New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
-o ,he Editor OF The Tribune

70 Editor OF Inc tribune,
Sir: The case Of Mark Twain rs. the Rev. Mr.
.ment was sure 10 come 10 the front. but in no
raw more effectively could II do than IN the let
,ers of the Rev. DR.. Judson Smith and OF Mark
TUsin which have Just -ead and reread in your
columns Of to-day's Issue.
must confess 10 a great surprise at Mark
Twains answer. 1t is perhaps a shrewd answer.
M. Is Il Just one?
car any man. much less an assumed moralist
charge a reputable man with getting himself into
an "unspealSahlc scrape" upon ex parte statement,
~ alleged facts, and then when brought 10 book
bv responsible authority dodge the issue by insist
ing upon the alleged guilty party proving his own
innooencef
The evidence upon which Mark Twain based his
nossihly slanderous attacks upon man OF proved
hravery unselhsh devotion and spotless life is in
,,seIs ana taken Just Il stands utterly unre-
liable II IS upon careful analysis. shrewdly put
,orether by one bassed against missionary work
An China. A moments study shows II 10 be garbled
ana arranged so 10 place matters in false per-
specive Each detached sentence may not be
pronounced false. probably not one. but by onis-
slon OF connecting links and explanatory context
the whole may be a virtual misrepresentation Of
the real situation.
The Rev Dr. Smith supplies. in a measure. ''the
other side" and puts more reliable and Just
sspec, OF Mr. Aments relation to the exact situa-
lion before us. on the whole, ] think the Rev. DR.
Smith made mistake in doing this. though it was
done in the best and most courteous manner.
He. as Mr. Aments friend and representative,
NAV have well demanded OF Mark Twain that he
pFove Mr.. Ameut's guilt, and when Mark Twain
feu back as he would, on the dispatch 10 Ihe
sun or The Evening sun (Which was itF) he
nav well have asked: Have you verified this au-
fhOritv2 What right have you 10 repeat possible
salsitV and expect escape from the just resohs-
hfitv OF such repetiton2 Did you not, by using u
as proven without Investigation, make II your
own II So I hold YOU responsible for II. and not
The original reporter. -,
In Is rather amusing 10 observe how Mark Twain
seels 10 escape this responsibility and virtuously
ASKS an impossibility before he VIII quit his position
os injured Innocence. ,..
OF course ''the head OF Laffans news service
will never confess ''that that dispatch was talse
invention and unauthorized" But II Is none OF Dr.
Smiths or Mr.. Ament's business 10 get him 10
make such a confession. II is, however, very much
Mark TWain's business 10 prove that that dlspatcA
represents the real truth Of the case, snd Just
inlpression OF Mr.. Ament's actions and character;
for his own character for justice and honor IS
deenly concerned in making good the extremely
severe CHARGES which he has publicly made against
a gentleman's lifelonC reputation and the possibly
.nioutous slander OF an innocent man.
N0t until Mark Twain does succeed IN establish
inr these charges by Vindicating his original au-
th6ritv can any discriminating judgment hold him
free from both intellectual frivoity and moral snail
lCwEess
n Mark Twain can afford 10 let matters rest
where these two letters leave them, certainly AF
Ament and DR. Smith can ~
MOrTistOwn, y. j., FEB TO- Ec4-