a far country-第108章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
This meant the development of a new culture； one to be founded on the
American tradition of equality of opportunity。 But culture was not a
weed that grew overnight； it was a leaven that spread slowly and
painfully； first inoculating a few who suffered and often died for it；
that it might gradually affect the many。 The spread of culture implied
the recognition of leadership： democratic leadership； but still
leadership。 Leadership； and the wisdom it implied； did not reside in the
people； but in the leaders who sprang from the people and interpreted
their needs and longings。。。。 He went on to discuss a part of the
programme of the Citizens Union。。。。
What struck me； as I laid down the typewritten sheets； was the
extraordinary resemblance between the philosophies of Hermann Krebs and
Theodore Watling。 OnlyKrebs's philosophy was the bigger； held the
greater vision of the two； I had reluctantly and rather bitterly to admit
it。 The appeal of it had even reached and stirred me； whose task was to
refute it！ Here indeed was something to fight forperhaps to die for；
as he had said： and as I sat there in my office gazing out of the window
I found myself repeating certain phrases he had usedthe phrase about
leadership； for instance。 It was a tremendous conception of Democracy；
that of acquiescence to developed leadership made responsible； a
conception I was compelled to confess transcended Mr。 Watling's； loyal as
I was to him。。。。 I began to reflect how novel all this was in a
political speechalthough what I have quoted was in the nature of a
preamble。 It was a sermon； an educational sermon。 Well； that is what
sermons always had been；and even now pretended to be；educational and
stirring； appealing to the emotions through the intellect。 It didn't
read like the Socialism he used to preach； it had the ring of religion。
He had called it religion。
With an effort of the will I turned from this ironical and dangerous
vision of a Hugh Paret who might have been enlisted in an inspiring
struggle； of a modern yet unregenerate Saul kicking against the pricks；
condemned to go forth breathing fire against a doctrine that made a true
appeal； against the man I believed I hated just because he had made this
appeal。 In the act of summoning my counter…arguments I was interrupted
by the entrance of Grierson。 He was calling on a matter of business； but
began to talk about the extracts from Krebs's speech he had read in the
Mail and State。
〃What in hell is this fellow driving at； Paret？〃 he demanded。 〃It sounds
to me like the ranting of a lunatic dervish。 If he thinks so much of us；
and the way we run the town； what's he squawking about？〃
I looked at Grierson； and conceived an intense aversion for him。 I
wondered how I had ever been able to stand him； to work with him。 I saw
him in a sudden flash as a cunning； cruel bird of prey； a gorged； drab
vulture with beady eyes； a resemblance so extraordinary that I wondered I
had never remarked it before。 For he had the hooked vulture nose； while
the pink baldness of his head was relieved by a few scanty tufts of hair。
〃The people seem to like what he's got to say；〃 I observed。
〃It beats me；〃 said Grierson。 〃They don't understand a quarter of it
I've been talking to some of 'em。 It's their dd curiosity； I guess。
You know how they'll stand for hours around a street fakir。〃
〃It's more than that；〃 I retorted。
Grierson regarded me piercingly。
〃Well； we'll put a crimp in him； all right；〃 he said； with a laugh。
I was in an unenviable state of mind when he left me。 I had an impulse
to send for Miss McCoy and ask her if she had understood what Krebs was
〃driving at；〃 but for reasons that must be fairly obvious I refrained。 I
read over again that part of Krebs's speech which dealt with the
immediate programme of the Citizens Union。 After paying a tribute to
Greenhalge as a man of common sense and dependability who would make a
good mayor； he went on to explain the principle of the new charter they
hoped ultimately to get； which should put the management of the city in
the hands of one man； an expert employed by a commission； an expert whose
duty it would be to conduct the affairs of the city on a business basis；
precisely as those of any efficient corporation were conducted。 This
plan had already been adopted； with encouraging results； in several
smaller cities of the country。 He explained in some detail； with
statistics； the waste and inefficiency and dishonesty in various
departments under the present system； dwelling particularly upon the
deplorable state of affairs in the city hospital。
I need not dwell upon this portion of his remarks。 Since then text…books
and serious periodicals have dealt with these matters thoroughly。 They
are now familiar to all thinking Americans。
XXV。
My entrance into the campaign was accompanied by a blare of publicity；
and during that fortnight I never picked up a morning or evening
newspaper without reading； on the first page； some such headline as
〃Crowds flock to hear Paret。〃 As a matter of fact； the crowds did flock；
but I never quite knew as I looked down from platforms on seas of faces
how much of the flocking was spontaneous。 Much of it was so； since the
struggle had then become sufficiently dramatic to appeal to the larger
public imagination that is but occasionally waked； on the other hand； the
magic of advertising cannot be underestimated； nor must the existence be
ignored of an organized corps of shepherds under the vigilant direction
of Mr。 Judd Jason； whose duty it was to see that none of our meetings was
lacking in numbers and enthusiasm。 There was always a demonstrative
gathering overflowing the sidewalk in front of the entrance； swaying and
cheering in the light of the street lamps； and on the floor within an
ample scattering of suspiciously bleary…eyed voters to start the stamping
and applauding。 In spite of these known facts； the impression of
popularity； of repudiation of reform by a large majority of level…headed
inhabitants had reassuring and reenforcing effects。
Astute citizens； spectators of the frayif indeed there were anymight
have remarked an unique and significant feature of that campaign： that
the usual recriminations between the two great parties were lacking。 Mr。
Parks； the Republican candidate； did not denounce Mr。 MacGuire； the
Democratic candidate。 Republican and Democratic speakers alike expended
their breath in lashing Mr。 Krebs and the Citizens Union。
It is difficult to record the fluctuations of my spirit。 When I was in
the halls； speaking or waiting to speak； I reacted to that phenomenon
known as mob psychology； I became self…confident； even exhilarated； and
in those earlier speeches I managed； I think； to strike the note for
which I strovethe judicial note； suitable to a lawyer of weight and
prominence； of deprecation rather than denunciation。 I sought to embody
and voice a fine and calm sanity at a time when everyone else seemed in
danger of losing their heads； and to a large extent achieved it。 I had
known Mr。 Krebs for more than twenty years； and while I did not care to
criticise a fellow…member of the bar； I would go so far as to say that he
was visionary； that the changes he proposed in government would； if
adopted； have grave and far…reaching results： we could not； for instance；
support in idleness those who refused to do their share of the work of
the world。 Mr。 Krebs was well…meaning。 I refrained from dwelling too
long upon him； passing to Mr。 Greenhalge； also well…meaning； but a man of
mediocre ability who would make a mess of the government of a city which
would one day rival New York and Chicago。 （Loud cheers。） And I pointed
out that Mr。 Perry Blackwood had been unable to manage the affairs of the
Boyne Street road。 Such men； well…intentioned though they might be； were
hindrances to progress。 This led me naturally to a discussion of the
Riverside Franchise and the Traction Consolidation。 I was one of those
whose honesty and good faith had been arraigned； but I would not stoop to
refute the accusations。 I dwelt upon the benefits to the city； uniform
service； elec
