The Wasp — 1879 — page 612: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a large figure in a top hat carrying a platform labeled with names including "BUTLER," "THURMAN," "HEWETT," and "DEMOCRATIC HATED." He holds aloft smaller caricatured figures and a sign reading "YOU MUST SUPPORT THESE POLITICIANS OR YOUR CAUSE FAILS." The satire targets Democratic Party leadership, suggesting they manipulate or coerce voters by presenting handpicked candidates as mandatory choices. The term "Bed-Liars" (likely "bed-ridden liars") implies these are false or ineffectual politicians being promoted insincerely. The smaller figures appear to represent specific Democratic candidates or politicians of the era being satirized as puppets. The cartoon criticizes the party's top-down control and suggests voters are being deceived into supporting unworthy or compromised candidates.