Symzonia: Voyage of DiscoverySeaborn, Adam, Captain
Science
Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery
Seaborn, Adam, Captain
Science fiction; Voyages, Imaginary
As we passed on through this enchanting country, Surui, the eldest of
my conductors, instructed me in the civil polity, customs, manners,
and habits of this people. From him I learned, that in Symzonia all
power emanated from the people; that the affairs of the nation were
directed by
1. A chief, who was honoured with the title of Best Man, and who held
his situation for life, unless impeached of crime; but whose issue
was considered ineligible to the same office for one generation after
his decease.
2. An ordinary council of one hundred worthies, who assembled twice
in each year, and oftener when circumstances made it necessary,
to give advice to the Best Man.
3. A grand council of worthies, who assembled once in four years,
to admit members to their body, collect the sense of the nation
on all public affairs, and aid the Best Man with their judgment in
the appointment of Efficients to discharge the executive duties of
the state.
The Best Man could only be elected by an unanimous vote of the grand
council.
The Worthies are of three orders--the Good, the Wise, and the Useful.
The first, who have the title of Good, are such as have, by active
benevolence, exemplary conduct, and constant efforts to promote the
happiness of their fellow beings, obtained an expression of the public
voice, that they are superior to the generality of men. When any such
spontaneous testimony is given in favour of a man, it becomes the
duty of the worthies of the district to which he belongs, to make
the fact known to the grand council. The council examine minutely
into the grounds of the popular opinion, and if they find it well
founded, and that the man is truly good, benevolent, and virtuous,
they admit him a member by the title of Good.
The second class of worthies, are such as have in like manner been
ascertained to have promoted the interests of society by improvements
in science, and the advancement of useful knowledge. Such men, if free
from vice, although not distinguished by benevolence, or the highest
class of virtues, are admitted to the order of worthies by the title
of Wise. This class corresponds to that of the philosophers of the
external world.
The third, are all such as have manifested superior skill and diligence
in their respective callings, with evident and constant good will
towards their fellow men; such as have introduced useful inventions
and improvements in the arts, set good examples to their neighbours,
and are free from vicious propensities: these, on being found justly
entitled to such characters, are admitted to the order of worthies
by the title of Useful.
The executive department is managed by Efficients, who are appointed
by the Best Man assisted by the Grand Council; and, in the interval
of their session, if vacancies occur, by the ordinary council of
One Hundred.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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