Bob,
Twain
did not support the war in the Philippines. He saw this
as an imperialistic move by the United States. But he could, and did,
support war if it meant freedom for an oppressed people. And, I
would argue then, that Twain would support our current action in Iraq.
He could
not praise Amerca enough for its action in the Spanish-
American War. In 1898, he wrote his minister friend Joseph Twichell
that " I have never enjoyed a war--even in written history--as I am
enjoying this one." For, as he continued, "this is the worthiest one
that was ever fought, so far as my knowledge goes. It is a worthy
thing to fight for one's freedom; it is another sight finer to fight for
another man's freedom. And I think this is the first time it has been
done" (Mark Twain's Letters, ed Paine, p 663). I, for one, believe we
can count our latest actions as a country as another event fought for
another's freedom.
Twain
found it necessary to defend his country's action to
liberate Cuba from Spanish oppression, especially European attacks
(not the least being those of the French). In an essay he addressed
to Americans living in Europe, he rephrased attacks on American
integrity and cast them sarcastically back at Europeans: ""Brutal,
base, dishonest? We? Land thieves? Shedders of innocent blood?
We? Traitors to our official word? We?" One only needs to read
Twain's Innocents Abroad to discover that these words, in Twain's
view, fit Europeans much better than Americans.
True enough,
Twain was just as vehemently against the
annexation of overseas territories as he was patriotically for the
liberation of Cuba. He could weigh situations and speculate on
consequences and actions--and yes, he could be for war at one time
and against it at another. So we might do well to follow his example.
Why enlist him on one side or another. This over-simplifies him--
flattens his mind and cheapens his spirit.
But he could
be the Patriot, and the one book of his that he liked
the best is his biography of Joan of Arc. In this book, Twain
continualy focuses on the genius of Joan's patriotism and her ability
to consider carefully a situation and then act decisively--qualities
Twain admired in great individuals. At the conclusion of his book on
Jaon, Twain puts it this way: "With Joan of Arc love of country was
more than a sentiment--it was a passion. She was the Genius of
Patriotism--she was Patriotism embodied, concreted, made flesh,
and palpable to the touch and visible to the eye." "And in her hand,"
Twain concludes, "the sword that severed her country's bonds--shall
not this, and no other, stand for Patriotism through all the ages until
time shall end? (Joan of Arc 425).
I hope I
have avoided making any personal attacks. And I hope
we can now find it amusing that those who selectively quote Twain to
support anti-war sentiments can be countered by those words they
overlooked.
Jason
Jason G. Horn
Associate Professor of English
Division of Humanities
Gordon College
Barnesville, Georgia 30204