Kevin--

Yes, this one is controversial--anticipating Tom Perkins, a few years ago, arguing that the wealthy should have more voting power.  And there's an argument that some hope will make it to the Supreme Court that will reinterpret what "one man, one votes" means.  

Hard to know what SLC at the time he wrote this, but one can only hope that it was satirical.   

--LH

Larry Howe
Professor of English & Film Studies
Department of Literature and Languages
Roosevelt University



________________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 12:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: When political posters quote Mark Twain

For some interesting comments by Twain about voting read Curious Republic of
Gondour.

Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
Member: ABAA, ILAB
*************************
You may browse our books at:
www.macdonnellrarebooks.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Howe
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 11:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: When political posters quote Mark Twain

I agree with Terry, Hal, and Mike in noting that it doesn't "sound like" Tw=
ain.  To put it more bluntly, Twain quotes are not only witty, their usuall=
y true.  This one is just plain dumb.  And the degree to which SLC was enga=
ged in politics, to the point of becoming a mugwump when he lost his faith =
in the Republican party for its nomination of Blaine suggests that he took =
the right to vote quite seriously.  =0A=
=0A=
Lest anyone thinks this ersatz Twain saying has merit, there's a current ca=
ndidate asking (and I paraphrase),=0A=
=0A=
If you think elections don't matter, then why do billionaires spend so much=
money trying to influence the outcome?=0A=
=0A=
--LH=0A=
=0A=
Larry Howe=0A=
Professor of English & Film Studies=0A=
Department of Literature and Languages=0A=
Roosevelt University=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
________________________________________=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Mike Pearson <earthi=
[log in to unmask]>=0A=
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2015 10:40 PM=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: When political posters quote Mark Twain=0A=
=0A=
=3D0A=3D=0A=
=3D0A=3D=0A=
Hi=3D2C Everyone=3D2C=0A=
Yay=3D2C or nay?  on this Mark Twain quote? =3D20=0A=
=0A=
Someone who likes Mark Twain=0A=
is circulating the quote (shown below)=3D20=0A=
on a graphic poster on Facebook. =3D20=0A=
      (When a quotation is part of a graphic poster=3D2C=3D20=0A=
a text search of the web...won't notice how often it appears.)=0A=
=0A=
If Mark Twain said the quote below=3D2C where did he say it?=0A=
Here's the quote:=0A=
"If voting made any difference=3D2C they wouldn't let us do it."=0A=
=0A=
I imagine some innocent persons thinking=3D2C=3D20=0A=
"Oh no! If Mark Twain says our country's good faith system=0A=
                                          is already gone=3D2C it must be t=
ru=3D=0A=
e!"=0A=
=0A=
Others may think=3D2C "Mark Twain -- what a maroon!"=0A=
I felt that statement is too hard-line.   =3D20=0A=
It's one thing to say Congress=3D20=0A=
and school boards are criminals and idiots=3D2C which=3D2C I know=3D2C he d=
id say=3D=0A=
=3D2C=0A=
in good humor(?)  It's another thing -- more hardline -- to discourage=0A=
people from voting.=0A=
But=3D2C did he say it?=0A=
Thanks!=0A=
=0A=
Mike Pearson=0A=
Ellensburg=3D2C Wash.=3D20=0A=
                                                                           =
       =3D=