The Wasp — 1879 — page 493: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* (March 6, 1880) is primarily editorial commentary rather than illustrated satire. The main article, "The Yellow Plague," attacks Chinese immigration and Chinese people living in America using dehumanizing language—calling them a "plague" and claiming they inherently cause social problems. The piece argues Chinese workers undercut wages, live in overcrowded conditions, and pose moral dangers. It dismisses counterarguments about their labor contributions and advocates for exclusionary policies. The header logo shows the magazine's masthead. The editorial reflects the virulent anti-Chinese sentiment widespread in 1880s California, foreshadowing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The satire here targets not Chinese people (as victims) but rather those who might defend Chinese immigration.