the vision spendid(美景)-第15章
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machinery of both parties。 The _World_ had revolted； rallied the better
sentiment in the party to which it belonged； and forced the convention to
declare for a reform platform and to nominate a clean ticket composed of
men of character。
Jeff agreed。 〃I think we're going to win。 The people are with us。 The
_World_ is booming。〃 It's the advertising troubles me。 Frome and Merrill
have got at the big stores and they won't come in with any space worth
mentioning。〃
〃Damn the big advertisers；〃 exploded Chunn。 〃I've got two million
cold and I'm going to see this thing out； son。 That's what I told Frome last
week when he had the nerve to have me nominated to the Verden Club。
Wanted to muzzle me。 Be a good fellow and quit agitating。 That was the
idea。 I sent back word I'd stuck by Lee to Appomattox and I reckoned I
was too old a dog to learn the new trick of deserting my flag。〃
〃If you're satisfied I ought to be；〃 Jeff laughed。 〃As for the advertising；
the stores will come back soon。 The managers all want to take space； but
they are afraid of spoiling their credit at the banks while conditions are so
unsettled。〃
〃Oh； well。 We'll stick to our guns。 You fire'em and I'll supply the
ammunition。〃 The little man put his hand on Jeff's shoulder with a chuckle。
〃We're both rebelsboth irreconcilables； son。 I reckon we're going to be
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well hated before we get through with this fight。〃
〃Yes。 They're going about making people believe we're cranks and
agitators who are hurting business for our own selfish ends。〃
〃I reckon we can stand it； David。〃 Chunn had no children of his own
and he always called Jeff son or David。 〃By the way； how's that good
looking cousin of yours coming out？ I see you're giving his speeches lots
of space。〃
A light leaped to the eyes of the younger man。 〃He's doing fine。 James
is a born orator。 Wherever he goes he gets a big ovation。〃
Chunn grunted。 〃Humph！ That'll please him。 He's as selfish as the
devil； always looking out for James Farnum。〃
〃He wins the people； Captain。〃
〃You talk every evening yourself； but I don't see reports of any of your
speeches。〃
〃I don't talk like James。 There's not a man in the state to equal him；
young as he is。〃
〃Humph！〃
Captain Chunn grumbled a good deal about the way Jeff was always
pushing his cousin forward and keeping in the background himself。 In his
opinion 〃David〃 was worth a hundred of the other。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 7
〃Spirits of old that bore me； And set me； meek of mind； Between great
deeds before me； And deeds as great behind；
Knowing Humanity my star As forth of old I ride； 0 help me wear with
every scar Honor at eventide。〃
THE REBEL DISCOVERS THAT ADHESION IS A PROPERTY OF
MUD； ALSO THAT A SOLDIER MUST SOMETIMES TURN HIS
BACK AND BURN THE BRIDGES BEHIND HIM
PART 1
The fight for the control of the state developed unprecedented
bitterness。 The big financial interests back of the political machines poured
out money like water to elect a ticket that would be friendly to capital。 An
eight…hour…day bill to apply to miners and underground workers had been
passed by the last legislature and a supreme court must be elected to
declare this law unconstitutional。 Moreover； a United States senator was to
be chosen； so that the personnel of the assembly was a matter of great
importance。
Through the subsidized columns of the _Advocate_ and the _Herald_
all the venom of outraged public plunder was emptied on the heads of Jeff
Farnum and Captain Chunn。 They were rebels； blackmailers； and
anarchists。 Jeff's life was held up to public scorn as dissolute and
licentious。 He had been expelled from college and consorted only with
companions of the lowest sort。 A free thinker and an atheist； he wanted to
tear down the pillars which upheld society。 Unless Verden and the state
repudiated him and his gang of trouble breeders the poison of their
opinions would infect the healthy fabric of the community。
There was about Jeff a humility； a sort of careless generosity； that
could take with a laugh a hit at himself。 But in the days that followed he
was often made to wince when good men drew away from him as from a
moral pervert。 Twice he was hissed from the stage when he attempted to
talk； or would have been； if he had not quietly waited until the indignant
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protesters were exhausted。 It amused him to see that his old college
acquaintance 〃Sissie〃 Thomas and Billy Gray； the ballot box stuffer of the
Second Ward； were among the most vehement of those who thus scorned
him。 So do the extremes of virtue and vice find common ground when the
blasphemer raises his voice against intrenched capital。
The personal calumny of the enemy showed how hard hit the big
bosses were； how beneath their feet they felt the ground of public opinion
shift。 It had been only a year since Big Tim O'Brien； boss of the city by
permission of the public utility corporations； had read Jeff's first editorial
against ballot box stuffing。 In it the editor of the _World_ had pledged that
paper never to give up the fight for the people until such crookedness was
stamped out。 Big Tim had laughed until his paunch shook at the
confidence of this young upstart and in impudent defiance had sent him a
check for fifty dollars for the Honest Election League。
Neither Big Tim nor the respectable buccaneers back of him were
laughing now。 They were fighting with every ounce in them to sweep back
the wave of civic indignation the _World_ had gathered into a compact
aggressive organization。
Young Ned Merrill； who represented the interests of the allied
corporations； had Big Tim on the carpet。 The young man had not been out
of Harvard more than three years； but he did not let any nonsense about
fair play stand in his way。 In spite of the clean… cut look of himhe was
broadshouldered and tall； with an effect of decision in the square cleft chin
that would some day degenerate into fatnessNed Merrill played the game
of business without any compunctions。
〃You're making a bad fight of it； O'Brien。 Old style methods won't win
for us。 These crank reformers have got the people stirred up。 Keep your
ward workers busy； but don't expect them to win。〃 He leaned forward and
brought his fist down heavily on the desk。 〃We've got to smash Farnum
discredit him with the bunch of sheep who are following him。〃
〃What more do youse want？ We're callin' him ivery black name under
Hiven。〃
Merrill shook his head decisively。 〃Not enough。 Prove something。
Catch him with the goods。〃
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〃If youse'll show me how？〃
〃I don't care how； You've got detectives； haven't you？ Find out all
about him； where he comes from； who his people we
