A Defense of General Funston - Revision history

Lisaruth: formatted intro as abstract

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formatted intro as abstract

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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Primary Source</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Primary Source</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Mark Twain''		''by Mark Twain, from [http://www.jimzwick.net/ Jim Zwick], ed., ''Mark Twain's Weapons of Satire: Anti-Imperialist Writings on the Philippine-American War'' (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1992), 119-132.''

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	'''In 1898, troops stationed at San Francisco's Presidio were dispatched to subdue the Philippines as part of the U.S. war with Spain. When Spain sued for peace, these same U.S. troops were used against Filipino insurgents seeking independence, slaughtering thousands and initiating a decades-long quasi-colonial status for the Philippines.'''		'''In 1898, troops stationed at San Francisco's Presidio were dispatched to subdue the Philippines as part of the U.S. war with Spain. When Spain sued for peace, these same U.S. troops were used against Filipino insurgents seeking independence, slaughtering thousands and initiating a decades-long quasi-colonial status for the Philippines.'''

	''First published in the May 1902 issue of the ''North American Review'', this essay is a searing satire of Funston's methods in capturing Aguinaldo and the hero's welcome he received after returning to the United States. As the prominent anti-imperialist, Edward Osgood Brown pointed out in a letter to the ''Chicago Evening Post'', Mark Twain's "defence" was hardly flattering to the General:'' "Funston was born that kind of a man, liking cruelty and other moral slag, and therefore cannot help practicing them." Starting the essay on Washington's birthday, Mark Twain drew a stark contrast between Funston, whose fame arose from his deceitful capture of Aguinaldo during a war of conquest, and Washington, a perfect symbol of both American honesty and the nation's anticolonial heritage.		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
			\| colspan="2" \| '''First published in the May 1902 issue of the ''North American Review'', this essay is a searing satire of Funston's methods in capturing Aguinaldo and the hero's welcome he received after returning to the United States. As the prominent anti-imperialist, Edward Osgood Brown pointed out in a letter to the ''Chicago Evening Post'', Mark Twain's "defence" was hardly flattering to the General: "Funston was born that kind of a man, liking cruelty and other moral slag, and therefore cannot help practicing them." Starting the essay on Washington's birthday, Mark Twain drew a stark contrast between Funston, whose fame arose from his deceitful capture of Aguinaldo during a war of conquest, and Washington, a perfect symbol of both American honesty and the nation's anticolonial heritage. Mark Twain took part of section 2 of this essay from the description of Aguinaldo's capture in his earlier review of Edwin Wildman's biography. The passage was new to his readers when this article appeared because he left the "Review" unpublished. Both essays are printed in full here because they are among his most important writings on the war and, despite this repetition, are each quite unique. The now-obscure postscript refers to the Senate testimony of two soldiers about widespread use of the "water cure" torture and other atrocities committed by U.S. troops in the Philippines. Because their charges could not be written off as lies or anti-imperialist propaganda, the government felt compelled to respond. On April 16, the newspapers reported that President Roosevelt had ordered an investigation of both the soldiers' charges and Gen. Jacob Smith's order, quoted in this essay, to "kill and burn" and "make Samar a howling wilderness." Gloating, Mark Twain responded also--as a spokesman for the "Traitors."'''
	''Mark Twain took part of section 2 of this essay from the description of Aguinaldo's capture in his earlier review of Edwin Wildman's biography. The passage was new to his readers when this article appeared because he left the "Review" unpublished. Both essays are printed in full here because they are among his most important writings on the war and, despite this repetition, are each quite unique.		\|}

	''The now-obscure postscript refers to the Senate testimony of two soldiers about widespread use of the "water cure" torture and other atrocities committed by U.S. troops in the Philippines. Because their charges could not be written off as lies or anti-imperialist propaganda, the government felt compelled to respond. On April 16, the newspapers reported that President Roosevelt had ordered an investigation of both the soldiers' charges and Gen. Jacob Smith's order, quoted in this essay, to "kill and burn" and "make Samar a howling wilderness." Gloating, Mark Twain responded also--as a spokesman for the "Traitors."

	I.		I.
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	However, for all these things I blame only his It, not him. In conclusion, I have defended him as well as I could, and indeed I have found it quite easy, and have removed prejudice from him and rehabilitated him in the public esteem and regard, I think. I was not able to do anything for his It, It being out of my jurisdiction, and out of Funston's and everybody's. As I have shown, Funston is not to blame for his fearful deed; and, if I tried, I might also show that he is not to blame for our still holding in bondage the man he captured by unlawful means, and who is not any more rightfully our prisoner and spoil than he would be if he were stolen money. He is entitled to his freedom. If he were a king of a Great Power, or an ex-president of our republic, instead of an ex-president of a destroyed and abolished little republic, Civilization (with a large C) would criticise and complain until he got it.		However, for all these things I blame only his It, not him. In conclusion, I have defended him as well as I could, and indeed I have found it quite easy, and have removed prejudice from him and rehabilitated him in the public esteem and regard, I think. I was not able to do anything for his It, It being out of my jurisdiction, and out of Funston's and everybody's. As I have shown, Funston is not to blame for his fearful deed; and, if I tried, I might also show that he is not to blame for our still holding in bondage the man he captured by unlawful means, and who is not any more rightfully our prisoner and spoil than he would be if he were stolen money. He is entitled to his freedom. If he were a king of a Great Power, or an ex-president of our republic, instead of an ex-president of a destroyed and abolished little republic, Civilization (with a large C) would criticise and complain until he got it.

	~~''--Mark Twain ''~~

	P.S. April 16. The President is speaking up, this morning, just as this goes to the printer, and there is no uncertain sound about the note. It is the speech and spirit of a President of a people, not of a party, and we all like it, Traitors and all. I think I may speak for the other Traitors, for I am sure they feel as I do about it. I will explain that we get our title from the Funstonian Patriots--free of charge. They are always doing us little compliments like that; they are just born flatterers, those boys.		P.S. April 16. The President is speaking up, this morning, just as this goes to the printer, and there is no uncertain sound about the note. It is the speech and spirit of a President of a people, not of a party, and we all like it, Traitors and all. I think I may speak for the other Traitors, for I am sure they feel as I do about it. I will explain that we get our title from the Funstonian Patriots--free of charge. They are always doing us little compliments like that; they are just born flatterers, those boys.

	~~''--Mark Twain ''~~

	~~From [http://www.jimzwick.net/ Jim Zwick], ed., Mark Twain's Weapons of Satire: Anti-Imperialist Writings on the Philippine-American War (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1992), 119-132.~~

	Introduction Copyright © 1992 Jim Zwick. All rights reserved.		Introduction Copyright © 1992 Jim Zwick. All rights reserved.

	Notes		'''Notes'''

	* "Aguinaldo." By Edwin Wildman. Lothrop Publishing Co., Boston. [MT]		* "Aguinaldo." By Edwin Wildman. Lothrop Publishing Co., Boston. [MT]

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	Now came his capture. An admiring author shall tell us about it. His account can be trusted, for it is correctly synopsized from General Funston's own voluntary confession made by him at the time. The italics are mine.		Now came his capture. An admiring author shall tell us about it. His account can be trusted, for it is correctly synopsized from General Funston's own voluntary confession made by him at the time. The italics are mine.

	"It was not until February, 1901, that his actual hiding-place was discovered. The clew was in the shape of a letter from Aguinaldo commanding his cousin, Baldormero Aguinaldo, to send him four hundred armed men, the bearer to act as a guide to the same. The order was in cipher, but among other effects captured at various times a copy of the Insurgent cipher was found. The Insurgent courier was convinced of the error of his ways (though by exactly what means, history does not reveal), and offered to lead the way to Aguinaldo's place of hiding. Here was an opportunity that suggested an adventure equal to anything in penny-awful fiction. It was just the kind of a dare-devil exploit that appealed to the romantic Funston. It was something out of the ordinary for a brigadier-general to leave his command and turn into a scout, but Funston was irresistible. He formulated a scheme and asked General MacArthur's permission. It was impossible to refuse the daring adventurer, the hero of the Rio Grande, anything; so Funston set to work, imitating the peculiar handwriting of Lacuna, the Insurgent officer to whom Aguinaldo's communication referred. Some little time previous to the capture of the Tagalog courier, several of Lacuna's letters were found, together with Aguinaldo's cipher code. Having perfected Lacuna's signature, Funston wrote two letters on February 24 and 28, acknowledging Aguinaldo's communication, and informing him that he (Lacuna) was sending him a few of the best soldiers in his command. Added to this neat forgery General Funston dictated a letter which was written by an ex-Insurgent attached to his command, telling Aguinaldo that the relief force had surprised and captured a detachment of Americans, taking five prisoners whom they were bringing to him because of their importance. This ruse was employed to explain the presence of the five Americans: General Funston, Captain Hazzard, Captain Newton, Lieutenant Hazzard, and General Funston's aide, Lieutenant Kitchell, who were to accompany the expedition.		<blockquote>"It was not until February, 1901, that his actual hiding-place was discovered. The clew was in the shape of a letter from Aguinaldo commanding his cousin, Baldormero Aguinaldo, to send him four hundred armed men, the bearer to act as a guide to the same. The order was in cipher, but among other effects captured at various times a copy of the Insurgent cipher was found. The Insurgent courier was convinced of the error of his ways (though by exactly what means, history does not reveal), and offered to lead the way to Aguinaldo's place of hiding. Here was an opportunity that suggested an adventure equal to anything in penny-awful fiction. It was just the kind of a dare-devil exploit that appealed to the romantic Funston. It was something out of the ordinary for a brigadier-general to leave his command and turn into a scout, but Funston was irresistible. He formulated a scheme and asked General MacArthur's permission. It was impossible to refuse the daring adventurer, the hero of the Rio Grande, anything; so Funston set to work, imitating the peculiar handwriting of Lacuna, the Insurgent officer to whom Aguinaldo's communication referred. Some little time previous to the capture of the Tagalog courier, several of Lacuna's letters were found, together with Aguinaldo's cipher code. Having perfected Lacuna's signature, Funston wrote two letters on February 24 and 28, acknowledging Aguinaldo's communication, and informing him that he (Lacuna) was sending him a few of the best soldiers in his command. Added to this neat forgery General Funston dictated a letter which was written by an ex-Insurgent attached to his command, telling Aguinaldo that the relief force had surprised and captured a detachment of Americans, taking five prisoners whom they were bringing to him because of their importance. This ruse was employed to explain the presence of the five Americans: General Funston, Captain Hazzard, Captain Newton, Lieutenant Hazzard, and General Funston's aide, Lieutenant Kitchell, who were to accompany the expedition.

	Seventy-eight Macabebes, hereditary enemies of the Tagalogs, were chosen by Funston to form the body of the command. These fearless and hardy natives fell into the scheme with a vengeance. Three Tagalogs and one Spaniard were also invited. The Macabebes were fitted out in cast-off Insurgent uniforms, and the Americans donned field-worn uniforms of privates. Three days' rations were provided, and each man was given a rifle. The "Vicksburg" was chosen to take the daring impostors to some spot on the east coast near Palanan, where Aguinaldo was in hiding. Arriving off the coast at Casignan, some distance from the Insurgent-hidden capital, the party was landed. Three Macabebes, who spoke Tagalog fluently, were sent into the town to notify the natives that they were bringing additional forces and important American prisoners to Aguinaldo, and request of the local authorities guides and assistance. The Insurgent president readily consented, and the little party, after refreshing themselves and exhibiting their prisoners, started over the ninety-mile trail to Palanan, a mountain retreat on the coast of the Isabella province. Over the stony declivities and through the thick jungle, across bridgeless streams and up narrow passes, the foot-sore and bone-racked adventurers tramped, until their food was exhausted, and they were ''too weak to move'', though but eight miles from Aguinaldo's rendezvous.		Seventy-eight Macabebes, hereditary enemies of the Tagalogs, were chosen by Funston to form the body of the command. These fearless and hardy natives fell into the scheme with a vengeance. Three Tagalogs and one Spaniard were also invited. The Macabebes were fitted out in cast-off Insurgent uniforms, and the Americans donned field-worn uniforms of privates. Three days' rations were provided, and each man was given a rifle. The "Vicksburg" was chosen to take the daring impostors to some spot on the east coast near Palanan, where Aguinaldo was in hiding. Arriving off the coast at Casignan, some distance from the Insurgent-hidden capital, the party was landed. Three Macabebes, who spoke Tagalog fluently, were sent into the town to notify the natives that they were bringing additional forces and important American prisoners to Aguinaldo, and request of the local authorities guides and assistance. The Insurgent president readily consented, and the little party, after refreshing themselves and exhibiting their prisoners, started over the ninety-mile trail to Palanan, a mountain retreat on the coast of the Isabella province. Over the stony declivities and through the thick jungle, across bridgeless streams and up narrow passes, the foot-sore and bone-racked adventurers tramped, until their food was exhausted, and they were ''too weak to move'', though but eight miles from Aguinaldo's rendezvous.
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	Immediately joining his command, Funston ordered his little band of dare-devils to march boldly into the town and present themselves to Aguinaldo. At the Insurgent headquarters they were received by Aguinaldo's bodyguard, dressed in blue drill uniforms and white hats, drawn up in military form. The spokesman so completely hoodwinked Aguinaldo that he did not suspect the ruse. In the meantime the Macabebes maneuvered around into advantageous positions, directed by the Spaniard, until all were in readiness. Then he shouted, 'Macabebes, now is your turn!' whereupon they emptied their rifles into Aguinaldo's bodyguard. . . .		Immediately joining his command, Funston ordered his little band of dare-devils to march boldly into the town and present themselves to Aguinaldo. At the Insurgent headquarters they were received by Aguinaldo's bodyguard, dressed in blue drill uniforms and white hats, drawn up in military form. The spokesman so completely hoodwinked Aguinaldo that he did not suspect the ruse. In the meantime the Macabebes maneuvered around into advantageous positions, directed by the Spaniard, until all were in readiness. Then he shouted, 'Macabebes, now is your turn!' whereupon they emptied their rifles into Aguinaldo's bodyguard. . . .

	The Americans joined in the skirmish, and two of Aguinaldo's staff were wounded, but escaped, the treasurer of the revolutionary government surrendering. The rest of the Filipino officers got away. Aguinaldo accepted his capture with resignation, though greatly in fear of the vengeance of the Macabebes. But General Funston's assurance of his personal safety set his mind easy on that point, and he calmed down and discussed the situation. He was greatly cast down at his capture, and asserted that ''by'' ''no other means'' would he have been taken alive--an admission which added all the more to Funston's achievement, for Aguinaldo's was a difficult and desperate case, and demanded extraordinary methods."		The Americans joined in the skirmish, and two of Aguinaldo's staff were wounded, but escaped, the treasurer of the revolutionary government surrendering. The rest of the Filipino officers got away. Aguinaldo accepted his capture with resignation, though greatly in fear of the vengeance of the Macabebes. But General Funston's assurance of his personal safety set his mind easy on that point, and he calmed down and discussed the situation. He was greatly cast down at his capture, and asserted that ''by'' ''no other means'' would he have been taken alive--an admission which added all the more to Funston's achievement, for Aguinaldo's was a difficult and desperate case, and demanded extraordinary methods."</blockquote>

	Some of the customs of war are not pleasant to the civilian; but ages upon ages of training have reconciled us to them as being justifiable, and we accept them and make no demur, even when they give us an extra twinge. Every detail of Funston's scheme--but one--has been employed in war in the past and stands acquitted of blame by history. By the custom of war, it is permissible, in the interest of an enterprise like the one under consideration, for a Brigadier-General (if he be of the sort that can so choose) to persuade or bribe a courier to betray his trust; to remove the badges of his honorable rank and disguise himself; to lie, to practise treachery, to forge; to associate with himself persons properly fitted by training and instinct for the work; to accept of courteous welcome, and assassinate the welcomers while their hands are still warm from the friendly handshake.		Some of the customs of war are not pleasant to the civilian; but ages upon ages of training have reconciled us to them as being justifiable, and we accept them and make no demur, even when they give us an extra twinge. Every detail of Funston's scheme--but one--has been employed in war in the past and stands acquitted of blame by history. By the custom of war, it is permissible, in the interest of an enterprise like the one under consideration, for a Brigadier-General (if he be of the sort that can so choose) to persuade or bribe a courier to betray his trust; to remove the badges of his honorable rank and disguise himself; to lie, to practise treachery, to forge; to associate with himself persons properly fitted by training and instinct for the work; to accept of courteous welcome, and assassinate the welcomers while their hands are still warm from the friendly handshake.

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	'''Cavalry in the Presidio 1898'''		'''Cavalry in the Presidio 1898'''

	''Photos: ~~Greg Gaar~~ Collection, San Francisco, CA''		''Photos: Private Collection, San Francisco, CA''

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	[[Image:Foundsf-anti-war-icon.gif\|link=Presidio Mutiny of 1968]] [[Presidio Mutiny of 1968\| Continue Anti-War Tour]]		[[Image:Foundsf-anti-war-icon.gif\|link=The Presidio Mutiny of 1968]] [[The Presidio Mutiny of 1968\| Continue Anti-War Tour]]

Ccarlsson: started anti-war tour here

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	''Photos: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA''		''Photos: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA''


			<hr>

			[[Image:Foundsf-anti-war-icon.gif\|link=Presidio Mutiny of 1968]] [[Presidio Mutiny of 1968\| Continue Anti-War Tour]]

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	[[GG Bridge under construction \|Prev. Document]] [[Lovers Lane \|Next Document]]		[[GG Bridge under construction \|Prev. Document]] [[Lovers Lane \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Presidio]] [[category:military]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1890s]] [[category:Filipino]] [[category:1900s]]		[[category:Presidio]] [[category:military]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1890s]] [[category:Filipino]] [[category:1900s]] [[category:anti-war]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "A Defense of General Funston": primary source [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-18T00:58:51Z

Protected "A Defense of General Funston": primary source [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

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Ccarlsson: PC and protected

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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Primary Source</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Mark Twain''

	[[Image:presidio$presidio-tent-encampment-1898.jpg]]		[[Image:presidio$presidio-tent-encampment-1898.jpg]]

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	There was a reference in the papers to General Funston.		There was a reference in the papers to General Funston.

			[[Image:Gen-funston.jpg]]

			'''General Funston'''

	Neither Washington nor Funston was made in a day. It took a long time to accumulate the materials. In each case, the basis or moral skeleton of the man was inborn disposition--a thing which is as permanent as rock, and never undergoes any actual and genuine change between cradle and grave. In each case, the moral flesh-bulk (that is to say, character) was built and shaped around the skeleton by training, association and circumstances. Given a crooked-disposition skeleton, no power nor influence in the earth can mould a permanently shapely form around it. Training, association and circumstances can truss it, and brace it, and prop it, and strain it, and crowd it into an artificial shapeliness that can endure till the end, deceiving not only the spectator but the man himself. But there is nothing there but artificiality, and if at any time the props and trusses chance to be removed, the form will collapse into its proper and native crookedness.		Neither Washington nor Funston was made in a day. It took a long time to accumulate the materials. In each case, the basis or moral skeleton of the man was inborn disposition--a thing which is as permanent as rock, and never undergoes any actual and genuine change between cradle and grave. In each case, the moral flesh-bulk (that is to say, character) was built and shaped around the skeleton by training, association and circumstances. Given a crooked-disposition skeleton, no power nor influence in the earth can mould a permanently shapely form around it. Training, association and circumstances can truss it, and brace it, and prop it, and strain it, and crowd it into an artificial shapeliness that can endure till the end, deceiving not only the spectator but the man himself. But there is nothing there but artificiality, and if at any time the props and trusses chance to be removed, the form will collapse into its proper and native crookedness.

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	''--Mark Twain ''		''--Mark Twain ''

	From [http://~~home~~.~~ican~~.net/~~~fjzwick/twain/deffunst.html~~ Jim Zwick], ed., Mark Twain's Weapons of Satire: Anti-Imperialist Writings on the Philippine-American War (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1992), 119-132.		From [http://www.jimzwick.net/ Jim Zwick], ed., Mark Twain's Weapons of Satire: Anti-Imperialist Writings on the Philippine-American War (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1992), 119-132.

	Introduction Copyright © 1992 Jim Zwick. All rights reserved.		Introduction Copyright © 1992 Jim Zwick. All rights reserved.