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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Tue, 3 Apr 2007 13:34:28 -0500
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Jim Zwick <[log in to unmask]>
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There are a number of references to George Washington in Twain's
anti-imperialist writings. In "To the Person Sitting in Darkness" he is part
of the "Trinity of our national gods" -- "Washington, the Sword of the
Liberator; Lincoln the Slave's Broken Chains; the Master [McKinley], the
Chains Repaired."

To the Person Sitting in Darkness
http://www.boondocksnet.com/ai/twain/persit.html

"A Defence of General Funston" begins, "February 22. To-day is the
great Birth-Day.... Neither Washington nor Funston was made in a day."
Washington figures prominently in the essay.

A Defence of General Funston
http://www.boondocksnet.com/ai/twain/deffunst.html

The "Shade of Washington" appears in "The Stupendous Procession,"
where he has a discussion with "The Frivolous Stranger" about why
Filipinos are labeled "rebels" and Puerto Ricans are labeled "subjects".
"Shade of Washington -- not pleased. 'A degrading term, and apes
monarchy.'"

"George Wishington" is discussed in "The Secret History of Eddypus,
the World-Empire." History has been suppressed so Washington's name
is not remembered correctly. "He did not write the Declaration [of
Independence], as some historians erroneously believe, but excused
himself on the plea that he could not tell a lie." And later: "Wishington
did not live to see his prophecy come true, but in time it did come true,
and the government thenceforth made the sly and treacherous betrayal
of weak republics its amusement, and the stealing of their lands and the
assassination of their liberties its trade."

There are also many other references to the Declaration of
Independence. The most notable is the suggestion in "The Stupendous
Procession" that it be revised to reflect government of the new colonies:
"ALL WHITE MEN ARE BORN FREE AND EQUAL" and
"GOVERNMENTS DERIVE THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE
CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED WHITE MEN." (caps in original)

"The Stupendous Procession" and "The Secret History of Eddypus"
were first published in John S. Tuckey, ed., _Mark Twain's Fables of
Man_ (Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1972).

Jim Zwick

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