But Howells was determinedly for Blaine."I shall vote for Blaine," he replied."I do not believe he is guilty of the things they accuse him of, and I know they are not proved against him.As for Cleveland, his private life may be no worse than that of most men, but as an enemy of that contemptible, hypocritical, lop-sided morality which says a woman shall suffer all the shame of unchastity and man none, I want to see him destroyed politically by his past.The men who defend him would take their wives to the White House if he were president, but if he married his concubine--'made her an honest woman' they would not go near him.Ican't stand that."
Certainly this was sound logic, in that day, at least.But it left Clemens far from satisfied.
To W.D.Howells, in Boston:
ELMIRA, Sept.17, '84.
MY DEAR HOWELLS,--Somehow I can't seem to rest quiet under the idea of your voting for Blaine.I believe you said something about the country and the party.Certainly allegiance to these is well; but as certainly a man's first duty is to his own conscience and honor--the party or the country come second to that, and never first.I don't ask you to vote at all--I only urge you to not soil yourself by voting for Blaine.
When you wrote before, you were able to say the charges against him were not proven.But you know now that they are proven, and it seems to me that that bars you and all other honest and honorable men (who are independently situated) from voting for him.
It is not necessary to vote for Cleveland; the only necessary thing to do, as I understand it, is that a man shall keep himself clean, (by withholding his vote for an improper man) even though the party and the country go to destruction in consequence.It is not parties that make or save countries or that build them to greatness--it is clean men, clean ordinary citizens, rank and file, the masses.Clean masses are not made by individuals standing back till the rest become clean.
As I said before, I think a man's first duty is to his own honor; not to his country and not to his party.Don't be offended; I mean no offence.
I am not so concerned about the rest of the nation, but--well, good-bye.
Ys Ever MARK.
There does not appear to be any further discussion of the matter between Howells and Clemens.Their letters for a time contained no suggestion of politics.
Perhaps Mark Twain's own political conscience was not entirely clear in his repudiation of his party; at least we may believe from his next letter that his Cleveland enthusiasm was qualified by a willingness to support a Republican who would command his admiration and honor.The idea of an eleventh-hour nomination was rather startling, whatever its motive.
To Mr.Pierce, in Boston:
HARTFORD, Oct.22, '84.
MY DEAR MR.PIERCE,--You know, as well as I do, that the reason the majority of republicans are going to vote for Blaine is because they feel that they cannot help themselves.Do not you believe that if Mr.Edmunds would consent to run for President, on the Independent ticket--even at this late day--he might be elected?
Well, if he wouldn't consent, but should even strenuously protest and say he wouldn't serve if elected, isn't it still wise and fair to nominate him and vote for him? since his protest would relieve him from all responsibility; and he couldn't surely find fault with people for forcing a compliment upon him.And do not you believe that his name thus compulsorily placed at the head of the Independent column would work absolutely certain defeat to Blain and save the country's honor?
Politicians often carry a victory by springing some disgraceful and rascally mine under the feet of the adversary at the eleventh hour; would it not be wholesome to vary this thing for once and spring as formidable a mine of a better sort under the enemy's works?
If Edmunds's name were put up, I would vote for him in the teeth of all the protesting and blaspheming he could do in a month; and there are lots of others who would do likewise.
If this notion is not a foolish and wicked one, won't you just consult with some chief Independents, and see if they won't call a sudden convention and whoop the thing through? To nominate Edmunds the 1st of November, would be soon enough, wouldn't it?
With kindest regards to you and the Aldriches, Yr Truly S.L.CLEMENS.
Clemens and Cable set out on their reading-tour in November.They were a curiously-assorted pair: Cable was of orthodox religion, exact as to habits, neat, prim, all that Clemens was not.In the beginning Cable undertook to read the Bible aloud to Clemens each evening, but this part of the day's program was presently omitted by request.If they spent Sunday in a town, Cable was up bright and early visiting the various churches and Sunday-schools, while Mark Twain remained at the hotel, in bed, reading or asleep.
