The Debate of Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt on Imperialism - Essay Example

Topic: Debate of Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt on Imperialism and Progressivism Mark Twain: I am here tonight to speak of the Progressive movement and the reforms we have proposed in America, and I would like to thank my opponent Teddy Roosevelt for attending this debate and sharing his views. As you all know, Mr. Roosevelt is just back from the land of Cuba, where he and his band of “Rough Riders” were up to some sort of mischief… I hope he will explain this to us later. But I am here to speak on the dangers of American military adventurism abroad, for we are a Christian nation, as good Christians we are required to “love our neighbor as we love ourselves”. I would like to ask Mr. Roosevelt quite clearly exactly what his views of the Christian conscience are in these questions of morality, for our good Savior was a pacifist and lover of the poor, a defender of the poor. But our Savior was also forgiving, and I am not here to judge or condemn Mr. Roosevelt, merely to ask him to explain his actions and to engage in the gentlemanly debate. For make no mistake, the Progressives are strong, we are organized, and we are fielding candidates for Congress, for the Senate, the House of Representatives, even for the Presidency. As our esteemed guest Mr. Roosevelt has great experience in these manners, I am hopeful he will enlighten us with his wisdom and also entertain! Teddy Roosevelt: I thank the great author for his introduction, and compliments. I am sure that our boys give thanks to him and his great novels, for I have seen his novels of “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” in their hands on numerous occasions and even in their bags as they carried them to war and battlefield. So, Mr. Mark Twain is a soldier’s writer and we all respect him for what he has made America, a proud nation, proud and strong, with a love of liberty and a love of wit and adventure. For what would America be without adventurism – we can plainly see it in Mr. Twain’s own two great heroes, just boys but such good heartedness and full of adventure. And so that is how our America is today, full of adventure and growing strong, stronger and bigger all the time. But who ever knew a teenager who wasn’t a slight bit naughty and found it required to bend the rules, now and again? So, we may get drunk in Mexico, in Cuba, in Panama time and again, but make no mistake, there is wealth there, and gold, and mining, and resources, sugar, sugar cane, rum, and other great pleasures of life. As America ventures abroad to explore, let us never forget what we discovered while exploring the great Mississippi as Mr. Twain has done on his steamboat and steam forward, to Panama – to Cuba! Just as we have extended our borders and territories from sea to shining sea, East to West, let us spread them yet further North to South, taking the Indian’s land as he is of no recourse at all. For, I have said it once and I shall say it again, the only good Indian is a Dead Indian, and nothing will stop America’s manifest destiny from conquering this continent as we will be victorious in the next world, by this great King’s hand in the heaven of God, in the name of God, God bless America and his sweet army of soldiers who created this great land and preserve it from the Red Beast who somehow scrambled here from some God-forsaken hole born of an idiot monkey and a magpie, or some other such nonsense. If an Indian drinks like a soldier, I say he is an enemy soldier, and I have no tolerance for enemies at home or abroad. We are the sword of Christ and will go blindly into that good night unforesaken – that is our God given right and Manifest Destiny. Mark Twain: The Good Sir would kindly speak and give us his views on American might and military conquest, not only here in the West, but abroad, in the good land of Cuba and Panama, indeed, if we listen to Mr. Roosevelt speak after his tongue has been loosened by a few straight scotch or shots of whiskey, we learn a good thing more! Indeed, it seems Mr. Roosevelt would expand our good country’s border as far as Mexico, Panama, and Cuba, nay he may even see military pushing through Canada to unite our homeland with Alaska. Indeed, is it not tolerable we could be cut off from our brother’s in the North – should we not unite the Canadian territories with the Mexican, and govern justly? But I say to you, from that man’s position, even this is not enough – next will be the world. Shall America’s navy be the policeman of the world? Shall our savior carry a big stick and bash brains? Shall we become a nation of ruffians who know nothing but a good shot, whether it be from a gun or a bottle of rum? While the course of adventure is known to be one of interest to the intelligent man, sometimes we must marvel at the depravity of vice, and the viciousness of cruelty that we see in our travels through the world. When we keep to our own behavior first, and seek to reform our own selves, starting with our own houses, and societies, are we not doing the best service to man abroad? For who would believe our good notions abroad or invite us to govern them altruistically, if we cannot even solve our own problems at home? It simply boggles the mind how violence can ever be a cause of good, especially in the political affairs of man and nations. Teddy Roosevelt: Mr. Twain would have you believe that we are enemies, but just as he supports the right to vote for women folk, whose feeble and weak nature does not stop them from being capable of political thought and noble discussion, so do I also support the Progressivism of Woman’s Suffrage nationally. (1) We are both firmly against slavery, the subjugation of the Negro race and their trade as beef cattle from Africa. Where the Negro has been freed and works in the fields and factories a free man, Mr. Twain and I are at agreement on the question of the abolition of slavery. We are both Progressives, though Twain approves not of the Rough Riders and our building of a Canal in Panama. But I declare this canal will save millions of hours in travel for our American Navy and bring us the benefits of trade. We will improve the lot of the local people as we have done for the Red Indian and Slave, we will give good Christian education and make sure to work for the general uplift of Man. Let no one doubt the power of American progress, either in the mind, in industry, in military might, or in the soul, for we are this by natural right, the true and blessed nation that will stand as a beacon of Liberty and Democracy to all nations for aeons. Mark Twain: We all applaud the greatness of America, its land and people, though we know not the effects of our actions upon the life of the original Indians who lived here before we and our ancestors arrived, nor how history will judge us for our deeds. Indeed, I fear Indian culture may disappear before our very eyes, crushed under the boot of Mr. Roosevelt’s riders both here and abroad. In my recent book, Following the Equator, I have written of what I have seen in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, India, and South Africa and other countries when I was a guest in their lands. (2) When brother races of these American Indians greeted me with such kindness on my travels, I must admit, I was forced to rethink some of my views. I encourage the good Mr. Roosevelt to do the same. Teddy Roosevelt: I have long said the writings of Mark Twain are a symbol of American greatness, just as our Army and Navy are a symbol of American greatness. Mr. Twain’s wit, charm, intelligence, and moral character are all national treasures, but our country and economy will not run on hot air! We need the hard resources of oil, metals, mines, and we need the land and seas for our freedom. If we are to be the moral policeman for the world, and the political guide for nations who have lost faith in their Kings like pagan gods, let us act nobly and with Justice for Americans! Just as Mr. Twain’s steamboat is a symbol of our American progress and inventiveness, so too are our war boats when the bring peace and progress through war and conquest. The “Big Stick’ diplomacy we carry comes from our humble nature, we are God fearing men alike, but it too is Progress and shall not be stopped in the course of history. Let every man, and woman of this great country support us in our military adventures abroad, for they are the progress of the American Empire! Mark Twain: Let me say only, our American nation needs no empire building, lest we become like the Kings we despise in their tyranny and repression. Let us seek justice among men, not through arms, but by education and the spirit if Progress in peaceful reform. We have sufficient in our great nation without robbing from the next, and we should be good neighbors in deed not just in word. If any man question, let it be said our own hypocrisy and blindness to truth shall be our great legacy if we fail in being steady in our morality. Sources: 1. Gable, John. (2009). John Gable of the Theodore Roosevelt Association on Womens Suffrage. PBS. Date accessed Dec. 12th, 2010: 2. Twain, Mark. (2009). Following the Equator. Virginia Edu. Date accessed Dec. 12th, 2010: Read More