Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-10

remark Of his in his Easy Chair
In Harper's for February. When
we get hero of national proportions"
ne says, 1--WE worship him for things
that the person of ordinary make
would be turned out of clubs for,
or put In state prison, or sent to the
guillotine or gallows or electric chair.
We seem to be more ready to do this
than to idolize or idealize some men Of
national proportions In the good
things, the things that really honor
people, far above bloodletting, as pa
tience, kindliness, humility the love of
humor, the sense of human fellow
ship"
a naval hero returning home, liter
ed and advertised by the great, forgot
obligation and, displaying quality the
opposite of heroism, took back all that
he had said which the fiatterers desired
should be unsaid.
Americas greatest humorist, return
ing home, praised by the great, re-
ceived into the heart of Imperialism,
stung his way out. The people of all
lands are deeply indebted to Mark
Twain.
In the February North American Re
view Mark Twain explains to the per-
son sitting in darkness who would be
puzzled by our mixture of greed and
godliness:"
"They look doubtful, but in reality
they are not. There have been lies,
yes, but they We're told in good cause.
We have been treacherous, but that
was only in order that real good might
come out of apparent evil. True, we
have crushed deceived and confiding
people; we have turned against the
weak and the friendless who trusted
us; we have stamped out just and
intelligent and well ordered republic;
We have stabbed an ally in the back
and slapped the face Of a guest; we
have bought shadow from an enemy
who hadn't it to sell; we have robbed
trusting friend of his land and liber-
ty; we have invited onr clean young
men to shoulder discredited musket
and do bandits work under a flag
which bandits have been accustomed
to fear, not follow; we have debauched
Americas honor and blackened her
face before the world, but each detail
was for the best. We know this. The
head of every state and sovereignty in
Christendom, and 80 per cent of every
legislative body in Christendom, includ-
ing our congress and our 80 state legis-
latures, are members not only of the
church, but also Of the blessings Of civ
llization trust. This world girdling ac-
cumulatlon of trained morals, high
principles and Justice cannot do an I'M
right thing"
1.-The ordinary epithets cannot be
flung at him." says the New York Post.
"Mark Twain is no bilious, white liv-
cred, wall eyed hermit of n timid little
American. He looks at this question
with a world perspective. He has
| stood before kings. He Is not daZZled
| by rhetoric about the American empire
| Growth of our soil and travelled OBJ
server of other nations, Mark Twain
comes home to tell our Haunting impe-
rialists that he sees through their n.y.
pocracies."
The order suddenly to change front
and agitate for a standing army of
100000 after boasting of finished up
war made some editors feel like min
MES, it is said, but Mark Twain's
laughter made them feel like changing
the subject of their editorials for few
days
Shakespeare was Of us; Milton was
for us; Burns, Shelley, We're with u.s."
And so are all honest people who un-
derstand the old tricks of the new ar
istocracy. ELLA ORMsBY.
New Salem, Mass.