Comments Of The Mro Massacre Analysis

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Expansion has been the United States feature of American life from manifest destiny to Seward’s icebox. In the 1890’s, America becomes increasingly aware of itself as an emerging world power. Henry Watterson writes “We are a great imperial Republic destined to exercise a controlling influence upon the actions of mankind and to affect the future of the world” (GML 665). Opposition to this claim is shown through Samuel Clemens’ “Comments of the Moro Massacre” which was produced in 1906. This primary source displays the dishonorable acts of the United States by its occupation and conduct in the Philippine Islands. Samuel Clemens, also referred to as the infamous pen name “Mark Twain” uses a mind with a pen rather than an arm holding a firearm,…show more content…
He demonstrates this bias belief in his influential writing “Comments of the Moro Massacre” which contradicts the yellow journalism glorifying the battle. Commander of the American forces in the Philippines, General Leonard Wood, ordered; “Kill or Capture the six hundred” leading to the commencement of war (1). The “or” was taken as to see fit according to “taste.” And the army followed as it has always done, with a palette of Christian Butchers. The war concludes with six hundred Moros sentenced to death in comparison to fifteen American “heroes” put to rest. “The enemy numbered six hundred – including women and children – and we abolished them utterly, leaving not even a baby alive to cry for its dead mother (3).” Clemens’ sarcastically remarks this as the greatest victory ever accomplished by the Christian Soldiers of the United States. Symbolically, throughout this war the U.S holds the high ground, standing over the underdeveloped Moro tribe who were stuck in the crater they now lay in. He uses imagery of the six hundred Moros consisting of men, women, and children being annihilated from a higher position held above them almost to a measure of being “bullied”. Clemens’ argument is that the United States acted unjustly and should not be considered “heroes.” He

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