The Transgressors. Story of a Great Sin. A Political Novel of the Twentieth CenturyAdams, Francis A. (Francis Alexandre)
General
The Transgressors. Story of a Great Sin. A Political Novel of the Twentieth Century
Adams, Francis A. (Francis Alexandre)
Political fiction
"The Pharisees have preached the doctrine of the sacredness of 'vested
rights' until the people, in many sections of the country, have come to
regard the right of property as paramount to the right of mankind to
life and liberty.
"Every act that would alleviate the sufferings of the people is at once
stigmatized as anarchistic; while the aggressions of the men of money in
the legislatures, and through executives, are upheld as justifiable
means for the proper protection of property.
"My trip to the West and East has made me doubtful as to the result of
the election. In New York City alone is there a tendency to support me."
"Oh, do not say that you have lost hope," expostulates Sister Martha.
"It is not my intention to intimate that I have done so, to any one,
other than to you."
"Ah, I cannot believe that a just God will see you defeated!"
"As matters stand now it will take almost a miracle to elect me. I have
studied all the elements that enter into this campaign. It will be the
last one that can be conducted with the semblance of order. Four years
from now, if not before then, the conditions will be ripe for a
revolution; the oligarchy of American manufacturers and bankers will
have reached its height and will be on the point of dissolution. The
perfected mechanism of government that it will have established, will be
in readiness to be turned over to the people.
"Socialism of a rational sort will result from the sudden and sharp
revolution. History will not be enriched by a new chapter, but be marked
by the repetition of its most frequent story--the fall of empire and the
establishment of a new government. In the end of all governments at the
same point, is the strongest argument in support of the theory of
reincarnation; a state, as a being, has its birth, mature age, and
decay. None seemingly is endowed with the attribute of immutability. It
was the fond hope of our forefathers that the United States should prove
the exception. Imperialism was the reef on which the classic empires
were wrecked; commercialism is the danger that threatens our ship of
state."
"You must take a brighter view of the situation," insists the sensitive
woman, to whom these lugubrious words are as dagger thrusts. "You must
fight as if there was not the shadow of a doubt but that you will be
successful. I have a premonition (woman's intuition, if you prefer),
that you will be the victor in this struggle."
With these words of encouragement ringing in his ears, Trueman departs.
He has yielded to the human weakness which prompts a man to confide his
inmost thoughts to woman. Kingdoms have been destroyed, empires have
crumbled in a day; the world's greatest generals have seen their
carefully designed campaigns fall flat, all through the treachery of
women in failing to keep secret the confessions of their confidants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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