“It seems to me,” said Brother Green, speaking with great deliberation, “that our principles were formed and adopted because we thought them right. I don’t see in what we should differ from anybody else if we took to the usual prairie arms the moment we felt the shoe pinch! If non-resistance is right, it should be practised against horse-thieves; if it is wrong, then we should be prepared to shoot the thieves of other men’s horses. There is no middle course. The throwing away of our settled convictions just because our horse has been stolen is not consistent.” “I’ll vote for non-resistance and the maintenance of our principles,” said Mary Winkle severely, “and I further think that what is decided by the majority in this meeting should bind all the members.” She fixed her eye upon Wright with meaning. “It is a most difficult juncture,” remarked Madame. “I wish much we had the help of Brother Ezra’s wisdom to guide us.” “Yes,” said Uncle David cordially, “an’ sister Olive too.” “I do not see how Sister Olive can have any experience that would enable her to give good advice on this subject,” said Madame acidly. “Oh, Sister Olive has consider’ble ’cuteness,” remarked Uncle David. “Now you’d be ’stonished to hear the wise things she says, an’ she as purty as a kitten or a rose all the while.” “Then I guess we’ll just do nothing at all? Is that the decision of this Assembly?” asked Brother Wright abruptly. “There is great force in passive resistance,” said Brother Carpenter, a boneless individual who counted for little either for work in the fields, or for advice in the councils, of Perfection City. “Where passive resistance has been applied by large numbers and for a long time it has effected great changes,” he observed conversationally. “I think principles are principles,” said Brother Green, “and may not be lightly set aside.” “Well, I guess I’ll go home then, since nothing is going to be done,” said Brother Wright angrily, “and I’ll try and keep hold of the last horse, else that thief will come and take him too, when he finds what fools he’s got to deal with.” The Assembly broke up, having decided nothing at all, and having only succeeded in embittering the feelings of several persons, and in widening the chasm of differences which had revealed itself in the course of the debate, a result that has often followed the meeting of larger and more notorious Assemblies.