InspiteofthefactIhavenoted,thatIhadlostacertainzestforresults,tokeepbusyseemedtobetheonlywaytorelievemymindofanotherwiseintolerablepressure:andIworkedsometimesfarintotheevening.Inthebackgroundofmythoughtslaythenecessityofcomingtoadecisiononthequestionofthesenatorship;severaltimesDickinsonandGorsehadspokenofit,andIwasbeginningtogetlettersfrominfluentialmeninotherpartsofthestate.Theyseemedtotakeitforgrantedthattherewasnoquestionofmyrefusing.ThetimecamewhenI
hadgrownabletoconsiderthematterwithadegreeofcalmness.Whatstruckmefirst,whenIbegantodebateuponit,wasthatthesenatorshipofferedanewandpossiblyhigherfieldformyenergies,whileatthesametimetheofficewouldbealogicalcontinuationofasignallegalcareer.IwasnowunabletodenythatInolongerfeltanyexhilarationattheprospectoffuturelegalconquestssimilartothoseofthepast;
butonceintheSenate,ImightregainsomethingofthatintenseconvictionoffightingforajustandsoundcausewithwhichTheodoreWadinghadonceanimatedme:fightingthere,intheCapitolatWashington,wouldbedifferent;nostigmaofpersonalgainattachedtoit;itofferedanearerapproachtotheidealIhadoncemorebeguntoseek,heldouthopesofarenewalofmyunityofmind.Mr.Watlinghaddeclaredthattherewassomethingtofightfor;Ihadevenglimpsedthatsomething,butIhadtoconfessthatforsomeyearsIhadnotbeenconsciouslyfightingforit.Ineededsomethingtofightfor.
Therewasthenecessity,however,ofrenewingmycalculations.IfHambletonDurrettshouldrecover,evenduringtheensuingyear,andifNancyrelenteditwouldnotbepossibleforustobedivorcedandmarriedforsometime.Istillclungtenaciouslytothebeliefthattherewerenorelationshipswhollyunaffectedbyworldlytriumphs,andasSenatorI
shouldhavestrengthenedmyposition.Itdidnotstrikeme——evenafterallmyexperience——thatsuchacourseasInowcontemplatedhadaparallelintheonethatIhadpursuedinregardtoherwhenIwasyoung.
ItseemedfittingthatTheodoreWatlingshouldbethefirsttoknowofmydecision.IwenttoWashingtontomeethim.Itpainedmetoseehimlookingmoreworn,buthewasstillascheerful,asmentallyvigorousasever,andIperceivedthathedidnotwishtodwelluponhisillness.I
didventuretoexpostulatewithhimontheriskhemustberunninginservingouthisterm.Weweresittinginthediningroomofhishouse.
\"We\'veonlyonelifetolive,Hugh,\"heanswered,smilingatme,\"andwemightaswellgetalloutofitwecan.Afewyearsmoreorlessdoesn\'tmakemuchdifference——andIoughttobesatisfied.I\'dresignnow,topleasemywife,topleasemyfriends,butwecan\'ttrustthisgovernortoappointasafeman.Howlittlewesuspectedwhenweelectedhimthathe\'dbecomeinfected.Younevercantell,inthesedays,canyou?\"
ItwasthenoteofdevotiontohiscausethatIhadcometohear:Ifeltitrenewingme,asIhadhoped.Thethreatofdisease,thelouderclamouringsoftheleadersofthemobhadnotsufficedtodismayhim——
thoughheadmittedmoreconcernoverthese.Mysympathyandaffectionweremingledwiththeadmirationheneverfailedtoinspire.
\"Butyou,Hugh,\"hesaidconcernedly,\"you\'renotlookingverywell,myson.Youmustmanagetotakeagoodrestbeforecominghere——beforethecampaignyou\'llhavetogothrough.Wecan\'taffordtohaveanythinghappentoyou——you\'retooyoung.\"
IwonderedwhetherhehadheardanythingHespoketomeagainabouttheworktobedone,theworkhelookedtometocarryon.
\"We\'llhavetowatchforouropportunity,\"hesaid,\"andwhenitcomeswecanhandlethisnewmovementnotbycrushingit,butbyguidingit.I\'vecometotheconclusionthatthereisatrueinstinctinit,thattherearecertainthingswehavedonewhichhavebeenmistakes,andwhichwecan\'tdoanymore.Butasforthistheorythatallwisdomresidesinthepeople,it\'sbuncombe.Whatwehavetodoistoworkoutapracticalprogramme.\"
Hisconfidenceinmehadnotdiminished.Ithelpedtorestoreconfidenceinmyself.
TheweatherwascoolandbracingforSeptember,andaswedroveinamotorthroughthebeautifulavenuesofthecityhepointedoutahouseformeononeofthecircles,oneofthosedistinguishedresidences,instancesofanascentgoodtaste,thatarehelpingtoredeemthepolyglotaspectofournationalcapital.Mr.Watlingspoke——rathertactfully,Ithought——ofMaudeandthechildren,andventuredthesurmisethattheywouldbereturninginafewmonths.Iinterpretedthis,indeed,asinratherthenatureofakindlyhintthatsuchaprocedurewouldbewiseinviewofthelargerlifenowdawningforme,butImadenocommentHeevensympathizedwithNancyDurrett.
\"Shedidtherightthing,Hugh,\"hesaid,withtheadmirablecasualmannerhepossessedoftreatingsubjectswhichheknewtobedelicate.
\"Nancy\'safinewoman.Poordevil!\"ThisinreferencetoHam
Mr.Watlingreassuredmeonthesubjectofhisowntrouble,maintainingthathehadmanyyearsleftifhetookcare.Hedrovemetothestation.
Itravelledhomewardsomewhatliftedoutofmyselfbythisvisittohim;
withsomefeelingofspaciousnessderivedfromWashingtonitself,withitsdignifiedPresidentialMansionamongthetrees,itsgraniteshaftdrawingtheeyeupward,withitswingedCapitolsereneuponthehill.
Shouldwedelivertheseheirloomstothemob?SurelyDemocracymeantmorethanthat!
AllthistimeIhadbeenreceiving,atintervals,lettersfromMaudeandthechildren.Maude\'swerethelettersofafriend,andIfounditeasytoconvincemyselfthattheirtonewasgenuine,thattheseparationhadbroughtcontentmenttoher;andthoseindependentandself-sufficientelementsinhercharacterIadmirednowratherthandeplored.AtEtretat,whichshefoundmuchtohertaste,shewaslivingquietly,butmakingfriendswithsomeAmericanandEnglish,andoneFrenchfamilyofthesamename,Buffon,asthegreatnaturalist.Thefatherwasaretiredsilkmanufacturer;theynowresidedinParis,andhadbeenverykindinhelpinghertogetanapartmentinthatcityforthewinter.ShehadchosenoneontheAvenueKleber,notfarfromtheArc.Itisinteresting,afterherarraignmentofme,thatsheshouldhavetakensuchpainstorecordtheirdailylifeformybenefitinherclear,conscientioushandwriting.IbeheldBiddy,herdressestuckedaboveslimlittleknees,playinginthesandonthebeach,herhairflyinginthewindandlightedbythesunwhichgavesparkletothesea.IsawMaudeherselfinherbeachchair,abooklyinginherlap,itspageswhippedbythebreeze.AndtherewasMoreton,whomustbeprovingsomethingofahandful,sincehehadfoughtwiththeFrenchboysonthebeachandthrowna\"rock\"throughthewindowsoftheBuffonfamily.Irememberoneofhisletters——madeperfectaftermuchcorrectingandscratching,——inwhichhedenouncedbothFranceandtheFrench,andappealedtometocomeoveratoncetotakehimhome.Maudehadencloseditwithoutcomment.Thisletterhadnotbeenwrittenunderduress,asmostofhiswere.
Matthew\'sletters——hewrotefaithfullyonceaweek——Ikeptinalittlepilebythemselvesandsometimesrereadthem.IwonderedwhetheritwerebecauseofthefactthatIwashisfather——thoughamostinadequateone——
thatIthoughtthemsomewhatunusual.HehadlearnedFrench——Maudewrote——withremarkableease.Iwasparticularlystruckintheseletterswiththeboy\'spowerofobservation,withhisfacileuseoflanguage,withthevividsimplicityofhisdescriptionsofthelifearoundhim,ofhisexperiencesatschool.Theletterswerethoughtful——notdashedoffinahurry;theygaveevidenceineverylineofthedelicacyoffeelingthatwas,Ithink,hismostappealingquality,andIputthemdownwiththeimpressionstrongonmethathe,too,longedtoreturnhome,butwouldnotsayso.Therewasacertainpathosinthisyouthfulrestraintthatneverfailedtotouchme,eveninthosetimeswhenIhadbeenmostobsessedwithloveandpassionThecuriouseffectoftheseletterswasthatofknowingmorethantheyexpressed.Hemissedme,hewishedtoknowwhenIwascomingover.AndIwassometimesatalosswhethertobegratefultoMaudeortroubledbecauseshehadasyetgivenhimnohintofourseparation.Whateffectwouldithaveonhimwhenitshouldberevealedtohim?ItwasthroughMatthewIbegantoapprehendcertainelementsinMaudeIhadbothfailedtonoteandappreciate;herlittlemannerismsthatjarred,herhabitsofthoughtthatexasperated,wereforgotten,andIwasforcedtoconfessthattherewassomethingfineintheachievementofthisattitudeofhersthatwaswithoutillwillorresentment,thattacitlyacknowledgedmycontinuedrightsandinterestinthechildren.Itpuzzledandtroubledme.
TheCitizensUnionbeganitscampaignearlythatautumn,longbeforetheHons.JonathanParksandTimothyMacGuire——RepublicanandDemocraticcandidatesforMayor——thoughtofgoingonthestump.Forseveralweeksthemeetingswereheldinthesmallhallsandclubroomsofvarioussocietiesandordersinobscureportionsofthecity.
Theforcesof\"privilegeandcorruption\"werenotmuchalarmed.PerryBlackwoodaccusedthenewspapersofhavingagreedtoa\"conspiracyofsilence\";but,asJudahB.Tallantremarked,itwasthebusinessofthepresstogivethepublicwhatitwanted,andthepublicasyethadn\'tshownmuchinterestinthestrugglebeingwagedinitsbehalf.WhenthemeetingsbegantofillupitwouldbetimetoreporttheminthecolumnsoftheEra.Meanwhile,however,thecityhadbeenquietlyvisitedbyanenterprisingrepresentativeofaNewYorkperiodicalofthenewtypethatdevelopedwiththeopeningyearsofthecentury——onemakingaspecialtyofpassionate\"muck-raking.\"AndsincethepeopleofAmericalovenothingbetterthanbeingstartled,Yardley\'sWeeklyhadacquiredacirculationtrulyfabulous.TheemissaryofthepaperhadattendedseveraloftheCitizensmeetings;interviewed,itseemed,manypersons:
theresultwasarevelationtomakethebloodofpoliticians,capitalistsandcorporationlawyersruncold.Irememberverywellthedayitappearedonournewsstands,andtheheateddenunciationsitevokedattheBoyneClub.RalphHambletonwastheonlyonewhotookitcalmly,whoseemedtoderiveacertainenjoymentfromtheaffair.Hadhebeenalessprivilegedperson,theywouldhaveputhiminchancery.LeonardDickinsonassertedthatYardley\'sshouldbesuedforlibel.
\"There\'sjustoneobjectiontothat,\"saidRalph.
\"What?\"askedthebanker.
\"Itisn\'tlibel.\"
\"Idefythemtoproveit,\"Dickinsonsnapped.\"It\'sad——doutrage!
Thereisn\'tacityorvillageinthecountrythathasn\'texactlythesameconditions.Thereisn\'tanyotherwaytorunacity——\"
\"That\'swhatMr.Krebssays,\"Ralphreplied,\"thatthepeopleoughttoputJuddJasonofficiallyincharge.Hetells\'emthatJasonisprobablyamoreefficientmanthanDemocracywillbeabletoevolveinacoon\'sage,thatweoughttotakehimover,insteadoflettingthecapitalistshavehim.\"
\"DidKrebssaythat?\"Dickinsondemanded.
\"Youcan\'thavereadthearticleverythoroughly,Leonard,\"Ralphcommented.\"I\'mafraidyouonlypickedoutthepartofitthatcomplimentsyou.ThisfellowseemstohavebeenstruckbyKrebs,sayshe\'sacomingman,thathe\'smakingoriginalcontributionstothepeople\'scause.Quiteatribute.Yououghttoreadit.
Dickinson,whohadfinishedhislunch,gotupandleftthetableafterlightinghiscigar.Ralph\'slookfollowedhimamusedly.
\"I\'mafraidit\'stimetocashinandbegood,\"heobserved.
\"We\'llgetthatfellowKrebsyet,\"saidGrierson,wrathfully.
MillerGorsealonemadenoremarks,butinspiteofhissilenceheemanatedananimosityagainstreformandreformersthatseemedtochargetheveryatmosphere,andwouldhaverepressedanymanbutRalph
IsatinmyroomattheClubthatnightandrereadthearticle,andifitsauthorcouldhavelookedintomysoulandobservedtheemotionshehadsetup,hewould,nodoubt,haveexperiencedagrimsatisfaction.
ForI,too,hadcomeinforashareofthecomment.Portionsofthematterreferringtomestuckinmybrainliketar,suchasthereferencetomyfather,tothehonouredtraditionsoftheParetsandtheBreckswhichIhaddeliberatelyrepudiated.Ihadlessexcusethanmanyothers.
ThepartIhadplayedinvariousreprehensibletransactionssuchastheRiversideFranchiseandthedummytelephonecompanyaffairwasdweltupon,andIwasdismissedwiththelaconiccommentthatIwasagraduateofHarvard
Myassociatesandmyselfwerereferredtocollectivelyasa\"gang,\"withthenameofourcityprefixed;wewerelinkedupwithandcomparedtothegangsofothercities——theterminologyusedtodescribeusbeingthatofthepolicereporter.We\"operated,\"likeburglars;we\"looted\":only,itwasintimatedinoneplace,\"second-storymen\"wereangelscomparedtous,whohadneverseentheinsideofapenitentiary.Herewewere,allarraignedbeforethebarofpublicopinion,therelentlessDickinson,thesurfeitedScherer,therapaciousGrierson,thesalaciousTallant.IhaveforgottenwhatMillerGorsewascalled;nothingsoclassicasaMinotaur;
JuddJasonwasahairyspiderwhospreadhisnetandlurkedindarknessforhisvictims.Everyadjectivewascalledupontodoitsduty
EvenTheodoreWatlingdidnotescape,butitwasintimatedthathewouldbedealtwithinanotherconnectioninafuturenumber.
Thearticlehadacrudeandterrifyingpower,andthepainitaroused,followingalmostimmediatelyuponthesufferingcausedbymyseparationfromNancy,wascumulativeincharacterandeffect,seemingactivelytoreenforcetheunwelcomeconvictionIhadbeenstrivingtosuppress,thattheworld,whichhadlongseemedsoacquiescentinconformingitselftomydesires,wasturningagainstme.
ThoughmyhungerforNancywasstillgnawing,IhadbeguntofearthatI
shouldnevergethernow;andthefactthatshewouldnotevenwritetomeseemedtoconfirmthis.
ThentherewasMatthew——Icouldnotbeartothinkthathewouldeverreadthatarticle.
InvainItriedthatnighttobelittletomyselfitscontentionsandprobableresults,tosummonupthehearttofight;invainIsoughttoreconstructthepointofview,togainsomethingofthatrenewedhopeandpower,ofdevotiontoacauseIhadcarriedawayfromWashingtonaftermytalkwithTheodoreWatling.He,thoughstricken,hadnotwaveredinhisfaith.WhyshouldI?
WhetherornotastheresultofthearticleinYardley\'s,whichhadbeenreadmoreorlesswidelyinthecity,thecampaignoftheCitizensUniongainedground,andpeoplebegantofillthelittlehallstohearKrebs,whowasacandidatefordistrictattorney.Evidentlyhewasentertainingandrousingthem,forhisreputationspread,andsomeofthelargerhallswerehired.DickinsonandGorsebecamealarmed,andonemorningthebankerturnedupattheClubwhileIwaseatingmybreakfast.
\"Lookhere,Hugh,\"hesaid,\"wemayaswellfacethefactthatwe\'vegotafightaheadofus,——we\'llhavetostartsomesortofaback-firerightaway.\"
\"YouthinkGreenhalgehasachanceofbeingelected?\"Iasked.
\"I\'mnotafraidofGreenhalge,butofthisfellowKrebs.Wecan\'taffordtohavehimdistrictattorney,toletademagoguelikehimgetastart.
ThementheRepublicansandDemocratshavenominatedareworsethanuseless.Parksisnogood,andneitherisMacGuire.Ifonlywecouldhaveforeseenthisthingwemighthavehadbettercandidatesputup——butthere\'snousecryingoverspiltmilk.You\'llhavetogoonthestump,Hugh——that\'sallthereistoit.Youcananswerhim,andthenewspaperswillprintyourspeechesinfull.Besidesitwillhelpyouwhenitcomestothesenatorship.\"
ThemoodofextremedejectionthathadfollowedtheappearanceofthearticleinYardley\'sdidnotlast.Ihadacquiredaggressiveness:anaggressiveness,however,differinginqualityfromthefeelingIoncewouldhavehad,——forthisarosefromresentment,notfrombelief.ItwasimpossibletoliveintheatmospherecreatedbythemenwithwhomI
associated——especiallyatsuchatime——withoutimbibingsomethingoftheemotionsanimatingthem,——eventhoughIhadbeenfreefromtheseemotionsmyself.I,too,hadbeguntobefilledwithadesireforrevenge;andwhenthisdesirewasuponmeIdidnothaveinmymindapackofreformers,oreventhewriterofthearticleinYardley\'s.IthoughtofHermannKrebs.Hewasmypersecutor;itseemedtomethathealwayshadbeen
\"Well,I\'llmakespeechesifyoulike,\"IsaidtoDickinson.
\"I\'mglad,\"hereplied.\"We\'reallagreed,Gorseandtherestofus,thatyououghtto.We\'vegottogetsomegingerintothisfight,andagooddealmoremoney,I\'mafraid.Jasonsendswordwe\'llneedmore.Bytheway,Hugh,Iwishyou\'ddroparoundandtalktoJasonandgethisideaofhowthelandlies.\"
Iwent,thistimeinthecompanyofJudahB.Tallant.Naturallywedidn\'texpecttoseeMr.Jasonperturbed,norwashe.Heseemedtobeinanodd,ratherexultantmood——ifhecanbeimaginedasexultant.Wewerenotlonginfindingoutwhatpleasedhim——nothinglessthanthefactthatMr.Krebshadproposedhimformayor!
\"D——difIwouldn\'tmakeagoodone,too,\"hesaid.\"D——difIwouldn\'tshow\'emwhatarealmayoris!\"
\"Iguessthere\'snodangerofyoureverbeingmayor,Judd,\"Tallantobserved,withasomewhatuneasyjocularity.
\"Iguessthereisn\'t,Judah,\"repliedtheboss,quickly,butwithapeculiarvioletflashinhiseyes.\"Theywon\'tevermakeyoumayor,either,ifIcanhelpit.AndI\'veanotionIcan.I\'dratherseeKrebsmayor.\"
\"Youdon\'tthinkhemeanttoproposeyouseriously,\"Tallantexclaimed.
\"I\'mnotad——dfool,\"saidtheboss.\"ButI\'llsaythis,thathehalfmeantit.Krebshasahead-pieceonhim,andItellyouifanyofthisreformdopeisworthanythinghisis.There\'ssomesenseinwhathe\'stalking,andifallthevoterswaslikehimyoumightgetamanlikemeformayor.Butthey\'renot,andIguesstheyneverwillbe.\"
\"Sure,\"saidMr.Jason.\"Thepeoplearedotty——thereain\'toneintenthousandunderstandswhathe\'sdrivingatwhenhegetsoffthingslikethat.Theytakeitonthelevel.\"
Tallantreflected.
\"Bygum,Ibelieveyou\'reright,\"hesaid.\"Youthinktheywillblowup?\"headded.
\"Krebsisthewholeshow,Itellyou.Theywouldn\'tbeanywherewithouthim.Theyapsthatlistentohimdon\'tunderstandhim,butsomehowhegetsundertheirskins.Haveyouseenhimlately?\"
\"Neversawhim,\"repliedTallant.
\"Well,ifyouhad,you\'dknowhewasasickman.\"
\"Sick!\"Iexclaimed.\"Howdoyouknow?\"
\"It\'smybusinesstoknowthings,\"saidJuddJason,andaddedtoTallant,\"thatyourreportersdon\'tfindout.\"
\"What\'sthematterwithhim?\"Tallantdemanded.Aslightexultationinhistonedidnotescapeme.
\"You\'vegotmethere,\"saidJason,\"butIhaveitprettystraight.Anyoneofyourreporterswilltellyouthathelookssick.\"
TheEratookMr.Jason\'sadviceandbegantopublishthoseportionsofKrebs\'sspeechesthatwereseeminglydetrimentaltohisowncause.Otherconservativenewspapersfollowedsuit
BothTallantandIweresurprisedtohearthesesentimentsoutofthemouthofMr.Jason.
\"Youdon\'tthinkthatcrowd\'sgoingtowin,doyou?\"askedtheowneroftheEra,atrifleuneasily.
\"Win!\"exclaimedthebosscontemptuously.\"They\'llblowup,andyou\'llneverhearof\'em.I\'mnotsayingwewon\'tneedalittle——powder,\"headded——whichwasoneofthematterswehadcometotalkabout.Hegaveuslikewiseaveryaccurateideaofthestateofthecampaign,mentioningcertainthingsthatoughttobedone.\"YououghttoprintsomeofKrebs\'sspeeches,Judah,likewhathesaidaboutme.They\'retalkingitallaroundthatyou\'reafraidto.\"
\"Printthingslikehisproposaltomakeyoumayor!\"
TheinformationthatIwastoenterthelistsagainstKrebswasreceivedwithsatisfactionandapprovalbythoseofourfriendswhowerecalledintoassistatacouncilofwarinthedirectors\'roomoftheCornNationalBank.Iwasflatteredbytheconfidencethesemenseemedtohaveinmyability.Allwereinastateofangeragainstthereformers;noneofthemseriouslyalarmedastotheactualoutcomeofthecampaign,——
especiallywhenIhadgiventhemtheopinionofMr.Jason.Whatdisturbedthemwasthepossibleeffectuponthefutureofthespreadofheretical,socialisticdoctrines,anditwasdecidedtoorganizeapublicitybureau,independentlyofthetwodominantpoliticalparties,tobeinchargeofacertainNewYorkjournalistwhomadeabusinessofsuchaffairs,whowastobepaidasumcommensuratewiththeemergency.Hewastohavecarteblanche,evenintheeditorialcolumnsofournewspapers.Hewasalsotofloodthecitywith\"literature.\"Wehadfoughtmanywarsbeforethis,andweplannedourcampaignpreciselyasthoughweweredealingwithoneofthoserebellionsintherealmoffinanceofwhichIhavegivenaninstance.Butnowthewarchestofouropponentswasnegligible;andwewerecomfortedbythethoughtthat,howeverdisagreeabletheaffairmightbewhileitlasted,inthelongruncapitalwasinvincible.
BeforesettingtoworktopreparemyspeechesitwasnecessarytomakeanattempttofamiliarizemyselfwiththeseeminglyunprecedentedlineofargumentKrebshadevolved——apparentlyasdisconcertingtohisfriendsastohisopponents.Itoccurredtome,sinceIdidnotcaretoattendKrebs\'smeetings,toaskmyconfidentialstenographer,MissMcCoy,togotoTurner\'sHallandtakedownoneofhisspeechesverbatim.MissMcCoyhadneverintrudedonmeherownviews,andItookforgrantedthattheycoincidedwithmyown.
\"I\'dliketogetanaccuraterecordofwhatheissaying,\"Itoldher.
\"Doyoumindgoing?\"
\"No,I\'llbegladtogo,Mr.Paret,\"shesaidquietly.
\"He\'sdoingmoreharmthanwethought,\"Iremarked,afteramoment.
\"I\'veknownhimforagoodmanyyears.He\'sclever.He\'ssowingseedsofdiscontent,startingtroublethatwillbeveryseriousunlessitisheadedoff.\"
MissMcCoymadenocomment
Beforenoonthenextdayshebroughtinthespeech,neatlytypewritten,andlaiditonmydesk.Lookingupandcatchinghereyejustasshewasabouttowithdraw,Iwassuddenlyimpelledtoask:——
\"Well,whatdidyouthinkofit?\"
Sheactuallyflushed,forthefirsttimeinmydealingswithherbetrayingafeelingwhichIamsureshedeemedmostunprofessional.
\"Ilikedit,Mr.Paret,\"sherepliedsimply,andIknewthatshehadunderstated.ItwasquiteapparentthatKrebshadcaptivatedher.I
triednottobetraymyannoyance.
\"Wasthereagoodaudience?\"Iasked,\"Yes,\"shesaid.
\"Howmanydoyouthink?\"
Shehesitated.
\"Itisn\'taverylargehall,youknow.Ishouldsayitwouldholdabouteighthundredpeople.\"
\"And——itwasfull?\"-Ipersisted.
\"Oh,yes,therewerenumbersofpeoplestanding.\"
IthoughtIdetectedinhertone-althoughitwasnotapologetic——adesiretosparemyfeelings.Shehesitatedamomentmore,andthenlefttheroom,closingthedoorsoftlybehindher
PresentlyItookupthepagesandbegantoread.Thelanguagewassimpleanddirect,anappealtocommonsense,yetthewordsstrangelyseemedchargedwithanemotionalpowerthatIfoundmyselfresisting.WhenatlengthIlaiddownthesheetsIwonderedwhetheritwereimagination,ortheuncomfortableresultofmemoriesofconversationsIhadhadwithhim.
Iwas,however,confrontedwiththetaskofrefutinghisarguments:butwithexasperatingingenuity,heseemedtohavetakenthewindoutofoursails.ItisdifficulttoansweramanwhodeniesthecardinalprincipleofAmericandemocracy,——thatagoodmayororagovernormaybemadeoutofadog-catcher.HecalledthistheCincinnatustheory:thatanyAmerican,becausehewasanAmerican,wasfitforanyjobinthegiftofstateorcityorgovernment,fromsherifftoAmbassadortoGreatBritain.
Krebssubstitutedforthisfallacywhatmaybecalledthedoctrineofpotentiality.Ifweinauguratedanddevelopedasystemofdemocraticeducation,basedonscientificprinciples,andcaughtthedog-catcher,youngenough,hemightbecomeastatesmanorthinkerorscientistandmakehiscontributiontothewelfareandprogressofthenation:again,hemightnot;buthewouldhavehadhischance,hewouldnotbeinapositiontocomplain.
Herewasadoctrine,Iimmediatelyperceived,whichitwouldbesuicidaltoattempttorefute.Itought,indeed,tohavebeenmyline.WithagrowingdistasteIbegantorealizethatalltherewasleftformewastoflatterapopulacethatKrebs,paradoxically,belaboured.NeverinthehistoryofAmerican\"uplift\"hadanelectoratebeeninthismannerwooed!
upbraidedforexpediency,apronenesstodemandimmediateresults,anunwillingnesstothink,yes,andaninabilitytothinkstraight.SuchanelectoratedeservedtobeledaroundbythenosebytheJasonsandDickinsons,theGorsesandtheGriersonsandtheParets.
Yes,hehadmentionedme.Thatgavemeaqueersensation.Howisonetohandleanopponentwhopraisesonewithadelightfulirony?.We,theDickinsons,Griersons,Parets,Jasons,etc.,hadthisvirtueatleast,anditwasbynomeanstheleastofthevirtues,——thatwedidthink.Wehadaplan,atheoryofgovernment,andwecarrieditout.Hewasinclinedtobelievethatmoralityconsistedlargely,ifnotwholly,inclearthinking,andnotinthepreceptsoftheSunday-school.Thatwasthetroublewiththeso-called\"reform\"campaigns,theywereconductedonlinesofSunday-schoolmorality;thepeopleworkedthemselvesupintoasortofrevivalistfrenzy,anemotionalstatewhich,ifthetruthweretold,wasthoroughlyimmoral,unreasonableandhypocritical:likeallfrenzies,asamatterofcourseitdieddownafterthecampaignwasover.
Moreover,theAmericanpeoplehadshownthattheywereunwillingtomakeanysacrificesforthepermanentbettermentofconditions,andassoonastheirincomesbegantofallofftheyturnedagaintothebossesandcapitalistslikeanabjectflockofsheep.
Hewentontoexplainthathewasn\'treferringnowtothatpartoftheelectorateknownasthelabourelement,themenwhoworkedwiththeirhandsinmills,factories,etc.Theyhadtheirfaults,yettheypossessedatleastthevirtueofsolidarity,awillingnesstoundergosacrificesinordertoadvancethestandardofconditions;theytoohadatenacityofpurposeandaplan,suchasitwas,whichthesmallbusinessmen,theclerkslacked
Wemustwakeuptothefactthatweshouldn\'tgetUtopiabyturningoutMr.Jasonandthehighlyefficientgentlemenwhohiredandfinancedhim.
Itwasn\'tsosimpleasthat.Utopiawasnotanachievementafterall,butanundertaking,astateofmind,thecontinuedovercomingofresistancebyaprogressiveeducationandeffort.Andallthistalkofpoliticalandfinancial\"wickedness\"wasrubbish;thewickednesstheycomplainedofdidnotresidemerelyinindividualsitwasasocialdisorder,orratheranorderthatnolongersuitedsocialconditions.Iftheso-calledgoodcitizenswouldtakethetroubletoeducatethemselves,tothinkinsteadofallowingtheirthinkingtobedoneforthemtheywouldseethatthe\"evils\"whichhadbeenpublishedbroadcastweremerelythesymptomsofthatdiseasewhichhadcomeuponthesocialbodythroughtheircollectiveneglectandindifference.Theyhelduptheirhandsinhorroratthespectacleofacommercial,licensedprostitution,theyshunnedtheprostituteandthecriminal;buttherewasnoneofus,ifhonest,whowouldnotexclaimwhenhesawthem,\"there,butfortheGraceofGod,goI!\"Whatwestillcalled\"sin\"waslargelytheresultoflackofopportunity,andtheactiveprincipleofsocietyasatpresentorganizedtendedmoreandmoretorestrictopportunity.Lackofopportunity,lackofpropernutrition,——thesemadesinnersbythewholesale;made,too,nine-tenthsoftheinefficientofwhomweself-
righteouslycomplained.Wehadanationalphilosophythatmeasuredprosperityindollarsandcents,includedinthismeasurementtheprofitsofliquordealerswhowereresponsibleformostofouridiots.Solongaswesetourheartsonthatkindofprosperity,solongaswefailedtograspthesimpleandpracticalfactthatthegreatestassetsofanationarehealthyandsaneandeducated,clear-thinkinghumanbeings,justsolongwasprostitutionlogical,RiversideFranchises,tractiondeals,JuddJasons,andtherespectablegentlemenwhocontinuedtofilltheircoffersoutofthepublicpurseinevitable.
Thespeakerturnedhisattentiontothe\"respectablegentlemen\"withthefullcoffers,amongstwhomIwasbyimplicationincluded.Wehadsimplysucceededundertherulestowhichsocietytacitlyagreed.Thatwasoursin.Heventuredtosaythattherewerefewmeninthehallwhoatthebottomoftheirheartsdidnotenvyandevenhonouroursuccess.He,forone,didnotdeemthese\"respectablegentlemen\"utterlyreprehensible;hewassufficientlyemancipatedtobesorryforus.Hesuspectedthatwewerenotwhollyhappyinbeingwinnersinsuchagame,——heevenbelievedthatwecouldwishasmuchasanyotherstochangethegameandtheprizes.Whatwerepresentedwasvaluableenergymisdirectedandmisplaced,andinareorganizedcommunityhewouldnotabolishus,buttransformus:transform,atleast,theindividualsofourtype,whowerethebuildersgonewrongundertheinfluenceofanoutwornphilosophy.Wemightbemadetoservethecityandthestatewiththesameeffectivenessthatwehadservedourselves.
Ifthebestamongthescientists,amongtheuniversityprofessorsandphysicianswerewillingtolabour——andtheywere——fortheadvancementofhumanity,fortheveryloveoftheworkandservicewithoutdisproportionateemoluments,withouttheaccumulationofawealthdifficulttospend,whysurelythesebigbusinessmenhadbeenmouldedininfancyfromnodifferentclay!AllwereAmericans.Instanceafterinstancemightbecitedofbusinessmenandlawyersofabilitymakingsacrifices,givinguptheirpersonalaffairsinordertotakeplacesofhonourinthegovernmentinwhichthesalarywascomparativelysmall,provingthateventhesewereopentoinducementsotherthanmerelymercenaryones.
Itwasunfortunate,hewenton,buttrue,thatthevastmajorityofpeopleofvotingageintheUnitedStatesto-daywhothoughttheyhadbeeneducatedwereundertheobligationtoreeducatethemselves.Hesuggested,whimsically,avacationschoolforCongressandalllegislativebodiesasastarter.Untilthefactoftheutterinadequacyoftheoldeducationwerefaced,therewaslittleornohopeofsolvingtheproblemsthatharassedus.Onethingwascertain——thattheycouldn\'tbesolvedbyarule-of-thumbmorality.Coincidentwiththeappearanceofthesenewandmightyproblems,perhapsinresponsetothem,anewandsanerviewoflifeitselfwasbeingdevelopedbytheworld\'sthinkers,newscienceswerebeingevolved,correlatedsciences;apsychologymakingatrueranalysisofhumanmotives,impulses,ofhumanpossibilities;aneconomicsandatheoryofgovernmentthattookaccountofthispsychology,andofthevastchangesappliedsciencehadmadeinproductionanddistribution.Welivedinanewworld,whichwesoughttoignore;andtheneweducation,thenewviewpointwasintruthnothingbutreligionmadepractical.Ithadneverbeenthoughtpracticalbefore.
Themotivethatcompelledmentoworkforhumanityinscience,inmedicine,inart——yes,andinbusiness,ifwetooktherightviewofit,wasthereligiousmotive.Theapplicationofreligionwasto-dayextendingfromtheindividualtosociety.Noreligionthatdidnotfilltheneedsofbothwasatruereligion.
