Chapters 13-14 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 13, Mark Twain continues to discuss Hawaii's legislature, observing that they seem to have no regular order of business. Jumbled together are motions, resolutions, notices, introduction and the reading of bills. Twain watches as arguments storm back and forth across the floor, as the discussion wanders away from the question before the assembly.

Twain hones in on His Excellency Minister Harris, describing the man in the most unflattering way possible. Twain characterizes Harris as a pseudo-intellectual windbag built upon showmanship and pretense, a career politician who feeds on the Hawaiian government like a parasite.

Twain briefly wonders how it is that these ministers never accuse one another of corruption, wondering whether it is virtue or perhaps because none of them could be trusted to accept a bribe without gossiping about it. He does note, however, that legislative etiquette...