the vision spendid(美景)-第32章
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Men's minds in the mass move slowly。 They can see only a little truth at a
time。〃
〃Because they are blinded by ignorance and selfishness。 Get at bottom
facts； Farnum。 What's the one great crime？〃
Without a moment's hesitation Jeff answered。 〃Poverty。 All other
crimes are paltry beside that。〃
Marchant cocked himself up on the window seat with his legs doubled
under him tailor fashion。 〃Why？〃
〃Because it stamps out hope and love and aspiration； all that is fine
and true in life。〃
〃Exactly。 Men ought to love their work。 But how can they
ove that which is always associated in their minds with a denial of
justice？ Is it likely that men will work better under a system whereby they
are condemned in advance to failure than under one standing rationally for
a just and fair division of the fruits of labor？ I tell you； Farnum； under
present conditions the Juggernaut of progress is forever wasting
humanity。〃
〃I've always thought it a pity that the mainsprings of work should be
fear and greed instead of hope and love；〃 Jeff agreed。
〃Why is it that poverty coexists with wealth increasing so rapidly？
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Why is it that productive power has been so enormously developed
without lightening the burdens of labor？〃
Marchant's eyes were starlike in their earnestness。 He had a passion for
humanity that neither want nor disease could quench； and with it a certain
gift of expression street oratory had brought out。 Even in private
conversation he had got into the way of declaiming。 But Jeff knew he was
no empty talker。 All that he had he literally gave to the poor。
〃Because the whole spirit of business life is wrong；〃 Farnum
responded。
〃Of course it's wrong。 It's a survival of the law of the jungle； of tooth
and fang。 Its motto is dog eat dog。 We all work under the rule of get and
grab。 What's the result of this higgledypiggledy system？ One man starves
and another has indigestion。 That's the trouble with Verden to…day。 Some
of us haven't enough and others have too much。 They take from us what
we earn。 That's the whole cause of poverty。 The Malthusian theory is all
wrong。 It's not nature； but man that is to blame。〃
Farnum knew the little Socialist was right so far。 Here in Verden； under
the forms of freedom； was the very essence of slavery。 All the product of
labor was taken from it except enough to sustain a mere animal existence。
Something was wrong in a world where a man begs in vain for work to
support his family。 Given proper conditions； men would not rise by
trampling each other down； but by lending a hand to the unfortunate。 The
effect of efficiency would be to make things easier for the weak。 The
reward of service would be more service。
〃The principle of the old order is dead；〃 Marchant went on； wagging
his thin forefinger at Jeff。 〃The whole social fabric is made up of lies；
compromises； injustice。 The only reason it has hung together so long is
that people have been trained to think along certain lines like show
animals。 But they're waking up。 Look at Germany。 Look at England。 What
the plutocrats call the menace of Socialism is everywhere。 Now that every
worker knows he is being robbed of what he earns； how long do you think
he will carry the capitalistic system on his back？ From the beginning of
the world we have tried it。 With what result？ An injustice that is staggering；
a waste that is appalling； an inhumanity that is deadening。〃
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Jeff let a hand fall lightly on his shoulder。 〃Of course it's all wrong。 We
know that。 But can you show me how to make it right； except out of the
hearts of men growing slowly wiser and better？〃
〃Why slowly？〃 demanded Marchant。 〃Why not to…day while we're still
alive to see the smiles of men and women and children made glad？ You
always want to begin at the wrong end。 I tell you that you can't change
men's hearts until you change the conditions under which they live。〃
〃And I tell you that you can't change the conditions until you change
men's hearts；〃 Jeff answered with his wistful smile。
〃Rubbish！ The only way to change the hearts of most plutocrats is to
hit them over the head with a two…by…four。 Smug respectability is in the
saddle； and it knows it's right。 We'll get nowhere until we smash this
iniquitous system to smithereens。〃
〃So you want to substitute one system for another。 You think you can
eliminate by legal enactment all this fatty degeneration of greed and
selfishness that has incased our souls。 I'm afraid it will be a slower process。
We must free ourselves from within。 I believe we are moving toward some
sort of a socialistic state。 No man with eyes in his head can help seeing
that。 But we'll move a step at a time； and only so fast as the love and
altruism inside us can be organized into external law。〃
〃No。 You'll wake up some morning and find that this whole capitalistic
organization has crumbled in the night； fallen to pieces from dry rot。〃
Jeff might not agree with him； but he knew that Marchant； dreamer
and incoherent poet； his heart aflame with zeal for humanity； was far
nearer the truth of life than the smug complacent Pharisees that fattened
from the toil of the helpless many who could do nothing but suffer in
dumb silence。
PART 2
As the months passed Jeff grew in stature with the people of the state。
In spite of his energy he was always fair。 The plain truth he felt to be a
better argument than the tricks of a demagogue。
A rational common sense was to be found in all his advice。 Add to this
that he had no personal profit to seek； no political axe to grind； and was
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always transparent as a child。 More and more Verden recognized him as
the one most conspicuous figure in the state dedicated to uncompromising
war against the foes of the Republic。
Those who knew him best liked his humility； his good humor； the
gentleness that made him tolerant of the men he must fight。 His poise
lifted him above petty animosities； and the daily sand… stings of life did not
disturb his serenity。
Everywhere his propaganda gained ground。 People's Power Leagues
were formed with a central steering committee at Verden。 Politicians with
their ears close to the ground heard rumbles of the coming storm。 They
began to notice that reputable business men； prominent lawyers not
affiliated with corporations； and even a few educators who had shaken
away the timidity of their class were lining up to support Jeff's freak
legislation。 It began to look as if one of those periodical uprisings of the
people was about to sweep the state。
Big Tim found his ward workers met persistently by the same
questions from their ordinarily docile following。 〃Why shouldn't we tie
s
