eurasia(优雷夏)-第14章
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visited it had a population of sixty thousand male inmates and thirty…five
thousand female inmates…besides the officers and guards。
The mildest and most tractable of the inmates were in communities
organized in military style in different parts of the grounds and were
busily employed in doing everything that was required to make the
institution self…stustaining。 The physicians of the State prisons were
required by law after one year's imprisonment （one year after sentence was
passed was allowed to prove innocence） to castrate all males convicted of
rape； incest； or any other infamous crime against nature； and to castrate
every male prisoner who committed sodomy or other infamous crime
while in prison； but only after trial and conviction for the crime before the
District Court； and they could by a majority vote chloroform any
dangerous criminal that showed homicidal tendencies。
I saw no red…light sign of houses of prostitution； and on making
inquiries I was informed that there were no houses of prostitution in
Eurasia； for as soon as information was given to any Magistrate the law
required him or her to issue an order for the arrest of the female practicing
prostitution； and on conviction she was committed to the female
reformatory for five years； subject to parole after one year； and for a
second offense of the same crime she was deprived of the power to
propagate the race。 Gentle reader； don't think that this law is cruel or
unjust； for the amount of evil that a depraved woman can commit in
spreading； that loathsome disease； syphilis； is incalculable； and Christ
when he told the woman that had committed adultery that he did not
condemn her also added： 〃Go and sin no more。〃 A committee of six
physicians； three males and three females； in the service of the
Government in every district were required by law to examine every
person desiring marriage and if the person examined was affected with
tuberculosis； cancer； scrofula； leprosy； syphilis； or any other loathsome or
contagious disease； then that person was denied a license to marry； and
also if they were mentally unsound。
Under the law no person was allowed to marry until twenty…one years
of age； male and female； and any person violating this law was punished
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by one year's imprisonment at hard labor in the district in which this law
had been violated。 In no case was a Government physician permitted to
receive any compensation for services rendered as physician； for they
were the servants of the people； elected by the people in every district and
paid by the Government a salary fixed by law； and no bonds were required
of them or of any public official； for the people elected every public
official with the exception of officers in the Army and Navy； who were
elected by the soldiers up to the grade of Colonel； and the Brigadiers and
Major…Generals were appointed by the Minister of War； was was
Commander…in…Chief and directed all the operations of the Army and
Navy in war； and also the agents of the Department of Information； who
were appointed by the Minister of that department on the recommendation
of his assistant chiefs； of whom there was one in every district who was
elected by the people after having passed a successful examination
showing their ability to do the work required of them。
Every person appointed to office； as well as those elected by the
people； had to be examined physically； mentally and morally in the same
manner as those applying for a license to practice a profession or desiring
to marry。 All were placed on the same footing。 The law for divorce was
enforced by the Department of Health； as doctors were； from their
knowledge of human frailty； the best judges to decide whether a man and
woman should live together in the married state or be separated； and while
the law provided for a compulsory decree of divorce for adultery； which
was a felony； it also allowed divorce for incompatibility of temperament。
A court of six Government physicians； three males and three females；
heard all divorce cases in every district。
The Minister of Health gave me the reasons why the marriage law was
passed fixing twenty…one years of age as the time when young men and
women could marry。 He said it was done to allow the youths of both sexes
to become well acquainted with one another before being united in
marriage； and also to be well trained in useful callings； so that both parties
to the marriage contract would be able to assist each other； for many an
innocent young girl had ruined her life by marrying a man at an age when
she was ignorant of the duties of wifehood and motherhood； 〃but by
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keeping our boys and girls in training schools until they are eighteen and
then teaching them trades in the Army until they are twenty…one years of
age we fit them for the duties of life。〃
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CHAPTER XVIII。
A VISIT TO THE MINISTER OF STATE。
Before returning to the United States of America I called on the
Minister of State； who is also the presiding officer of the Parliament； and
told him that I would regard it as a great favor if he would tell me how
such changes had taken place in the Government of his country ； 〃for；〃
said I； 〃from what I read about your Government when I was a boy it was
an absolute monarchy； and one man's will was the law of the land。〃
〃You have the key to the problem in that statement；〃 he replied； 〃for I
am free to confess that it would have taken centuries to have brought
about our present system of government under so…called democracy。 Near
the middle of the last century an absolute ruler in our country by a stroke
of his pen freed twenty…three millions of slaves； while in your country it
required four years of bloody war at a cost of ten thousand millions of
dollars and the lives of one million of brave men； and through the
widespread demoralization that ensued through your bravest and best
being killed or giving to the corrupt element in your country （for a
dishonest man is always a coward） the opportunity to inaugurate a reign of
monopoly where graft and bribery flourishes and the slave element that
you freed are a menace （and will be as long as they remain in the country）
to society。
〃The last absolute ruler we had was one of those great men that God in
His infinite wisdom brings into the world at stated intervals to exercise a
dominating influence in human affairs and to give a fresh impetus to
human progress。 Of the gr
