The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-01
FUNSTON NOT TO BLAME
Twain Says His Conscience
Leaked When He Was Little.

New York, May 1-Of course, Mark
Twain's Defense Of General Funston
which appears in the forthcoming May
number of the North American Review,
Is wrote sarcastic" Mr.. Clemens, as is
win known, is no friend of thN capturer
of AguinaIdo.
The argument worked out in this de
Tense" is that General Funston is no
more responsible for his moral and in
teIlectual makeup than General Wash
ington was for his.
In each case the moral flesh bulk
(that is to say. eharacter) was built and
shaped round the skeleton by training,
association and circumstances" says
Twain. Given a crooked disposition
skeletca. no power nor influence in the
earth can mould permanently shapely
form around it. f"
Mark Twain acknowledges that every
detail of the scheme-except One-has
been employed before in war and is
considered jlstifiable. 1t is allowable for
a brigadier general elf he be of the sort
that can so choose'') to practice butchery
himself and encourage it in others by
bribery to remove the badges OF his own
honorable rank and disguise himself, to
lie, to forge, to accept OF courteous well
come and assassinate the Welcomers
while their hands are still warm from
the friendly handshake.
"But-and herein Mark Twain makes
his xception-although when man is
exhausted by hunger to the point where
he is too weak to move he has a right
to make supplicatiOn to his enemy to
save his failing life; nevertheless, If he
take so much as one taste of that food
which is holy, by the precept Of all ages
and all nations-he is barred from lift
ing his hand against that enemy for that
time
1T was left to a brigadier general of
the volunteers in the American army TO
put shame upon a custom which even
the degraded Spanish friars had re-
spected. We promoted him for it.
Our unsuspecting president was in
the act of taking his murderer by the
hand when the man shot him down. The
amazed world dwelt upon that damning
fact, brooded over it. discussed it, blush
ed for 1t, said It put a blot and a shame
upon our race. Yet, bad as he was. he
had notifying of staryation-begg
food of the president to strengthen his
falling forces for his trea cherous works:
he did not proceed against the life of a
benefactor who had just saved his
own"
: Nevertheless, reverting to his original
proposition, Mark Twain holds that
Funston is not to bame.
He did not make his own disposition.
1t was born with him. 1t chose his idea
for him. he did not choose them. 1t
chose the kind of society he liked, the
kind of comrades it preferred and in
posed them upon him. rejecting the 9TH
er kinds; ne could not help this.
1T had a native prediction for IN
savory conduct, but it would be in the
last degree unfair to hold Funston to
blame for the outcome of his infirmity,
as clearly unfair as it would be to
blame him because his conscience
leaked out through one of his pores
when he was little-a thing which he
could not help and he couldn't have re-
sisted, anyway.
1T was able to say to an enemy.
Have pity on me, am starving; 1 am
too weak to move; give me food; ] am
a, fa4I
your fellow Filipino, and am fighting
for our dear country's liberties, like you
have pity. give me food save my life;
there is no other helpi' and it was able
to refresh and restore his mariOnette
with food and then shoot down the giver
of it while his hand was stretched out
In welcome.
1T has the noble gift of humor, and
can make a banquet almost die with
laughter when it has a funny incident
tn tell ahaa1f