position. References to "black-hearted despots" and concerns about European powers attempting to undermine American institutions suggest Cold War-era anxieties about foreign threats. The secondary article mocks human foolishness through various examples, using satirical definitions of "fools" to lampoon contemporary social types and behaviors. **Note:** The actual illustrations referenced ("See Cartoon on Last Page") are not visible on this page itself.