Remember to consider Time and Place when pondering Sam Clemens' feelings about Native Americans. In 1861-67, while Sam Clemens (and Mark Twain after February 1863), some of the tribes in the West were still killing Caucasians. And the Whites were still killing "Indians." The Washoe Tribe (you will not find the word "Indian" on their website) had occupied the lands around the greater Virginia City area. They were not threateningly troublesome and provided many services. Twain castigated the unknown person who put smallpox-contaminated clothing out where a tribal member would find and wear it. However, the non-Washoe tribal people around the Washoe area were not always friendly. In his first boarding house (1861) in Carson City he lived with two men who had been involved fifteen months earlier, in May 1860, in bringing the Pyramid Lake War {"Paiute Indian War"} to a conclusion. One of the two, William Wagner, was with Col. Lander when Paiutes fired at them.  In Roughing It, Twain speaks of his venture on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe in September, 1861. Their "Faro table rock," which the 1913 six foot high dam at the northwest corner of the lake has caused to be about five feet underwater, is only two or three miles north of the woodland meadow where one band of Washoes traditionally summered. In late August the band had departed for the Pinyon Pine pine nut harvest season in the lower mountain ranges some miles east of the lake. In Carson City today, I live near what I have heard the residents thereof call "the rez". It is a Washoe Colony owned by the Washoe tribe that was originally established on the edge of town to house Washoe members who provided maid and house servant duties, yard workers, etc. in town. Native Americans could not own property in Nevada Territory and early Nevada State. My point relative to Mark Twain is simply that Sam Clemens had reason to be fearful of all tribal persons. I know one older man who was in World War II who now, eight decades later, has no love for Japanese. I do give Twain points for apparently working to change his ingrained fears. For me, relative to Mark Twain: Distrust or Concern are perhaps better attitudes to apply to his feelings about those who were here before the Caucasians overwhelmed them. Bob Stewart of Carson CityA student of Clemens/Twain's Territorial days and the people around him.I had lunch today in a hotel he mentions by name in one tall tale.    
In a message dated 6/16/2025 10:14:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: 
I noticed that Twain may have experienced some slight change of heart about Native Americans.  I would ask Kerry Driscoll directly but I don't have an address.  Anyway, I note in a letter, February 26, 1909, to his daughter Jean, he writes "That poor old Geronimo! I am glad his grand old patriot heart is at peace, no more to know wrong & insult at the hands of the Christian savage."  At least that is what David Fears documented for that date.  I can see that this may have more to do with Twain's aversion to "Christians" than to a recognition of the humanity of Native Americans. I remarked on this some weeks ago on the social media platform Reddit and the response I received was one of surprise that Twain may have had any kind of change of heart about "Indians".  His biases, inconsistencies and downright hypocrisies are very  much unknown amidst the deluge of memes that may  or may not have Twain as originator.   -- /*Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado*/ Visit B. Scott Holmes <https://bscottholmes.com>Twain's Geography <https://twainsgeography.com>