I couldn't give it 5 stars because Twain's attempt to mask the target and dull the barbs left openings for the misguided statists and socialists among us to muddy the water. Such as, "... in war time a FEW fine individual rights must be put on the shelf ...." are the words of a waanabe despot who quotes a despot (Lincoln). I'll make it clear; Twain is saying it is the individual who must enjoy the utmost importance and it is the government and the parasitic bureaucrats within government that cease to function as designed and need to be thrown off like old useless clothing. Replace "the Country" with "the Law" and the Twain's message becomes brutally clear.