Part 22 (1/2)
These lawyer-sharks packed caucuses, stuffed ballot-boxes, and thereby elected theislatures where they enacted unjust laws to subserve their own iniquitous depredations
But this nefarious pillaging was not confined to the courts alone: armies of patientless doctorspublic, and as all the people were not _naturally_ sick all the time for the benefit of the quacks, these so-called doctors prevailed upon their legislative college-chu all to be innoculated with virus, ostensibly to render theions, but really to furnish unlimited plunder to their ”faht the craze for ”higher education” to fit thelove” professional emoluments; they, too, tore each other's hair, scratched each other's faces in frantic football rushes, tu the kitchens to the ignorant foreigners, who ruined digestions with preposterous cookery, which would have killed a nation of ostriches
The great Republic ht have survived even such horrors as these had it not been for the out-breaking of another craze uns, I refer to theThe crafty, unscrupulous es filled the columns of the press with inary investors of small sums, and at once multitudes of farmers, mechanics, and even teachers abandoned their honest pursuits to squander their hard earnings in the vain atteer,” and ”beard the lion in his den”
The inevitable result followed: the lion and the laether, with the lamb inside the lion, thousands of formerly well-to-do people were pauperized Thousands of farms were abandoned, hundreds of factories were deserted, while the fiendish, cheating boss-gaed to repletion with their infamous plunder; then followed a frenzy of hatred on the part of the ainst the classes: city treasuries were depleted to feed the starving with free soup, the cities were croith the desperate, hungry multitudes who had lost their all, and bloody riots capped the climax of a hell on earth
Froroup of citizens gazed upon a scene which would daunt the stoutest heart; these five ilded do stations in life, as far apart as the poles in culture, education, and creed, but their faces wore the saled with stern deterht is the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, a e in every feature, a scholarly, furrowed brow, dressed with scrupulous care, and looking at the frightful scenes with the dauntless eye of an eagle He is the chosen leader of the Republican party which for many years has controlled the destinies of the ”Old Bay State” Next stands acontrast to his refined companion, a short, stout, ruddy-faced son of Ireland, but now Mayor of the city of Boston, a Democrat of Democrats, carelessly dressed, a political boss, who under ordinary circuhbor
Next in the line is a smooth-faced portly man, clad in fine broadcloth, unmistakably a Catholic Priest; next is awhose uniform and shoulder-straps proclaiuard of the State; close beside the guardsman is the stalwart superintendent of the city police For a few minutes only, these men were spell-bound by the terrible scenes before the along the street, so revolvers at the s of the houses and at every well-dressed person in sight, soe banners labelled ”Bread or blood,” ”Doith the rich,”
”Shoot the soldiers”; s are waved with de i in the ranks, and blood cri fros, tremendous explosions are heard which seemed to shake the foundations of the city Ferociousplundered liquors; the off-scouring of all nations are pillaging, burning, ; the spirit of hell seems in full control on this natal day of the Prince of Peace Still the national guard did not fire
”Father,” cried the Governor, ”will the 9th Regiment kill their own brothers if ordered to shoot?”
”My children will obey orders, sir,” quietly replied the priest
”Then in heaven's na is ruined”
The Mayor's eyes flashed fire; he seemed about to countermand--the priest lifted his hand, ”Brother, we must,” he said--the Mayor hesitated; he sawthe rioters; his face was like that of a corpse, then, ”Order,” he gasped
The General touched the keys before him, the Colonel of the 9th flinched as if struck by a bullet, then a quick cole sounded, the Irish soldiers hesitated, glanced at the cupola; the priest with outstretched ar rifles were levelled, and crash upon crash went the volleys of bullets into the bosole note, and quick as a flash forward rushed the dandy Cadets and the Irish soldiers, shoulder to shoulder in a wild bayonet charge
Screaroans and curses rend the air, scores of the rioters are weltering in their gore, the rest broke, fled, leaving the streets streith the dead and wounded
”Marconi the hospitals,” said the Governor; and in a trice the a away the sufferers to be tenderly cared for, as if they were the best, instead of the worst of the human race
”Brothers,” said the Governor, ”shall we order the troops and police in every city to fire? It will be merciful to end this horrible suspense” ”Amen,” came the response from the bowed heads of his companions; instantly the command was Marconied to every place which was in a state of anarchy
Suddenly came the crash of ruuns, then the defiant yells ceased, and all was quiet
”Your Excellency,” calmly spoke the General, ”here are Marconis froht is over, the mobs have dispersed
”Thank God,” came the chorus from each in this remarkable quintette who had co-operated in the carefully-considered plans which had so quickly brought peace to the distracted city and State