Adding to Hal's remarks, Twain's views on imperialism evolved over time and they were made complex by his personal loyalties and personal hatreds of those on the other side, his need to preserve his public persona (and income), and a host of other factors. Besides Susan Harris's excellent GOD'S ARBITERS, I can also suggest Zwonitzer's STATESMAN AND STORYTELLER (MT and John Hay), McFarland's MARK TWAIN AND THE COLONEL (MT & Teddy Roosevelt), Kinzer's THE TRUE FLAG (MT & Teddy Roosevelt), and Bliss's MARK TWAIN'S TALE OF TODAY. And now you may add to the list some of the chapters from Kerry Driscoll's superb book. All of these post-Jim Zwick studies throw light on Twain's changing views on imperialism. I think I probably nit-picked each of them in MT Forum reviews, but I recommend reading all of them. It's tempting to simplify Twain's views on race, religion, politics, Native Americans, and imperialists, but his views were not simple, and consistency was not a hobgoblin of Twain's mind. Not only is there nothing wrong with complexity or contradictions, but they often combine into something that resides in close proximity to truth, and I suspect that is the reason so many of us are drawn back to Twain's writings. They are like a tide that never goes out, so we linger by the shore waiting for the next prize to wash our way. 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: Hal Bush Sent: Monday, October 08, 2018 8:24 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Indians, Indians and Imperialism Regarding MT & his so-called " life-long dislike of imperialism": not so much. His eyes were opened pretty late on that issue,= I think. Twain changed his tune pretty significantly about the Phillippines, for ins= tance, during the debacle there in the 1890s. I am among those who have wr= itten about Twain's view of imperialism and his radical change of view, but= post-Jim Zwick, I would especially mention Sue Harris's excellent book on = the topic. The Anti-Imperialist League wasn't even founded until 1898. -hb Dr. Hal Bush Dept. of English Saint Louis University [log in to unmask] 314-977-3616 http://halbush.com author website: halbush.com ________________________________ From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Scott Holmes <scott@= BSCOTTHOLMES.COM> Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2018 5:33:24 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Indians, Indians and Imperialism While working on my Twain's Geography site, currently his tour of India, I frequently reference Ian Strathcarron's book, "The Indian Equator". =C2 There is a footnote that reminded me of the recent thread on Twain and Native Americans but also of Twain's feelings about Imperialism: "Many Mark Twain enthusiasts have commented on his life-long dislike of imperialism and the resultant puffed-up vanity of colonialism. The one exception to this rule was the jewel in the crown of imperialism, the British Raj reign of India. Not only did he forgive the British for their incursion but on numerous occasions pointed out how beneficial it was to the natives; how lucky they were to have the British to rule over them." This is footnoted, thus: "He felt something similar about the British treatment of Indians closer to home. In Johannesburg, South Africa, he said: 'Look at the difference between the position of the Canadian Indians and the Indians with whom the United States government has to deal. In Canada the Indians are peaceful and contented enough. In the United States there are continual rows with the government, which invariably ends in the red man being shot down.'=E2=80=9D Here are two instances that stand in contrast to our general understanding of Twain - he appears to approve of imperialism/colonialism; and, he appears sympathetic to Native Americans. -- There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=3Dhttp-3= A__bscottholmes.com&d=3DDwIBaQ&c=3DPk_HpaIpE_jAoEC9PLIWoQ&r=3Df7i-Uq4rMQU8-= TBe45qVLg&m=3D0ElhW8FtiihiUxBzPZn-muKPUXDbCqemVmv2F_uaCZI&s=3DRTGtYz2aECrSP= k9kzs8KO0M8meXieZxpuV816QXAQVA&e=3D