ThenanagentoftheIronHeelmanagedtobecomeamember,penetratedallitssecrets,andbroughtaboutitstotalannihilation。Thisoccurredin2002A。D。Thememberswereexecutedoneatatime,atintervalsofthreeweeks,andtheirbodiesexposedinthelabor—ghettoofSanFrancisco。
ColonelIngramandColonelVanGilbertaretwomorefamiliarfiguresthatIwaslatertoencounter。ColonelIngramrosehighintheOligarchyandbecameMinistertoGermany。Hewascordiallydetestedbytheproletariatofbothcountries。ItwasinBerlinthatImethim,where,asanaccreditedinternationalspyoftheIronHeel,Iwasreceivedbyhimandaffordedmuchassistance。Incidentally,ImaystatethatinmydualroleImanagedafewimportantthingsfortheRevolution。
ColonelVanGilbertbecameknownas\'Snarling\'VanGilbert。HisimportantpartwasplayedindraftingthenewcodeaftertheChicagoCommune。Butbeforethat,astrialjudge,hehadearnedsentenceofdeathbyhisfiendishmalignancy。Iwasoneofthosethattriedhimandpassedsentenceuponhim。AnnaRoylstoncarriedouttheexecution。
Stillanotherfigurearisesoutoftheoldlife—Jackson\'slawyer。
LeastofallwouldIhaveexpectedagaintomeetthisman,JosephHurd。Itwasastrangemeeting。Lateatnight,twoyearsaftertheChicagoCommune,ErnestandIarrivedtogetherattheBentonHarborrefuge。ThiswasinMichigan,acrossthelakefromChicago。Wearrivedjustattheconclusionofthetrialofaspy。Sentenceofdeathhadbeenpassed,andhewasbeingledaway。Suchwasthesceneaswecameuponit。Thenextmomentthewretchedmanhadwrenchedfreefromhiscaptorsandflunghimselfatmyfeet,hisarmsclutchingmeaboutthekneesinavicelikegripasheprayedinafrenzyformercy。
Asheturnedhisagonizedfaceuptome,IrecognizedhimasJosephHurd。OfalltheterriblethingsIhavewitnessed,neverhaveIbeensounnervedasbythisfranticcreature\'spleadingforlife。Hewasmadforlife。Itwaspitiable。Herefusedtoletgoofme,despitethehandsofadozencomrades。Andwhenatlasthewasdraggedshriekingaway,Isankdownfaintinguponthefloor。Itisfareasiertoseebravemendiethantohearacowardbegforlife。*
*TheBentonHarborrefugewasacatacomb,theentranceofwhichwascunninglycontrivedbywayofawell。Ithasbeenmaintainedinafairstateofpreservation,andthecuriousvisitormayto—daytreaditslabyrinthstotheassemblyhall,where,withoutdoubt,occurredthescenedescribedbyAvisEverhard。Fartheronarethecellswheretheprisonerswereconfined,andthedeathchamberwheretheexecutionstookplace。Beyondisthecemetery—long,windinggallerieshewnoutofthesolidrock,withrecessesoneitherhand,wherein,tierabovetier,lietherevolutionistsjustastheywerelaidawaybytheircomradeslongyearsagone。
CHAPTERTWENTY。
ALostOligarch。
BUTINREMEMBERINGTHEoldlifeIhaverunaheadofmystoryintothenewlife。Thewholesalejaildeliverydidnotoccuruntilwellalonginto1915。Complicatedasitwas,itwascarriedthroughwithoutahitch,andasaverycreditableachievementitcheeredusoninourwork。FromCubatoCalifornia,outofscoresofjails,militaryprisons,andfortresses,inasinglenight,wedeliveredfifty—oneofourfifty—twoCongressmen,andinadditionoverthreehundredotherleaders。Therewasnotasingleinstanceofmiscarriage。Notonlydidtheyescape,buteveryoneofthemwontotherefugesasplanned。TheonecomradeCongressmanwedidnotgetwasArthurSimpson,andhehadalreadydiedinCabanasaftercrueltortures。
TheeighteenmonthsthatfollowedwasperhapsthehappiestofmylifewithErnest。Duringthattimewewereneverapart。Later,whenwewentbackintotheworld,wewereseparatedmuch。NotmoreimpatientlydoIawaittheflameofto—morrow\'srevoltthandidIthatnightawaitthecomingofErnest。Ihadnotseenhimforsolong,andthethoughtofapossiblehitchorerrorinourplansthatwouldkeephimstillinhisislandprisonalmostdrovememad。Thehourspassedlikeages。Iwasallalone。Biedenbach,andthreeyoungmenwhohadbeenlivingintherefuge,wereoutandoverthemountain,heavilyarmedandpreparedforanything。Therefugesalloverthelandwerequiteempty,Iimagine,ofcomradesthatnight。
Justastheskypaledwiththefirstwarningofdawn,Iheardthesignalfromaboveandgavetheanswer。InthedarknessIalmostembracedBiedenbach,whocamedownfirst;butthenextmomentIwasinErnest\'sarms。Andinthatmoment,socompletehadbeenmytransformation,IdiscovereditwasonlybyaneffortofwillthatI
couldbetheoldAvisEverhard,withtheoldmannerismsandsmiles,phrasesandintonationsofvoice。ItwasbystrongeffortonlythatIwasabletomaintainmyoldidentity;Icouldnotallowmyselftoforgetforaninstant,soautomaticallyimperativehadbecomethenewpersonalityIhadcreated。
Onceinsidethelittlecabin,IsawErnest\'sfaceinthelight。Withtheexceptionoftheprisonpallor,therewasnochangeinhim—atleast,notmuch。Hewasmysamelover—husbandandhero。Andyettherewasacertainasceticlengtheningofthelinesofhisface。Buthecouldwellstandit,foritseemedtoaddacertainnobilityofrefinementtotheriotousexcessoflifethathadalwaysmarkedhisfeatures。Hemighthavebeenatriflegraverthanofyore,buttheglintoflaughterstillwasinhiseyes。Hewastwentypoundslighter,butinsplendidphysicalcondition。Hehadkeptupexerciseduringthewholeperiodofconfinement,andhismuscleswerelikeiron。Intruth,hewasinbetterconditionthanwhenhehadenteredprison。HourspassedbeforehisheadtouchedpillowandIhadsoothedhimofftosleep。Buttherewasnosleepforme。Iwastoohappy,andthefatigueofjail—breakingandridinghorsebackhadnotbeenmine。
WhileErnestslept,Ichangedmydress,arrangedmyhairdifferently,andcamebacktomynewautomaticself。Then,whenBiedenbachandtheothercomradesawoke,withtheiraidIconcoctedalittleconspiracy。Allwasready,andwewereinthecave—roomthatservedforkitchenanddiningroomwhenErnestopenedthedoorandentered。AtthatmomentBiedenbachaddressedmeasMary,andI
turnedandansweredhim。ThenIglancedatErnestwithcuriousinterest,suchasanyyoungcomrademightbetrayonseeingforthefirsttimesonotedaherooftheRevolution。ButErnest\'sglancetookmeinandquestionedimpatientlypastandaroundtheroom。ThenextmomentIwasbeingintroducedtohimasMaryHolmes。
Tocompletethedeception,anextraplatewaslaid,andwhenwesatdowntotableonechairwasnotoccupied。IcouldhavecriedwithjoyasInotedErnest\'sincreasinguneasinessandimpatience。
Finallyhecouldstanditnolonger。
\'Where\'smywife？\'hedemandedbluntly。
\'Sheisstillasleep,\'Ianswered。
Itwasthecrucialmoment。Butmyvoicewasastrangevoice,andinitherecognizednothingfamiliar。Themealwenton。Italkedagreatdeal,andenthusiastically,asahero—worshippermighttalk,anditwasobviousthathewasmyhero。Irosetoaclimaxofenthusiasmandworship,and,beforehecouldguessmyintention,threwmyarmsaroundhisneckandkissedhimonthelips。Heheldmefromhimatarm\'slengthandstaredaboutinannoyanceandperplexity。Thefourmengreetedhimwithroarsoflaughter,andexplanationsweremade。Atfirsthewassceptical。Hescrutinizedmekeenlyandwashalfconvinced,thenshookhisheadandwouldnotbelieve。ItwasnotuntilIbecametheoldAvisEverhardandwhisperedsecretsinhisearthatnoneknewbutheandAvisEverhard,thatheacceptedmeashisreally,trulywife。
Itwaslaterinthedaythathetookmeinhisarms,manifestinggreatembarrassmentandclaimingpolygamousemotions。
\'YouaremyAvis,\'hesaid,andyouarealsosomeoneelse。Youaretwowomen,andthereforeyouaremyharem。Atanyrate,wearesafenow。IftheUnitedStatesbecomestoohotforus,whyIhavequalifiedforcitizenshipinTurkey。\'*
*AtthattimepolygamywasstillpractisedinTurkey。
Lifebecameformeveryhappyintherefuge。Itistrue,weworkedhardandforlonghours;butweworkedtogether。Wehadeachotherforeighteenpreciousmonths,andwewerenotlonely,fortherewasalwaysacomingandgoingofleadersandcomrades—strangevoicesfromtheunder—worldofintrigueandrevolution,bringingstrangertalesofstrifeandwarfromallourbattle—line。Andtherewasmuchfunanddelight。Wewerenotmeregloomyconspirators。Wetoiledhardandsufferedgreatly,filledthegapsinourranksandwenton,andthroughallthelabourandtheplayandinterplayoflifeanddeathwefoundtimetolaughandlove。Therewereartists,scientists,scholars,musicians,andpoetsamongus;andinthatholeinthegroundculturewashigherandfinerthaninthepalacesofwonder—citiesoftheoligarchs。Intruth,manyofourcomradestoiledatmakingbeautifulthosesamepalacesandwonder—cities。*
*ThisisnotbraggadocioonthepartofAvisEverhard。Thefloweroftheartisticandintellectualworldwererevolutionists。Withtheexceptionofafewofthemusiciansandsingers,andofafewoftheoligarchs,allthegreatcreatorsoftheperiodwhosenameshavecomedowntous,wererevolutionists。
Norwereweconfinedtotherefugeitself。Oftenatnightwerodeoverthemountainsforexercise,andwerodeonWickson\'shorses。Ifonlyheknewhowmanyrevolutionistshishorseshavecarried！Weevenwentonpicnicstoisolatedspotsweknew,whereweremainedallday,goingbeforedaylightandreturningafterdark。Also,weusedWickson\'screamandbutter,*andErnestwasnotaboveshootingWickson\'squailandrabbits,and,onoccasion,hisyoungbucks。
*Evenaslateasthatperiod,creamandbutterwerestillcrudelyextractedfromcow\'smilk。Thelaboratorypreparationoffoodshadnotyetbegun。
Indeed,itwasasaferefuge。Ihavesaidthatitwasdiscoveredonlyonce,andthisbringsmetotheclearingupofthemysteryofthedisappearanceofyoungWickson。Nowthatheisdead。Iamfreetospeak。Therewasanookonthebottomofthegreatholewherethesunshoneforseveralhoursandwhichwashiddenfromabove。Herewehadcarriedmanyloadsofgravelfromthecreek—bed,sothatitwasdryandwarm,apleasantbaskingplace;andhere,oneafternoon,Iwasdrowsing,halfasleep,overavolumeofMendenhall。*Iwassocomfortableandsecurethatevenhisflaminglyricsfailedtostirme。
*Inalltheextantliteratureanddocumentsofthatperiod,continualreferenceismadetothepoemsofRudolphMendenhall。Byhiscomradeshewascalled\'TheFlame。\'Hewasundoubtedlyagreatgenius;
yet,beyondweirdandhauntingfragmentsofhisverse,quotedinthewritingsofothers,nothingofhishascomedowntous。HewasexecutedbytheIronHeelin1928A。D。
Iwasarousedbyaclodofearthstrikingatmyfeet。Thenfromabove,Iheardasoundofscrambling。Thenextmomentayoungman,withafinalslidedownthecrumblingwall,alightedatmyfeet。ItwasPhilipWickson,thoughIdidnotknowhimatthetime。Helookedatmecoollyandutteredalowwhistleofsurprise。
\'Well,\'hesaid;andthenextmoment,capinhand,hewassaying,\'I
begyourpardon。Ididnotexpecttofindanyonehere。\'
Iwasnotsocool。Iwasstillatyrosofarasconcernedknowinghowtobehaveindesperatecircumstances。Lateron,whenIwasaninternationalspy,Ishouldhavebeenlessclumsy,Iamsure。Asitwas,Iscrambledtomyfeetandcriedoutthedangercall。
\'Whydidyoudothat？\'heasked,lookingatmesearchingly。
Itwasevidentthathehadnosuspicionofourpresencewhenmakingthedescent。Irecognizedthiswithrelief。
\'ForwhatpurposedoyouthinkIdidit？\'Icountered。Iwasindeedclumsyinthosedays。
\'Idon\'tknow,\'heanswered,shakinghishead。\'Unlessyou\'vegotfriendsabout。Anyway,you\'vegotsomeexplanationstomake。Idon\'tlikethelookofit。Youaretrespassing。Thisismyfather\'sland,and—\'
Butatthatmoment,Biedenbach,everypoliteandgentle,saidfrombehindhiminalowvoice,\'Handsup,myyoungsir。\'
YoungWicksonputhishandsupfirst,thenturnedtoconfrontBiedenbach,whoheldathirty—thirtyautomaticrifleonhim。Wicksonwasimperturbable。
\'Oh,ho,\'hesaid,\'anestofrevolutionists—andquiteahornet\'snestitwouldseem。Well,youwon\'tabideherelong,Icantellyou。\'
\'Maybeyou\'llabideherelongenoughtoreconsiderthatstatement,\'Biedenbachsaidquietly。\'AndinthemeanwhileImustaskyoutocomeinsidewithme\'
\'Inside？\'Theyoungmanwasgenuinelyastonished。\'Haveyouacatacombhere？Ihaveheardofsuchthings。\'
\'Comeandsee,\'Biedenbachansweredwithhisadorableaccent。
\'Butitisunlawful,\'wastheprotest。
\'Yes,byyourlaw,\'theterroristrepliedsignificantly。\'Butbyourlaw,believeme,itisquitelawful。Youmustaccustomyourselftothefactthatyouareinanotherworldthantheoneofoppressionandbrutalityinwhichyouhavelived。\'
\'Thereisroomforargumentthere,\'Wicksonmuttered。
\'Thenstaywithusanddiscussit。\'
Theyoungfellowlaughedandfollowedhiscaptorintothehouse。
Hewasledintotheinnercave—room,andoneoftheyoungcomradeslefttoguardhim,whilewediscussedthesituationinthekitchen。
Biedenbach,withtearsinhiseyes,heldthatWicksonmustdie,andwasquiterelievedwhenweoutvotedhimandhishorribleproposition。Ontheotherhand,wecouldnotdreamofallowingtheyoungoligarchtodepart。
\'I\'lltellyouwhattodo,\'Ernestsaid。\'We\'llkeephimandgivehimaneducation。\'
\'Ibespeaktheprivilege,then,ofenlighteninghiminjurisprudence,Biedenbachcried。
Andsoadecisionwaslaughinglyreached。WewouldkeepPhilipWicksonaprisonerandeducatehiminourethicsandsociology。Butinthemeantimetherewasworktobedone。Alltraceoftheyoungoligarchmustbeobliterated。Therewerethemarkshehadleftwhendescendingthecrumblingwallofthehole。ThistaskfelltoBiedenbach,and,slungonaropefromabove,hetoiledcunninglyfortherestofthedaytillnosignremained。Backupthecanyonfromthelipoftheholeallmarkswerelikewiseremoved。Then,attwilight,cameJohnCarlson,whodemandedWickson\'sshoes。
Theyoungmandidnotwanttogiveuphisshoes,andevenofferedtofightforthem,tillhefeltthehorseshoer\'sstrengthinErnest\'shands。Carlsonafterwardreportedseveralblistersandmuchgrievouslossofskinduetothesmallnessoftheshoes,buthesucceededindoinggallantworkwiththem。Backfromthelipofthehole,whereendedtheyoungman\'sobliteratedtrial,Carlsonputontheshoesandwalkedawaytotheleft。Hewalkedformiles,aroundknolls,overridgesandthroughcanyons,andfinallycoveredthetrailintherunningwaterofacreek—bed。Hereheremovedtheshoes,and,stillhidingtrailforadistance,atlastputonhisownshoes。A
weeklaterWicksongotbackhisshoes。
Thatnightthehoundswereout,andtherewaslittlesleepintherefuge。Nextday,timeandagain,thebayinghoundscamedownthecanyon,plungedofftotheleftonthetrailCarlsonhadmadeforthem,andwerelosttoearinthefarthercanyonshighupthemountain。Andallthetimeourmenwaitedintherefuge,weaponsinhand—automaticrevolversandrifles,tosaynothingofhalfadozeninfernalmachinesofBiedenbach\'smanufacture。Amoresurprisedpartyofrescuerscouldnotbeimagined,hadtheyventureddownintoourhiding—place。
IhavenowgiventhetruedisappearanceofPhilipWickson,one—timeoligarch,and,later,comradeintheRevolution。Forweconvertedhimintheend。Hismindwasfreshandplastic,andbynaturehewasveryethical。Severalmonthslaterwerodehim,ononeofhisfather\'shorses,overSonomaMountainstoPetalumaCreekandembarkedhiminasmallfishing—launch。ByeasystageswesmuggledhimalongourundergroundrailwaytotheCarmelrefuge。
Thereheremainedeightmonths,attheendofwhichtime,fortworeasons,hewasloathtoleaveus。OnereasonwasthathehadfalleninlovewithAnnaRoylston,andtheotherwasthathehadbecomeoneofus。Itwasnotuntilhebecameconvincedofthehopelessnessofhisloveaffairthatheaccededtoourwishesandwentbacktohisfather。
Ostensiblyanoligarchuntilhisdeath,hewasinrealityoneofthemostvaluableofouragents。OftenandoftenhastheIronHeelbeendumbfoundedbythemiscarriageofitsplansandoperationsagainstus。
Ifitbutknewthenumberofitsownmemberswhoareouragents,itwouldunderstand。YoungWicksonneverwaveredinhisloyaltytotheCause。Intruth,hisverydeathwasincurredbyhisdevotiontoduty。Inthegreatstormof1927,whileattendingameetingofourleaders,hecontractedthepneumoniaofwhichhedied。*
*Thecaseofthisyoungmanwasnotunusual。ManyyoungmenoftheOligarchy,impelledbysenseofrightconduct,ortheirimaginationscapturedbythegloryoftheRevolution,ethicallyorromanticallydevotedtheirlivestoit。Insimilarway,manysonsoftheRussiannobilityplayedtheirpartsintheearlierandprotractedrevolutioninthatcountry。
CHAPTERTWENTY—ONE。
TheRoaringAbysmalBeast。
DURINGTHELONGPERIODOfourstayintherefuge,wewerekeptcloselyintouchwithwhatwashappeningintheworldwithout,andwewerelearningthoroughlythestrengthoftheOligarchywithwhichwewereatwar。Outofthefluxoftransitionthenewinstitutionswereformingmoredefinitelyandtakingontheappearanceandattributesofpermanence。Theoligarchshadsucceededindevisingagovernmentalmachine,asintricateasitwasvast,thatworked—andthisdespitealloureffortstoclogandhamper。
Thiswasasurprisetomanyoftherevolutionists。Theyhadnotconceiveditpossible。Neverthelesstheworkofthecountrywenton。
Thementoiledintheminesandfields—perforcetheywerenomorethanslaves。Asforthevitalindustries,everythingprospered。Themembersofthegreatlaborcasteswerecontentedandworkedonmerrily。Forthefirsttimeintheirlivestheyknewindustrialpeace。
Nomoreweretheyworriedbyslacktimes,strikeandlockout,andtheunionlabel。Theylivedinmorecomfortablehomesandindelightfulcitiesoftheirown—delightfulcomparedwiththeslumsandghettosinwhichtheyhadformerlydwelt。Theyhadbetterfoodtoeat,lesshoursoflabor,moreholidays,andagreateramountandvarietyofinterestsandpleasures。Andfortheirlessfortunatebrothersandsisters,theunfavoredlaborers,thedrivenpeopleoftheabyss,theycarednothing。Anageofselfishnesswasdawninguponmankind。
Andyetthisisnotaltogethertrue。Thelaborcasteswerehoneycombedbyouragents—menwhoseeyessaw,beyondthebelly—need,theradiantfigureoflibertyandbrotherhood。
AnothergreatinstitutionthathadtakenformandwasworkingsmoothlywastheMercenaries。Thisbodyofsoldiershadbeenevolvedoutoftheoldregulararmyandwasnowamillionstrong,tosaynothingofthecolonialforces。TheMercenariesconstitutedaraceapart。Theydweltincitiesoftheirownwhichwerepracticallyself—governed,andtheyweregrantedmanyprivileges。Bythemalargeportionoftheperplexingsurpluswasconsumed。Theywerelosingalltouchandsympathywiththerestofthepeople,and,infact,weredevelopingtheirownclassmoralityandconsciousness。Andyetwehadthousandsofouragentsamongthem。*
*TheMercenaries,inthelastdaysoftheIronHeel,playedanimportantrole。Theyconstitutedthebalanceofpowerinthestrugglesbetweenthelaborcastesandtheoligarchs,andnowtoonesideandnowtotheother,threwtheirstrengthaccordingtotheplayofintrigueandconspiracy。
Theoligarchsthemselvesweregoingthrougharemarkableand,itmustbeconfessed,unexpecteddevelopment。Asaclass,theydisciplinedthemselves。Everymemberhadhisworktodointheworld,andthisworkhewascompelledtodo。Therewerenomoreidle—richyoungmen。TheirstrengthwasusedtogiveunitedstrengthtotheOligarchy。Theyservedasleadersoftroopsandaslieutenantsandcaptainsofindustry。Theyfoundcareersinappliedscience,andmanyofthembecamegreatengineers。Theywentintothemultitudinousdivisionsofthegovernment,tookserviceinthecolonialpossessions,andbytensofthousandswentintothevarioussecretservices。Theywere,Imaysay,apprenticedtoeducation,toart,tothechurch,toscience,toliterature;andinthosefieldstheyservedtheimportantfunctionofmouldingthethought—processesofthenationinthedirectionoftheperpetuityoftheOligarchy。
Theyweretaught,andlatertheyinturntaught,thatwhattheyweredoingwasright。Theyassimilatedthearistocraticideafromthemomenttheybegan,aschildren,toreceiveimpressionsoftheworld。
Thearistocraticideawaswovenintothemakingofthemuntilitbecameboneofthemandfleshofthem。Theylookeduponthemselvesaswild—animaltrainers,rulersofbeasts。Frombeneaththeirfeetrosealwaysthesubterraneanrumblesofrevolt。Violentdeatheverstalkedintheirmidst;bombandknifeandbulletwerelookeduponassomanyfangsoftheroaringabysmalbeasttheymustdominateifhumanityweretopersist。Theywerethesavioursofhumanity,andtheyregardedthemselvesasheroicandsacrificinglaborersforthehighestgood。
They,asaclass,believedthattheyalonemaintainedcivilization。Itwastheirbeliefthatifevertheyweakened,thegreatbeastwouldingulfthemandeverythingofbeautyandwonderandjoyandgoodinitscavernousandslime—drippingmaw。Withoutthem,anarchywouldreignandhumanitywoulddropbackwardintotheprimitivenightoutofwhichithadsopainfullyemerged。Thehorridpictureofanarchywasheldalwaysbeforetheirchild\'seyesuntilthey,inturn,obsessedbythiscultivatedfear,heldthepictureofanarchybeforetheeyesofthechildrenthatfollowedthem。Thiswasthebeasttobestampedupon,andthehighestdutyofthearistocratwastostampuponit。Inshort,theyalone,bytheirunremittingtoilandsacrifice,stoodbetweenweakhumanityandtheall—devouringbeast;andtheybelievedit,firmlybelievedit。
Icannotlaytoogreatstressuponthishighethicalrighteousnessofthewholeoligarchclass。ThishasbeenthestrengthoftheIronHeel,andtoomanyofthecomradeshavebeensloworloathtorealizeit。ManyofthemhaveascribedthestrengthoftheIronHeeltoitssystemofrewardandpunishment。Thisisamistake。Heavenandhellmaybetheprimefactorsofzealinthereligionofafanatic;butforthegreatmajorityofthereligious,heavenandhellareincidentaltorightandwrong。Loveoftheright,desirefortheright,unhappinesswithanythinglessthantheright—inshort,rightconduct,istheprimefactorofreligion。AndsowiththeOligarchy。Prisons,banishmentanddegradation,honorsandpalacesandwonder—cities,areallincidental。Thegreatdrivingforceoftheoligarchsisthebeliefthattheyaredoingright。Nevermindtheexceptions,andnevermindtheoppressionandinjusticeinWhichtheIronHeelwasconceived。Allisgranted。ThepointisthatthestrengthoftheOligarchytodayliesinitssatisfiedconceptionofitsownrighteousness。*
*Outoftheethicalincoherencyandinconsistencyofcapitalism,theoligarchsemergedwithanewethics,coherentanddefinite,sharpandsevereassteel,themostabsurdandunscientificandatthesametimethemostpotenteverpossessedbyanytyrantclass。Theoligarchsbelievedtheirethics,inspiteofthefactthatbiologyandevolutiongavethemthelie;and,becauseoftheirfaith,forthreecenturiestheywereabletoholdbackthemightytideofhumanprogress—aspectacle,profound,tremendous,puzzlingtothemetaphysicalmoralist,andonethattothematerialististhecauseofmanydoubtsandreconsiderations。
Forthatmatter,thestrengthoftheRevolution,duringthesefrightfultwentyyears,hasresidedinnothingelsethanthesenseofrighteousness。Innootherwaycanbeexplainedoursacrificesandmartyrdoms。FornootherreasondidRudolphMendenhallflameouthissoulfortheCauseandsinghiswildswan—songthatlastnightoflife。FornootherreasondidHurlbertdieundertorture,refusingtothelasttobetrayhiscomrades。FornootherreasonhasAnnaRoylstonrefusedblessedmotherhood。FornootherreasonhasJohnCarlsonbeenthefaithfulandunrewardedcustodianoftheGlenEllenRefuge。Itdoesnotmatter,youngorold,manorwoman,highorlow,geniusorclod,gowhereonewillamongthecomradesoftheRevolution,themotor—forcewillbefoundtobeagreatandabidingdesirefortheright。
ButIhaverunawayfrommynarrative。ErnestandIwellunderstood,beforewelefttherefuge,howthestrengthoftheIronHeelwasdeveloping。Thelaborcastes,theMercenaries,andthegreathordesofsecretagentsandpoliceofvarioussortswereallpledgedtotheOligarchy。Inthemain,andignoringthelossofliberty,theywerebetteroffthantheyhadbeen。Ontheotherhand,thegreathelplessmassofthepopulation,thepeopleoftheabyss,wassinkingintoabrutishapathyofcontentwithmisery。Wheneverstrongproletariansassertedtheirstrengthinthemidstofthemass,theyweredrawnawayfromthemassbytheoligarchsandgivenbetterconditionsbybeingmademembersofthelaborcastesoroftheMercenaries。Thusdiscontentwaslulledandtheproletariatrobbedofitsnaturalleaders。
Theconditionofthepeopleoftheabysswaspitiable。Commonschooleducation,sofarastheywereconcerned,hadceased。Theylivedlikebeastsingreatsqualidlabor—ghettos,festeringinmiseryanddegradation。Alltheiroldlibertiesweregone。Theywerelabor—slaves。Choiceofworkwasdeniedthem。Likewisewasdeniedthemtherighttomovefromplacetoplace,ortherighttobearorpossessarms。Theywerenotlandserfslikethefarmers。Theyweremachine—serfsandlabor—serfs。Whenunusualneedsaroseforthem,suchasthebuildingofthegreathighwaysandair—lines,ofcanals,tunnels,subways,andfortifications,leviesweremadeonthelabor—ghettos,andtensofthousandsofserfs,willy—nilly,weretransportedtothesceneofoperations。GreatarmiesofthemaretoilingnowatthebuildingofArdis,housedinwretchedbarrackswherefamilylifecannotexist,andwheredecencyisdisplacedbydullbestiality。Inalltruth,thereinthelabor—ghettosistheroaringabysmalbeasttheoligarchsfearsodreadfully—butitisthebeastoftheirownmaking。Inittheywillnotlettheapeandtigerdie。
AndjustnowthewordhasgoneforththatnewleviesarebeingimposedforthebuildingofAsgard,theprojectedwonder—citythatwillfarexceedArdiswhenthelatteriscompleted。*WeoftheRevolutionwillgoonwiththatgreatwork,butitwillnotbedonebythemiserableserfs。Thewallsandtowersandshaftsofthatfaircitywillarisetothesoundofsinging,andintoitsbeautyandwonderwillbewoven,notsighsandgroans,butmusicandlaughter。
*Ardiswascompletedin1942A。D。,Asgardwasnotcompleteduntil1984A。D。Itwasfifty—twoyearsinthebuilding,duringwhichtimeapermanentarmyofhalfamillionserfswasemployed。Attimesthesenumbersswelledtooveramillion—withoutanyaccountbeingtakenofthehundredsofthousandsofthelaborcastesandtheartists。
Ernestwasmadlyimpatienttobeoutintheworldanddoing,forourill—fatedFirstRevolt,thathadmiscarriedintheChicagoCommune,wasripeningfast。Yethepossessedhissoulwithpatience,andduringthistimeofhistorment,whenHadly,whohadbeenbroughtforthepurposefromIllinois,madehimoverintoanotherman*herevolvedgreatplansinhisheadfortheorganizationofthelearnedproletariat,andforthemaintenanceofatleasttherudimentsofeducationamongstthepeopleoftheabyss—allthisofcourseintheeventoftheFirstRevoltbeingafailure。
*AmongtheRevolutionistsweremanysurgeons,andinvivisectiontheyattainedmarvellousproficiency。InAvisEverhard\'swords,theycouldliterallymakeamanover。Tothemtheeliminationofscarsanddisfigurementswasatrivialdetail。Theychangedthefeatureswithsuchmicroscopiccarethatnotraceswereleftoftheirhandiwork。Thenosewasafavoriteorgantoworkupon。Skin—graftingandhair—transplantingwereamongtheircommonestdevices。Thechangesinexpressiontheyaccomplishedwerewizard—like。Eyesandeyebrows,lips,mouths,andears,wereradicallyaltered。Bycunningoperationsontongue,throat,larynx,andnasalcavitiesaman\'swholeenunciationandmannerofspeechcouldbechanged。Desperatetimesgiveneedfordesperateremedies,andthesurgeonsoftheRevolutionrosetotheneed。Amongotherthings,theycouldincreaseanadult\'sstaturebyasmuchasfourorfiveinchesanddecreaseitbyoneortwoinches。Whattheydidisto—dayalostart。Wehavenoneedforit。