Cæsar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century

used in theirdiscussions the courteous forms of speech common in all parliamentarybodies.)

  "A man who knew how to read and write," he continued, "did notcommand any better wages for the work of his hands than the man whocould not." [Applause.] "His increased knowledge tended to make himmore miserable." [Applause.] "Education was so universal that theeducated man, without a trade, had to take the most inadequatepittance of compensation, and was not so well off, many times, as themechanic." [Applause.] "The prisons and alms-houses were full ofeducated men; and three-fourths of the criminal class could read andwrite. Neither was the gentleman right when he spoke of the Europeanimmigrants as 'ignorant hordes.' The truth was, the proportion of theilliterate was much less in some European despotisms than it was inthe American Republic." [Applause from the foreigners present.]"Neither did it follow that because a man was educated he wasintelligent. There was a vast population of the middle class, who hadreceived good educations, but who did not have any opinion upon anysubject, except as they derived it from their daily newspapers."[Applause.] "The rich men owned the newspapers and the newspapersowned their readers; so that, practically, the rich men cast allthose hundreds of thousands of votes. If these men had not been ableto read and write they would have talked with one another upon publicaffairs, and have formed some correct ideas; their education simplyfacilitated their mental subjugation; they were chained to thechariots of the Oligarchy; and they would never know the truth untilthey woke up some bright morning and found it was the Day ofJudgment." [Sensation and great applause.]

  Here I interposed:

  "Universal education is right; it is necessary," I said; "but it isnot all-sufficient. Education will not stop corruption ormisgovernment. No man is fit to be free unless he possesses areasonable share of education; but every man who possesses thatreasonable share of education is riot fit to be free. A man may beable to read and write and yet be a fool or a knave." [Laughter andapplause.] "What is needed is a society which shall bring to Laborthe aid of the same keenness, penetration, foresight, and evencunning, by which wealth has won its triumphs. Intellect should haveits rewards, but it should not have everything. But this defense oflabor could only spring from the inspiration of God, for the naturalinstinct of man, in these latter days, seems to be to prey on hisfellow. We are sharks that devour the wounded of our own kind."

  I paused, and in the midst of the hall a thin gentleman, dressed inblack, with his coat buttoned to his throat, and all the appearanceof a clergyman, arose and asked whether a stranger would be permittedto say a few words. He was received in sullen silence, for the clergyare not popular with the proletariat. His manner, however, was quietand unassuming, and he appeared like an honest man.

  The chairman said he had no doubt the audience would be glad to hearhis views, and invited him to the platform.

  He said, in a weak, thin voice:

  "I have listened, brethren, with a great deal of interest andpleasure to the remarks that have been made by the differentspeakers. There is no doubt the world has fallen into evilconditions; and it is very right that you should thus assemble andconsider the causes and the remedy. And, with your kind permission, Iwill give you my views on the subject.

  "Brethren, your calamities are due, in my opinion, to the loss ofreligion in the world and the lack of virtue among individuals. Whatis needed for the reformation of mankind is a new interest in thechurch--a revival of faith. If every man will purify his own heart,all hearts will then be pure; and when the hearts of all are pure,and filled with the divine sentiment of justice and brotherhood, noman will be disposed to treat his neighbor unjustly. But, while thisis true, you must remember that, after all, this world is only aplace of temporary trial, to prepare us for another and a betterworld. This existence consists of a few troubled and painful years,at best, but there you will enjoy eternal happiness in the company ofthe angels of God. We have the assurance of the Holy Scriptures thatriches and prosperity here are impediments to happiness hereafter.The beggar Lazarus is shown to us in the midst of everlasting bliss,while the rich man Dives, who had supported him for years, by thecrumbs from his table, and was clothed in purple and fine linen, isburning in an eternal hell. Remember that it is 'less difficult for acamel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man toenter the kingdom of heaven;' and so, my friends, you may justlyrejoice in your poverty and your afflictions, for 'those whom theLord loveth he chasteneth;' and the more wretched your careers maybe, here on earth, the more assured you are of the delights of aneverlasting heaven. And do not listen, my brethren, to the men whotell you that you must hate government and law. 'The powers that beare ordained of God,' saith the Scripture; and by patient resignationto the evils of this world you will lay up treasures for yourselvesin heaven, where the moth and rust cannot consume, and where thievesdo not break in and steal. They tell you that you should improve yourcondition. But suppose you possessed all the pleasures which thistransitory world could give you, of what avail would it be if yourearthly happiness made you lose the eternal joys of heaven? 'Whatwill it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his ownsoul?' Nothing, my brethren, nothing. Be patient, therefore----"

  As the reverend gentleman had proceeded the murmurs and objections ofthe audience kept increasing, until at last it broke forth in a stormof howls and execrations which completely drowned his voice. Thewhole audience--I could see their faces from where I sat on theplatform--were infuriated. Arms were waving in the air, and the scenewas like Bedlam. I requested the clergyman to sit down, and, as soonas he did so, the storm began to subside. A man rose in the midst ofthe audience and mounted a bench. Loud cries and applause greetedhim. I could distinguish the name on a hundred lips, "Kelker!Kelker!" As I ascertained afterwards, he was a professor, of Germandescent, a man of wide learning, who had lost his position in theuniversity, and in society as well, by his defense of the rights ofthe people. He now earned a meager living at shoemaking. He was atall, spare man, with gold eyeglasses (sole relic of his paststation), poorly clad; and he had the wild look of a man who had beenhunted all his life. He spoke with great vehemence, and in apenetrating voice, that could be heard all over that vast assemblage,which, as soon as he opened his mouth, became as still as death.

  "Friends and brothers," he said; "friends by the ties of commonwrongs, brothers in misery, I regret that you did not permit thereverend gentleman to proceed. Ours is a liberality that hears allsides; and, for one, I should have been glad to hear what thisadvocate of the ancient creeds had to say for them. But since he hastaken his seat I shall reply to him.

  "He tells us that his religion is the one only thing which will saveus; and that it is better for us to be miserable here that we may behappy hereafter. If that is so, heaven must be crowded now-a-days,for the misery of the earth is unlimited and unspeakable; and it israpidly increasing." [Laughter and applause.] "But religion has hadcontrol of the world for nearly two thousand years, and this is whatit has brought us to. It has been, in all ages, the moralpolice-force of tyrants." [Great applause.] "It has chloroformedpoverty with promises of heaven, while the robbers have plundered theworld." (Continued applause.] "It has kept the people in submission,and has sent uncountable millions through wretched lives to shamefulgraves. [Great applause.] "With a lot of myths and superstitions,derived from a dark and barbarous past, it has prevented civilizationfrom protecting mankind; and, Nero-like, has fiddled away upon itsridiculous dogmas while the world was burning." [Great cheers.]

  "When have your churches helped man to improve his condition? Theyare gorgeous palaces, where once a week the women assemble to displaytheir millinery and the men to maintain their business prestige."[Laughter and applause.] "What great reform have they not opposed?What new discoveries in science have they not resisted?" [Applause.]"Man has only become great when he has escaped out of theirclutches." [Cheers.] "They have preached heaven and helped turn earthinto a hell." [Great cheers.] "They stood by, without a murmur, andbeheld mankind brought down to this awful condition; and no
w, in themidst of our unbearable calamities, they tell us it is well for us tostarve; that starvation is the especial gate of heaven; and thatDives deserved hell because he had plenty to eat while on earth."[Great cheering.] "And why do they do this? Because, if they can getpossession of our consciences and persuade us to starve to deathpatiently, and not resist, they will make it so much the easier forthe oppressors to govern us; and the rich, in return, will maintainthe churches." [Sensation.] "They are throttling us in the name ofGod!" [Tremendous applause.] "Our sons march in endless procession tothe prison and the scaffold; our daughters take their places in thelong line of the bedizened cortege of the brothel; and every fiber ofour poor frames