Andthisspreadingusurpationoftheworldwassodexterouslyperformed——aproteus——hundredsofbanks，companies，syndicates，maskedtheCouncil’soperations——thatitwasalreadyfaradvancedbeforecommonmensuspectedthetyrannythathadcome。
TheCouncilneverhesitated，neverfaltered。Meansofcommunication，land，buildings，governments，municipalities，theterritorialcompaniesofthetropics，everyhumanenterprise，itgatheredgreedily。Anditdrilledandmarshalleditsmen，itsrailwaypolice，itsroadwaypolice，itshouseguards，anddrainandcableguards，itshostsofland—workers。Theirunionsitdidnotfight，butitunderminedandbetrayedandboughtthem。Itboughttheworldatlast。And，finally，itsculminatingstrokewastheintroductionofflying。
WhentheCouncil，inconflictwiththeworkersinsomeofitshugemonopolies，didsomethingflagrantlyillegalandthatwithouteventheordinarycivilityofbribery，theoldLaw，alarmedfortheprofitsofitscomplaisance，lookedaboutitforweapons。Buttherewerenomorearmies，nofightingnavies；theageofPeacehad’come。TheonlypossiblewarshipswerethegreatsteamvesselsoftheCouncil’sNavigationTrust。Thepoliceforcestheycontrolled；thepoliceoftherailways，oftheships，oftheiragriculturalestates，theirtime—keepersandorder—keepers，outnumberedtheneglectedlittleforcesoftheoldcountryandmunicipalorganisationstentoone。Andtheyproducedflyingmachines。ThereweremenalivestillwhocouldrememberthelastgreatdebateintheLondonHouseofCommons——thelegalparty，thepartyagainsttheCouncilwasinaminority，butitmadeadesperatefight——andhowthememberscamecrowdingoutupontheterracetoseethesegreatunfamiliarwingedshapescirclingquietlyoverhead。TheCouncilhadsoaredtoitspower。Thelastshamofademocracythathadpermittedunlimitedirresponsiblepropertywasatanend。
WithinonehundredandfiftyyearsofGraham’sfallingasleep，hisCouncilhadthrownoffitsdisguisesandruledopenly，supremeinhisname。Electionshadbecomeacheerfulformality，aseptennialfolly，anancientunmeaningcustom；asocialParliamentasinefectualastheconvocationoftheEstablishedChurchinVictoriantimesassemblednowandthen；
andalegitimateKingofEngland，disinherited，drunkenandwitless，playedfoolishlyinasecond—ratemusic—hall。Sothemagnificentdreamofthenineteenthcentury，thenobleprojectofuniversalindividuallibertyanduniversalhappiness，touchedbyadiseaseofhonour，crippledbyasuperstitionofabsoluteproperty，crippledbythereligiousfeudsthathadrobbedthecommoncitizensofeducation，robbedmenofstandardsofconduct，andbroughtthesanctionsofmoralitytouttercontempt，hadworkeditselfoutinthefaceofinventionandignobleenterprise，firsttoawarringplutocracy，andfinallytotheruleofasupremeplutocrat。HisCouncilatlasthadceasedeventotroubletohaveitsdecreesendorsedbytheconstitutionalauthorities，andheamotionless，sunken，yellow—skinnedfigurehadlain，neitherdeadnorliving，recognisablyandimmediatelyMasteroftheEarth。Andawokeatlasttofindhimself——Masterofthatinheritance！Awoketostandunderthecloudlessemptyskyandgazedownuponthegreatnessofhisdominion。