the vision spendid(美景)-第29节
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THE VISION SPLENDID
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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THE VISION SPLENDID
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
strings to our representatives so as to keep them from betraying us？ 。 。 。
Why can't we make laws ourselves in emergency and kill bad laws the
legislature makes？ 。 。 。 What's the matter with taking away some of the
power from our representatives who have abused it？〃
In the city election O'Brien went down to defeat。 Only fragments of his
ticket were saved from the general wreckage。 Next day Joe Powers wired
James Farnum to join him immediately at Chicago。
〃I'm going to put you in charge of the political field out there；〃 the
great man announced； his gray granite eyes fastened on the young lawyer。
〃Ned Merrill won't do。 Neither will O'Brien。 Between them they've made a
mess of things。〃
〃I don't know that it is their fault； except indirectly。 One of those
populistic waves swept over the city。〃
〃Why didn't they know what was going to happen？ Why didn't they let
me know？ That's what I pay them for。〃
〃A child could have foreseen it； but O'Brien wouldn't believe his eyes。
He's been giving Verden an administration with too much graft。 The
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people got tired of it。〃
〃What were Merrill and Frome up to？ Why did they permit it？〃
demanded Powers impatiently。
〃They were looking out for their franchises。 To get the machine's
support they had to give O'Brien a free hand。〃
〃If necessary you had better eliminate Big Tim。 Or at least put him and
his gang in the background。 Make the machine respectable so that good
citizens can indorse it。〃
James nodded agreement。 〃I've been thinking about that。 The thing can
be done。 A business men's movement from inside the party to purify it。 A
reorganization with new men in charge。 That sort of thing。〃
〃Exactly。 And how about the state？〃
〃Things don't look good to me。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃This initiative and referendum idea is spreading。〃
Powers drove his fist into a pile of papers on the desk。 〃Stop it。 I give
you carte blanche。 Spend as much as you like。 But win。 What good is a
lobby to me if those hare…brained farmers can kill every bill we pass
through their grafting legislature？〃
The possibilities grew on Farnum。 〃I'll send Professor Perkins of
Verden University to New Zealand to prepare a paper showing the thing is
a failure there。 I'll have every town in the state thoroughly canvassed by
lecturers and speakers against the bill。 I'll bombard the farmers with
literature。〃
〃What about the newspapers？〃
〃We control most of them。 At Verden only the _World_ is against us。〃
〃Buy it。〃
〃Can't be bought。 Its editorial columns are not for sale。〃
〃Anything can be bought if you've got the price。 Who owns it？〃
〃A Captain Chunn。 He made his money in Alaska。 My cousin is the
editor。 He is the real force back of it。〃
〃Does the paper have any influence？〃
〃A great deal。〃
〃I've heard of your cousin。 A crack…brained Socialist； I understand。〃
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〃You'll find he's a long way from that；〃 James denied。
〃Whatever he is； buy him；〃 ordered Powers curtly。
The young man shook his head。 〃Can't be done。 He doesn't want the
things you have to offer。〃
〃Every man has his price。 Find his； and buy him。〃
James shook his head decisively。 〃Absolutely impossible。 He's an
idealist and an altruist。〃
Powers snorted impatiently。 〃Talk English； young man； and I'll
understand you。〃
Farnum had heard Joe Powers was a man who would stand plain talk
from those who had the courage to give it him。 His cool eyes hardened。
Why not？ For once the old gray pirate； chief of the robber buccaneers who
rode on their predatory way superior to law； should see himself as Jeff
Farnum saw him。
〃What I mean is that the things he holds most important can't be
bought with dollars and cents。 He believes in justice and fair play。 He
thinks the strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak。
He has a passion to uplift humanity。 You can't understand him because
it isn't possible for you to conceive of a man whose first thought is always
for what is equitable。〃
〃Just as I thought； a Socialist dreamer and demagogue；〃 pronounced
Powers scornfully。
〃Merrill and Frome have been thinking of him just as you do。〃 James
waved
