CHAPTER XI.
The Government of Mizora not being of primary importance in theestimation of the people, I have not made more than a mere mention of itheretofore. In this respect I have conformed to the generally expressedtaste of the Mizora people. In my own country the government and thearistocracy were identical. The government offices and emoluments werethe highest pinnacles of ambition.
I mentioned the disparity of opinion between Mizora and all othercountries I had known in regard to this. I could not understand whypolitics in Mizora should be of so small importance. The answer was,that among an educated and highly enlightened people, the governmentwill take care of itself. Having been perfected by wise experience, thepeople allow it to glide along in the grooves that time has made for it.
In form, the government of Mizora was a Federal Republic. The term ofoffice in no department exceeded the limit of five years. ThePresidential term of office was for five years.
They had one peculiar--exceedingly peculiar--law in regard to politics.No candidate could come before the public seeking office before having acertificate from the State College to which she belonged, stating herexamination and qualifications to fill such an office.
Just like examining for school-teachers, I thought. And why not? Makinglaws for a State is of far more importance than making them for a fewdozen scholars. I remembered to have heard some of my Americanacquaintances say that in their country it was not always qualificationsthat get a candidate into office. Some of the ways were devious and notsuitable for publicity. Offices were frequently filled by incompetentmen. There had been congressmen and other offices of higher and moreresponsible duties, filled by persons who could not correctly frame asentence in their native language, who could not spell the simplestwords as they were spelled in the dictionary, unless it were anaccident.
To seek the office of President, or any other position under the GeneralGovernment, required an examination and certificate from the NationalCollege. The examinations were always public, and conducted in such amanner that imposture was impossible. Constituents could attend if theychose, and decide upon the qualifications of a favorite candidate. Inall the public schools, politics--to a certain extent--formed part ofthe general education of every child. Beyond that, any one having apredilection for politics could find in the State Colleges and NationalColleges the most liberal advantages for acquiring a knowledge ofpolitical economy, political arithmetic, and the science of government.
Political campaigns, (if such a term could be applicable to the politicsof Mizora) were of the mildest possible character. The papers publishedthe names of the candidates and their examinations in full. The peopleread and decided upon their choice, and, when the time came, voted. Andthat was the extent of the campaign enthusiasm.
I must mention that the examinations on the science of government werenot conducted as are ordinary examinations in any given study thatconsists of questions and answers. That was the preliminary part. Therefollowed a thorough, practical test of their ability to discharge theduties of office with wisdom. No matter which side the sympathies oraffections might be enlisted upon, the stern decree of justice was whatthe Mizorean abided by. From earliest infancy their minds were trainedin that doctrine. In the discharge of all public duties especially, itseemed to be the paramount consideration. Certainly no governmentmachinery ever could move with more ease, or give greater satisfactionto the people, than that of Mizora.
They never appeared to be excited or uneasy about the result of theelections. I never heard an animated political argument, such as I usedto read about in America. I asked a politician one day what she thoughtof the probable success of the opposite party. She replied that it wouldnot make any difference to the country as both candidates were perfectlycompetent to fill the office.
"Do you never make disparaging statements about the opposing candidate?"was my inquiry.
"How could we?" she asked in surprise, "when there are none to make."
"You might assume a few for the time being; just to make her losevotes."
"That would be a crime worthy of barbarians."
"Do you never have any party issues?"
"No. There is never anything to make an issue of. We all work for thegood of the people, and the whole people. There is no greed of glory orgain; no personal ambition to gratify. Were I to use any artifice tosecure office or popularity, I should be instantly deprived of publicesteem and notice. I do my duty conscientiously; _that_ is the aim ofpublic life. I work for the public good and my popularity comes as it isearned and deserved. I have no fear of being slighted or underrated.Every politician feels and acts the same way."
"Have politicians ever bought votes with money, or offered bribes bypromising positions that it would be in their official power to grantwhen elected?"
"Never! There is not a citizen of Mizora who would not scorn an officeobtained in such a way. The profession of politics, while not to becompared in importance with the sciences, is yet not devoid of dignity.It is not necessary to make new laws. They were perfected long ago, andwhat has been proven good we have no desire to change. We manage thegovernment according to a conscientious interpretation of the law. Wehave repealed laws that were in force when our Republic was young, anddropped them from the statute books. They were laws unworthy of ourcivilization. We have laws for the protection of property and toregulate public morals, and while our civilization is in a state ofadvancement that does not require them, yet we think it wisdom to letthem remain. The people know that we have such laws and live up to themwithout surveillance. They would abide by the principles of justice setforth in them just as scrupulously if we should repeal them.
"You spoke of bribes. In remote ages, when our country was emerging froma state of semi-barbarism, such things were in common practice.Political chicanery was a name given to various underhand and dishonestmaneuvers to gain office and public power. It was frequently the casethat the most responsible positions in the Government would be occupiedby the basest characters, who used their power only for fraud to enrichthemselves and their friends by robbing the people. They deceived themasses by preaching purity. They were never punished. If they wereaccused and brought to trial, the wealth they had stolen from thegovernment purchased their acquittal, and then they posed as martyrs.The form of government was then, as now, a Federal Republic, but thepeople had very little to do with it. They were merely the tools ofunscrupulous politicians. In those days a sensitively honest personwould not accept office, because the name politician was a synonym forflexible principles. It was derogatory to one's character to seekoffice."
"Was dishonesty more prominent in one party than another?" I asked,thinking how very Americanish this history sounded.
"We, who look back upon the conditions of those times and view it withdispassionate judgment, can perceive corruption in both politicalparties. The real welfare of the country was the last thing consideredby a professional politician. There was always something that was tobenefit the people brought forward as a party issue, and used as a meansof working up the enthusiasm or fears of the people, and usually droppedafter the election.
"The candidate for election in those days might be guilty of heinouscrimes, yet the party covered them all, and over that covering thepartisan newspaper spread every virtue in the calendar. A stranger tothe country and its customs reading one of their partisan newspapersduring a political campaign, might conclude that the party _it_advocated was composed of only the virtues of the country, and theirleader an epitome of the supremest excellence.
"Reading in the same paper a description of the opposing party, thestranger might think it composed of only the degraded and disreputableportion of the nation, and its leader the scum of all its depravity. Ifcuriosity should induce a perusal of some partisan paper of the otherparty, the same thing could be read in its columns, with a change ofnames. It would be the opposite party that was getting represented inthe most despicable character, and _their_ leader was the only one whopossessed e
nough honesty and talent to keep the country from going towreck. The other party leader was the one who was guilty of all thecrimes in the calendar. A vast number of people were ignorant enough tocling blindly to one party and to believe every word published by itspartisan papers. This superstitious party faith was what theunscrupulous politicians handled dexterously for their own selfish ends.It was not until education became universal, and a higher culture wasforced upon the majority--the working classes--that politics began topurify itself, and put on the dignity of real virtue, and receive therespect that belongs to genuine justice.
"The people became disgusted with defamatory political literature, andthe honorable members of both parties abjured it altogether. In such agovernment as this, two great parties could not exist, where one wasaltogether bad and the other altogether good. It became apparent to thepeople that there was good in both parties, and they began to elect itirrespective of party prejudice. Politicians began to work for theircountry instead of themselves and their party, and politics took thenoble position that the rights of humanity designed it for. I have beengiving you quite a history of our ancient politics. Our presentcondition is far different. As the people became enlightened to a higherdegree, the government became more compact. It might now be compared toa large family. There are one hundred States in the Union. There was atime when every State made its own laws for its own domestic government.One code of laws is now enforced in every State. In going from one Stateto another citizens now suffer no inconvenience from a confusion oflaws. Every State owes allegiance to the General Government. No State ornumber of States could set up an independent government withoutobtaining the consent and legal dissolution from the General Government.But such a thing will never be thought of. We have prospered as a greatunited Nation. Our union has been our strength, our prosperity."
I visited with Wauna a number of the States' Capitals. In architecturethe Mizora people display an excellent taste. Their public buildingsmight all be called works of art. Their government buildings,especially, were on a scale of magnificent splendor. The hollow squareseemed to be a favorite form. One very beautiful capitol building was ofcrystal glass, with facing and cornices of marble onyx. It looked morelike a gigantic gem than anything I could compare it to, especially whenlighted up by great globes of white fire suspended from every ceiling.
Upon my entrance into Mizora, I was led into the belief that I hadarrived at a female seminary, because the dining and sleepingaccommodations for the stateswoman were all in the Capitol building. Iobserved that the State Capitols were similarly accommodated. In Mizorathe home is the heart of all joy, and wherever a Mizora woman goes, sheendeavors to surround herself with its comforts and pleasures. That wasthe reason that the splendid Capitol building had its home-likeappointments, was a Nation of women exclusively--at least as far as Ihad as yet been able to discover.
Another reason for the homes of all officials of the Government beingwithin the public buildings, was because all the personal expenses,excepting clothing, were paid by the Government. The salaries ofGovernment positions were not large, compared with those of thesciences; but as their social and political dues were paid out of thepublic treasury, the salaries might be considered as net profit. Thiscustom had originated many centuries in the past. In those early days,when a penurious character became an incumbent of public office, thesocial obligations belonging to it were often but niggardly requited.Sometimes business embarrassments and real necessity demanded economy;so, at last, the Government assumed all the expenses contingent uponevery office, from the highest to the lowest. By this means the occupantof a Government office was freed from every care but those of state.
The number and style of all social entertainments that were obligatoryof the occupant of a public office, were regulated by law. As the peopleof Mizora believed in enjoyment, the entertainments provided by theGovernment as the necessary social dues of its officers, were not few,nor scantily furnished.