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 instance, during the debacle there in the 1890s. I am among those who have written 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 <[log in to unmask]> 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". 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.'” 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=http-3A__bscottholmes.com&d=DwIBaQ&c=Pk_HpaIpE_jAoEC9PLIWoQ&r=f7i-Uq4rMQU8-TBe45qVLg&m=0ElhW8FtiihiUxBzPZn-muKPUXDbCqemVmv2F_uaCZI&s=RTGtYz2aECrSPk9kzs8KO0M8meXieZxpuV816QXAQVA&e=