Thismeantthedevelopmentofanewculture,onetobefoundedontheAmericantraditionofequalityofopportunity.Butculturewasnotaweedthatgrewovernight;itwasaleaventhatspreadslowlyandpainfully,firstinoculatingafewwhosufferedandoftendiedforit,thatitmightgraduallyaffectthemany.Thespreadofcultureimpliedtherecognitionofleadership:democraticleadership,butstillleadership.Leadership,andthewisdomitimplied,didnotresideinthepeople,butintheleaderswhosprangfromthepeopleandinterpretedtheirneedsandlongingsHewentontodiscussapartoftheprogrammeoftheCitizensUnion
Whatstruckme,asIlaiddownthetypewrittensheets,wastheextraordinaryresemblancebetweenthephilosophiesofHermannKrebsandTheodoreWatling.Only——Krebs\'sphilosophywasthebigger,heldthegreatervisionofthetwo;Ihadreluctantlyandratherbitterlytoadmitit.Theappealofithadevenreachedandstirredme,whosetaskwastorefuteit!Hereindeedwassomethingtofightfor——perhapstodiefor,ashehadsaid:andasIsatthereinmyofficegazingoutofthewindowIfoundmyselfrepeatingcertainphraseshehadused——thephraseaboutleadership,forinstance.ItwasatremendousconceptionofDemocracy,thatofacquiescencetodevelopedleadershipmaderesponsible;aconceptionIwascompelledtoconfesstranscendedMr.Watling\'s,loyalasIwastohimIbegantoreflecthownovelallthiswasinapoliticalspeech——althoughwhatIhavequotedwasinthenatureofapreamble.Itwasasermon,aneducationalsermon.Well,thatiswhatsermonsalwayshadbeen,——andevennowpretendedtobe,——educationalandstirring,appealingtotheemotionsthroughtheintellect.Itdidn\'treadliketheSocialismheusedtopreach,ithadtheringofreligion.
Hehadcalleditreligion.
WithaneffortofthewillIturnedfromthisironicalanddangerousvisionofaHughParetwhomighthavebeenenlistedinaninspiringstruggle,ofamodernyetunregenerateSaulkickingagainstthepricks,condemnedtogoforthbreathingfireagainstadoctrinethatmadeatrueappeal;againstthemanIbelievedIhatedjustbecausehehadmadethisappeal.Intheactofsummoningmycounter-argumentsIwasinterruptedbytheentranceofGrierson.Hewascallingonamatterofbusiness,butbegantotalkabouttheextractsfromKrebs\'sspeechhehadreadintheMailandState.
\"Whatinhellisthisfellowdrivingat,Paret?\"hedemanded.\"Itsoundstomeliketherantingofalunaticdervish.Ifhethinkssomuchofus,andthewaywerunthetown,what\'shesquawkingabout?\"
IlookedatGrierson,andconceivedanintenseaversionforhim.I
wonderedhowIhadeverbeenabletostandhim,toworkwithhim.Isawhiminasuddenflashasacunning,cruelbirdofprey,agorged,drabvulturewithbeadyeyes,aresemblancesoextraordinarythatIwonderedI
hadneverremarkeditbefore.Forhehadthehookedvulturenose,whilethepinkbaldnessofhisheadwasrelievedbyafewscantytuftsofhair.
\"Thepeopleseemtolikewhathe\'sgottosay,\"Iobserved.
\"Itbeatsme,\"saidGrierson.\"Theydon\'tunderstandaquarterofit——
I\'vebeentalkingtosomeof\'em.It\'stheird——dcuriosity,Iguess.
Youknowhowthey\'llstandforhoursaroundastreetfakir.\"
\"It\'smorethanthat,\"Iretorted.
Griersonregardedmepiercingly.
\"Well,we\'llputacrimpinhim,allright,\"hesaid,withalaugh.
Iwasinanunenviablestateofmindwhenheleftme.IhadanimpulsetosendforMissMcCoyandaskherifshehadunderstoodwhatKrebswas\"drivingat,\"butforreasonsthatmustbefairlyobviousIrefrained.I
readoveragainthatpartofKrebs\'sspeechwhichdealtwiththeimmediateprogrammeoftheCitizensUnion.AfterpayingatributetoGreenhalgeasamanofcommonsenseanddependabilitywhowouldmakeagoodmayor,hewentontoexplaintheprincipleofthenewchartertheyhopedultimatelytoget,whichshouldputthemanagementofthecityinthehandsofoneman,anexpertemployedbyacommission;anexpertwhosedutyitwouldbetoconducttheaffairsofthecityonabusinessbasis,preciselyasthoseofanyefficientcorporationwereconducted.Thisplanhadalreadybeenadopted,withencouragingresults,inseveralsmallercitiesofthecountry.Heexplainedinsomedetail,withstatistics,thewasteandinefficiencyanddishonestyinvariousdepartmentsunderthepresentsystem,dwellingparticularlyuponthedeplorablestateofaffairsinthecityhospital.
Ineednotdwelluponthisportionofhisremarks.Sincethentext-booksandseriousperiodicalshavedealtwiththesemattersthoroughly.TheyarenowfamiliartoallthinkingAmericans.
XXV.
Myentranceintothecampaignwasaccompaniedbyablareofpublicity,andduringthatfortnightIneverpickedupamorningoreveningnewspaperwithoutreading,onthefirstpage,somesuchheadlineas\"CrowdsflocktohearParet.\"Asamatteroffact,thecrowdsdidflock;
butIneverquiteknewasIlookeddownfromplatformsonseasoffaceshowmuchoftheflockingwasspontaneous.Muchofitwasso,sincethestrugglehadthenbecomesufficientlydramatictoappealtothelargerpublicimaginationthatisbutoccasionallywaked;ontheotherhand,themagicofadvertisingcannotbeunderestimated;normusttheexistencebeignoredofanorganizedcorpsofshepherdsunderthevigilantdirectionofMr.JuddJason,whosedutyitwastoseethatnoneofourmeetingswaslackinginnumbersandenthusiasm.Therewasalwaysademonstrativegatheringoverflowingthesidewalkinfrontoftheentrance,swayingandcheeringinthelightofthestreetlamps,andonthefloorwithinanamplescatteringofsuspiciouslybleary-eyedvoterstostartthestampingandapplauding.Inspiteoftheseknownfacts,theimpressionofpopularity,ofrepudiationofreformbyalargemajorityoflevel-headedinhabitantshadreassuringandreenforcingeffects.
Astutecitizens,spectatorsofthefray——ifindeedtherewereany——mighthaveremarkedanuniqueandsignificantfeatureofthatcampaign:thattheusualrecriminationsbetweenthetwogreatpartieswerelacking.Mr.
Parks,theRepublicancandidate,didnotdenounceMr.MacGuire,theDemocraticcandidate.RepublicanandDemocraticspeakersalikeexpendedtheirbreathinlashingMr.KrebsandtheCitizensUnion.
Itisdifficulttorecordthefluctuationsofmyspirit.WhenIwasinthehalls,speakingorwaitingtospeak,Ireactedtothatphenomenonknownasmobpsychology,Ibecameself-confident,evenexhilarated;andinthoseearlierspeechesImanaged,Ithink,tostrikethenoteforwhichIstrove——thejudicialnote,suitabletoalawyerofweightandprominence,ofdeprecationratherthandenunciation.Isoughttoembodyandvoiceafineandcalmsanityatatimewheneveryoneelseseemedindangeroflosingtheirheads,andtoalargeextentachievedit.IhadknownMr.Krebsformorethantwentyyears,andwhileIdidnotcaretocriticiseafellow-memberofthebar,Iwouldgosofarastosaythathewasvisionary,thatthechangesheproposedingovernmentwould,ifadopted,havegraveandfar-reachingresults:wecouldnot,forinstance,supportinidlenessthosewhorefusedtodotheirshareoftheworkoftheworld.Mr.Krebswaswell-meaning.Irefrainedfromdwellingtoolonguponhim,passingtoMr.Greenhalge,alsowell-meaning,butamanofmediocreabilitywhowouldmakeamessofthegovernmentofacitywhichwouldonedayrivalNewYorkandChicago.Loudcheers.AndIpointedoutthatMr.PerryBlackwoodhadbeenunabletomanagetheaffairsoftheBoyneStreetroad.Suchmen,well-intentionedthoughtheymightbe,werehindrancestoprogress.ThisledmenaturallytoadiscussionoftheRiversideFranchiseandtheTractionConsolidation.Iwasoneofthosewhosehonestyandgoodfaithhadbeenarraigned,butIwouldnotstooptorefutetheaccusations.Idweltuponthebenefitstothecity,uniformservice,electricityandlargecomfortablecarsinsteadofrattletrapconveyances,andthedevelopmentofalargeandgrowingpopulationintheRiversideneighbourhood:thecontinualextensionoflinestosuburbandistrictsthatenabledhard-workedmentoliveoutofthesmoke:Icalledattentiontothesystemoftransfers,thedistanceapassengermightbeconveyed,andconveyedquickly,forthesumoffivecents.Ispokeofourcapitalistsasmenmoresinnedagainstthansinning.Theirmoneywasalwaysattheserviceofenterprisestendingtothedevelopmentofourmetropolis.
WhenIwasnotinthemeetings,however,andespeciallywheninmyroomatnight,Iwascontinuallytryingtofightoffasenseoflonelinessthatseemedtothreatentooverwhelmme.Iwantedtobealone,andyetI
fearedtobe.Iwasaware,inspiteoftheircongratulationsonmyefforts,ofagrowingdislikeformyassociates;andintheappallingemptinessofthemomentswhenmydepressionwasgreatestIwasforcedtotherealizationthatIhadnodisinterestedfriend——notone——inwhomI
couldconfide.Nancyhadfailedme;IhadscarcelyseenTomPetersthatwinter,anditwasoutofthequestiontogotohim.Forthethirdtimeinmylife,andinthegreatestcrisisofall,IwasfeelingtheneedofSomething,ofsomesustainingandimpellingPowerthatmustbepresentedhumanly,possessingsympathyandunderstandingandloveIthinkI
hadaglimpsejustapatheticglimpse——ofwhattheChurchmightbeofhumansolidarity,comfortandsupport,ofhumantolerance,ifstrippedofthesuperstitionofanancientscience.Mytorturesweren\'toftheflesh,butofthemind.Mymindwasthesheepwhichhadgoneastray.
Wastherenosuchthing,couldtherebenosuchthingasahumanassociationthatmightatthesametimebeadivineorganism,afoldandarefugeforthelostanddividedminds?Thesourceofallthistroublewassocial
Thentowardtheendofthatlastcampaignweek,madnesssuddenlycameuponme.IknownowhownearthebreakingpointIwas,buttheimmediatecauseofmy\"flyingtopieces\"——touseavividexpression——wasaspeechmadebyGuptill,oneoftheCitizensUnioncandidatesforalderman,ayoungmanofaradicaltypenotuncommoninthesedays,thoughnewtomyexperience:aneducatedmanintheultra-radicalsense,yetlackingpoiseandperspective,withacertainbrillianceandassurance.Hewasajournalist,acorrespondentofsomeEasternnewspapersandperiodicals.
Inthisspeech,whichwasreportedtome——foritdidnotgetintothenewspapers——Iwastheparticularobjectofhisattack.Menofmykind,andnottheJuddJasonsforwhomtherewassomeexcuseweretheleastdispensabletoolsofthecapitalists,thegreatestmenacetocivilization.Wewereabsolutelylackinginprinciple,wewerereadyatanytimetobesmirchourprofessionbylegalizingsteals;wefouledournestswithdirtyfees.Notallthathesaidwasvituperation,forheknewsomethingofthemoderntheoryofthelawthatlegalradicalshadbeguntoproclaim,andeventoteachinsometolerantuniversities.
Thenextnight,inthemiddleofapreparedspeechIwasdeliveringtoalargecrowdinKingdomHalltherehadbeenjeersfromagroupinacorneratsomeassertionImade.Guptill\'saccusationshadbeenfesteringinmymind.ThefacesofthepeoplegrewblurredasIfeltangerboiling,risingwithinme;suddenlymycontrolgaveway,andIlaunchedforthintoadenunciationofGreenhalge,Krebs,GuptillandevenofPerryBlackwoodthatmusthavebeenwithoutlicenseorbounds.Icanrecallonlyfragmentsofmyremarks:Greenhalgewantedtobemayor,andwaswillingtoputthestigmaofslanderonhisnativecityinordertogainhisambition;Krebshadmadeafailureofhisprofession,ofeverythingsaveinbringingshameontheplaceofhisadoption;andonthesingleoccasionheretoforewhenhehadbeenbeforethepublic,intheSchoolBoardfiasco,theofficialsindictedonhissupposedevidencehadtriumphantlybeenvindicated——,Guptillwasgainingmoneyandnotorietyoutofhisspleen;PerryBlackwoodwasactingoutofspiteI
returnedtoKrebs,declaringthathewouldbethebossofthecityifthatticketwereelected,demandingwhethertheywishedforabossanagitatoritchingforpowerandrecognition
Iwasconsciousatthemomentonlyofawildreliefandjoyinlettingmyselfgo,feelingsheightenedbytheclappingandcheerswithwhichmycharacterizationswerereceived.Thefactthatthecheersweremingledwithhissesmerelyservedtodrivemeon.Atlength,whenIhadreturnedtoKrebs,thehisseswereredoubled,angeringmethemorebecauseoftheevidencetheygaveoffriendsofhisinmyaudiences.PerhapsIhadmadesomeofthesefriendsforhim!Avoiceshoutedoutabovetheuproar:——
\"IknowaboutKrebs.He\'sad——dsightbettermanthanyou.\"AndthisstartedastruggleinacornerofthehallImanaged,somehow,whenthecommotionhadsubsided,toregainmypoise,andendedbyutteringtheconvictionthatthecommonsenseofthecommunitywouldrepudiatetheCitizensUnionandallitstoodfor
Butthatnight,asIlayawakelisteningtothestreetnoisesandstaringattheglintfromastreetlamponthebrassknobofmybedstead,IknewthatIhadfailed.IhadcommittedthesupremeviolationoftheselfthatleadsinevitablytoitsfinaldissolutionEventheexuberantheadlinesofthenewspapershandedmebytheclubservantinthemorningbroughtbutlittlerelief.
OntheSaturdaymorningbeforetheTuesdayofelectiontherewasaconferenceinthedirectors\'roomoftheCornNational.Thecityreekedwithsmokeandacrid,stalegas,theelectriclightswereturnedontodispeltheNovembergloom.Itwasnotacheerfulconference,noraconfidentone.Forthefirsttimeinacollectiveexperiencethemengatheredtherewereconfrontedwithasituationwhichtheydoubtedtheirabilitytocontrol,asituationforwhichtherewasnoprecedent.Theyhadtoreckonwithanewandunsolvableequationinpoliticsandfinance,——theindependentvoter.Therewasanelementofdesperationinthediscussion.Recriminationspassed.DickinsonimpliedthatGorsewithallhisknowledgeofpoliticalaffairsoughttohaveforeseenthatsomethinglikethiswassuretohappen,shouldhavemanagedbettertheconventionsofbothgreatparties.TherailroadcounselretortedthatithadbeenasmuchDickinson\'sfaultashis.GriersonexpressedaregretthatIhadbrokenoutagainstthereformers;ithadreacted,hesaid,——
andthiswasjustenoughtostingmetoretaliatethatthingshadbeendoneinthecampaign,chieflythroughhisinitiative,thatwerenotonlyunwise,butmightlandsomeofusinthepenitentiaryifKrebswereelected.
\"Well,\"Griersonexclaimed,\"whetherhe\'selectedornot,Iwouldn\'tgivemuchnowforyourchancesofgettingtotheSenate.Wecan\'taffordtoflyinthefaceofthedearpublic.\"
Atensesilencefollowedthisremark.Inthestreetbelowtherumbleofthetrafficcametousmuffledbytheheavyplate-glasswindows.IsawTallantglanceatGorseandDickinson,andIknewthematterhadbeendecidedbetweenthemselves,thattheyhadbeenmerelywithholdingitfrommeuntilafterelection.Iwasbesmirched,forthepresentatleast.
\"Ithinkyouwilldomethejustice,gentlemen,\"Iremembersayingslowly,withtheexcessiveandratherridiculousformalityofamanwhoisneartheendofhistether,\"thattheideaofrepresentingyouintheSenatewasyours,notmine.Youbeggedmetotaketheappointmentagainstmywishesandmyjudgment.IhadnodesiretogotoWashingtonthen,Ihavelessto-day.Ihavecometotheconclusionthatmyusefulnesstoyouisatanend.\"
Igottomyfeet.IbeheldMillerGorsesittingimpassive,withhisencompassingstare,thestrongestmanofthemall.Achangeoffirmamentswouldnotmovehim.ButDickinsonhadrisenandputhishandonmyshoulder.ItwasthefirsttimeIhadeverseenhimwhite.
\"Holdon,Hugh,\"heexclaimed,\"Iguesswe\'reallalittlecantankeroustoday.Thisconfoundedcampaignhasgotonournerves,andwesaythingswedon\'tmean.Youmustn\'tthinkwe\'renotgratefulfortheservicesyou\'verenderedus.We\'reallinthesameboat,andthereisn\'tamanwho\'sbeenonoursideofthisfightwhocouldtakeapoliticalofficeatthistime.We\'vegottofacethatfact,andIknowyouhavethesensetoseeit,too.I,forone,won\'tbesatisfieduntilIseeyouintheSenate.It\'swhereyoubelong,andyoudeservetobethere.Youunderstandwhatthepublicis,howitblowshotandcold,andinafewyearsthey\'llbehowlingtogetusback,ifthesedemagogueswin.
\"Sure,\"chimedinGrierson,whowasfrightened,\"that\'sright,Hugh.I
didn\'tmeananything.NobodyappreciatesyoumorethanIdo,oldman.\"
Tallant,too,addedsomething,andBerringer,——I\'veforgottenwhat.I
wastired,tootiredtomeettheiradvanceshalfway.IsaidthatIhadaspeechtogetreadyforthatnight,andotheraffairstoattendto,andleftthemgroupedtogetherlikecrestfallenconspirators——allsaveMillerGorse,whosepervasivegazeseemedtofollowmeafterIhadclosedthedoor.
AnelevatortookmedowntothelobbyoftheCornBankBuilding.I
pausedforamoment,aimlesslyregardingthestreamsofhumanityhurryinginandout,streakingthewhitemarblefloorwiththewetfilthofthestreets.Someonespokemyname.ItwasBitter,JuddJason\'s\"legal\"
tool,andIpermittedmyselftobedraggedoutoftheeddiesintoaquietcornerbythecigarstand.
\"Say,Iguesswe\'vegotKrebs\'sgoatallright,thistime,\"hetoldmeconfidentially,inavoicealittleaboveawhisper;\"hewasbusywiththeshirt-waistgirlslastyear,youremember,whentheywerestriking.
Well,oneof\'em,oneofthestrikeleaders,hastakentoeasystreet;
she\'sagreedtosendhimaletterto-nighttocome\'roundtoherroomafterhismeeting,tosaythatshe\'ssickandwantstoseehim.He\'llgo,allright.We\'llhavesomefun,we\'llbereadyforhim.Doyougetme?Solong.Theoldman\'swaitingforme.\"
Itmayseemoddthatthispieceofinformationdidnotproduceanimmediatelyrevoltingeffect.IknewthatsimilarpracticeshadbeentriedonKrebs,butthiswasthefirsttimeIhadheardofadefiniteplan,andfromamanlikeBitter.AsImademywayoutofthebuildingI
had,indeed,anauseatedfeeling;Jason\'s\"lawyer\"wasadirtylittleman,smellingofstalecigars,withablue-black,unshavenface.Inspiteoftheshockingnatureofhisconfidence,hehadactuallynotsucceededindeflectingthecurrentofmythoughts;thesewerestillrunningoverthesceneinthedirectors\'room.Ihadlistenedtohimpassivelywhilehehadheldmybuttonhole,andhehaddetainedmebutaninstant.
WhenIreachedthestreetIwaswonderingwhetherGorseandDickinsonandtheothers,Griersonespecially,couldpossiblyhaveentertainedthebeliefthatIwouldturntraitor?ItoldmyselfthatIhadnointentionofthis.HowcouldIturntraitor?andwhatwouldbetheobject?
revenge?ThenauseatedfeelinggrewmoreacuteReachingmyoffice,Ishutthedoor,satdownatmydesk,summonedmywill,andbegantojotdownrandomnotesforthepartofmyspeechIwastogivethenewspapers,notesthatweremeresillyfragmentsofargumentsIhadoncethoughteffective.IcouldnomoreconcentrateonthemthanIcouldhavewrittenapoem.Gradually,likethesmokethatsettleddownonourcityuntilwelivedindarknessatmidday,thehorrorofwhatBitterhadtoldmebegantopervademymind,untilIwasinastateofterror.
HadI,HughParet,fallentothis,thatIcouldstandbyconsentingtoanactwhichwasworsethanassassination?Wasanycauseworthit?Couldanycausesurviveit?Butmyattemptsatreasoningmightbelikenedtothestrainingsofawayfarerlostonamountainsidetopickhiswayinthegatheringdusk.Ihadjustthatdesperatefeelingofbeinglost,andwithitwentanacutesenseofanimminentdanger;theground,nolongerfirmundermyfeet,hadbecomeaslidingshaleslopingtowardanunseenprecipice.Perhaps,likethewayfarer,myfearswerethesharperforthememoryofthebeautyofthemorningonthatsamemountain,when,filledwithvigour,Ihadgazedonitfromtheplainbelowandbeheldthesunbreakingthroughthemists