Europe and elsewhere, by Mark Twain [pseud.] [with an appreciation by Brander Matthews and an introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine]

TO THE PERSON SITTING IN DARKNESS
The missionary question, of course, occupies a foremost place
in the discussion. It is now felt as essential that the Western
Powers take cognizance of the sentiment here, that religious
invasions of Oriental countries by powerful Western organizations are tantamount to filibustering expeditions, and should
not only be discountenanced, but that stern measures should
be adopted for their suppression. The feeling here is that the
missionary organizations constitute a constant menace to peaceful international relations.
Shall we? That is, shall we go on conferring our
Civilization upon the peoples that sit in darkness,
or shall we give those poor things a rest? Shall we
bang right ahead in our old-time, loud, pious way,
and commit the new century to the game; or shall
we sober up and sit down and think it over first?
Would it not be prudent to get our Civilization
tools together, and see how much stock is left on
hand in the way of Glass Beads and Theology, and
Maxim Guns and Hymn Books, and Trade Gin and
Torches of Progress and Enlightenment (patent
adjustable ones, good to fire villages with, upon
occasion), and balance the books, and arrive at the
profit and loss, so that we may intelligently decide
whether to continue the business or sell out the
property and start a new Civilization Scheme on the
proceeds?
Extending the Blessings of Civilization to our
Brother who Sits in Darkness has been a good trade
and has paid well, on the whole; and there is money
in it yet, if carefully worked-but not enough, in
my judgment, to make any considerable risk advisable. The People that Sit in Darkness are getting
to be too scarce-too scarce and too shy. And such
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