eurasia(优雷夏)-第1节
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EURASIA
EURASIA
Chris。 Evans
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EURASIA
PREFACE。
In 〃Eurasia〃 the author describes an ideal republic where many of the
problems that confront us are worked out。 The book describes in an
interesting and readable way how government is administered in this ideal
republic。 The government is one in which women take their full share of
responsibility； the school children are trained in the problems they will
meet in life； and more emphasis is laid on character building than on the
dead languages。 The children of both sexes are taught useful trades。 All
school children are taught to swim。 The idle are employed in the
construction of roads； canals and irrigation works。 The problems of
distribution are so arranged that the worker receives a more equitable
reward for his labor。
The author； Chris。 Evans； speaks with a firsthand knowledge when he
discusses the army prison management and the administration of law。 Mr。
Evans； who was born in Vermont； is an old cavalryman； having served in
the Civil War。 After the war he served with the cavalry in the West；
fighting Indians。
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EURASIA
CHAPTER I。
A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE。
One pleasant afternoon in the month of May； 19； I launched my boat；
and after rowing about half a mile from shore I shipped my oars； stepped
the mast； hoisted sail and reclining on a cushioned seat at the stern with
my hand on the tiller； I waited for a breeze to spring up； and whilst so
doing I fell asleep。 How long I slept I know not； for when I awoke my boat
was close to shore； and to my' astonishment I was in strange waters。 I went
ashore； when I was accosted in English with a foreign accent by a
venerable looking man with the question： 〃Where did you come from？〃 I
replied： 〃From the United States of America； and what country is this？〃
His answer was Eurasia； and beckoning to a man in uniform； who was
passing by and who immediately joined us； he told him that I was from the
United States of America and did not know what country I was in。 The
official addressed me very kindly and invited me to accompany him； and
leaving the boat in charge of my first acquaintance； with instructions to
take good care of it； he escorted me into the city and left me at a hotel with
a request that I would permit him to call on me the next day at ten a。 m。；
and he would show me all the principal buildings and introduce me to the
President； 〃who I have no doubt will be delighted to see you。〃 At the
appointed time he arrived； and； taking my place by his side in an
automobile driven by electricity； we passed in succession the buildings
occupied by the different Departments of State； and stopped in front of a
modest building set back a short distance from the street； and at the gate
we were at once admitted by the officer on duty； who informed us that the
President was holding a Cabinet meeting and would receive
meimmediately。 The President's private secretary met me at the door and
introduced me to the President； who shook my hand warmly； and
introduced me to his Cabinet in the following order：
Mr。 __； the Minister of State。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Justice。 Mr。 __；
the Minister of Railways。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Education。 Mr。 __； the
Minister of Finance。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Information。 Mr。 __； the
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EURASIA
Minister of Agriculture。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Health。 Mr。 __； the
Minister of Commerce。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Manufactures。 Mr。 __； the
Minister of Mines。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of War。 Mr。 __； the Minister of
Foreign Affairs。 Mrs。 __； the Minister of Labor。
I informed the President that I wished to learn all I could about the
Government and Institutions of the country； to which he replied by
handing me the Official Directory； and added that he and his Cabinet
would assist me to the fullest extent。 I expressed my heartfelt thanks for
their kindness； and； going back to my hotel； I opened the； Official
Directory。 I found the country governed by a President elected directly by
the people for five years； but the law provided that if his government was
not satisfactory to the people； a petition signed by five per cent。 of the
voters called for an election； and if a majority voted against him； he was
removed from office and the Minister of State assumed the Presidency for
the remainder of the term。 The Cabinet was composed of fourteen
members…seven men and seven women…and were chosen by the Parliament；
who were free to select them from their own members or outsiders；
provided that the person chosen was a voter and twenty…five years of age。
When the Parliament met； which it did on the first day of January； and
adjourned on the first of March； sine die； the Ministers presented their
reports of their work for the previous two years； and if the Parliament
approved them； they continued in office； but if the Parliament by a
majority vote disapproved of any of them； then the Minister resigned and
the Parliament appointed another person to take his or her place。 The
members of Parliament were elected for two years and to serve without
pay； but their expenses were paid by the Government and the amount
necessary was fixed by law and could not be raised or lowered； only by
two…thirds vote of the qualified voters of the Nation。 The country was
divided into districts and every district elected a member for every
hundred thousand of population； provided that every other member from a
district should be a female； thus giving both sexes full representation in
the Government。 Each district was governed by a Governor； elected for
two years； and a Court of Judges； consisting of a Chief Justice； a
Prosecuting Attorney； an Attorney for the Defense and twelve Justice
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EURASIA
Jurors； who tried all felony cases and civil cases that could not be settled
by Arbitration； and who sat also as a Board of Equalization and as
Supervisors。
The law provided that eight Jurors or two…thirds of them （if any were
absent through sickness or any other reasonable cause）； in every case
could bring in a verdict of guilty in criminal cases or for the Complainant
or Defendant in civil cases； and if eight did not find the Defendant guilty；
the case was dismissed…but if guilty the Defendant had only to say 〃I
appeal；〃 and a copy of the evidence was sent immediately to the Supreme
Court； composed of Judges； elected by the people； one from each district；
to serve for five years。
The Court sat six days in each week； excepting four weeks inJuly…
August； when all the Courts were allowed by law four weeks' vacation。
They were required to work eight hours each day beginning at eight a。 m。；
with one hour rest at noon； and ending at five p。 m。； but they could work
longer if they so desired； but the law forbade any adjournment and to
prevent bribery the documents in every case…civil or criminal…arriving
daily were placed in a lottery wheel； and； on the Court assembling at eight
a。 m。； the wheel was revolved； and in the presence of the Minister of
Justice a blind boy and girl drew the documents out and handed them to
pages who delivered them to the Judges i
