Part 8 (1/2)

”Warth.e.l.l is my name,” supplied Dorlan.

”Mr. Warth.e.l.l,” said Morlene, the glow of eloquence on her face, ”I have a dream. I dream that wars and revolutions shall one day cease. The cla.s.sification of mankind into groups called nations, affords a feeling of estrangement which destroys or modifies the thought of universal brotherhood, and gives rise to the needless bickerings which result in wars. I delight in any movement that sweeps away these pseudo-national boundaries. The more separate nations that are congealed under one head, the less is the area where conflicts are probable. When the tendency to consolidate finally merges all governments into one, wars shall cease. Our territorial expansion is but the march of destiny toward the ultimate goal of all things. I am delighted to see our nation thus move forward, because we have such an elastic form of government, so responsive to the needs and sentiments of the people that b.l.o.o.d.y revolutions become unnecessary wherever our flag floats. Just think how much our expansion makes for universal peace by erasing the thought of separateness existing between peoples, and giving to the federated powers such an ideal form of government.

”When our flag floats over the whole of the Western Hemisphere there will be n.o.body over here to fight us; we shall not fight among ourselves and we shall dare the European and Asiatic powers to go to war.”

”You are indeed an expansionist,” remarked Dorlan.

”Yes, yes,” said Morlene, wrought up in the subject that was stirring the American people.

”Some are expansionists for the sake of finding outlets for the ever-increasing excess of our production. They hold that we are producing far more than what we can consume, and must have outside buyers to avoid a terrible congestion at home. Others are expansionists on the ground that outlying possessions are a strategetical necessity in the time of war. Our statesmen are expansionists, some of them, because our nation's becoming a world power gives a broader scope for their intellects. Some are expansionists because they desire to see weaker people have the benefits of a higher civilization. While I admit the possible weight of these various contentions, my interest in expansion is broadly humanitarian. England was at one time a seething ma.s.s of warring tribes. The expansion of a central power over the entire islands brought order out of chaos. Let the process extend to the entire earth as fast as honorable opportunity presents itself, and may the stars and stripes lead in the new evangel of universal peace.” Thus spoke Morlene.

”Beautiful, beautiful dream. But it is my fear that enthusiasm over expansion may cause us to lose sight of fundamental tenets of our political faith. This leads me to state the point of difference between myself and the Republican party,” said Dorlan.

The subject was one, as may be seen, of absorbing interest to Morlene, and she leaned forward slightly, eager to catch each word that Dorlan might utter. He began: ”The Republican party has not informed the world as to what will be the ultimate status of the Filipino. In the final adjustment of things, whatever _that_ may be, will the Filipino be able to say that he stands upon the same plane, politically and otherwise, with all other free and equal human beings. I labored earnestly to have the Republican party to declare that no violence would be done to our national conception that every man is inherently the political equal of every other man. The party has promised that full physical, civil and religious liberty shall be guaranteed. On the question of political liberty there is silence. Because of this silence I leave it.”

”In what manner, Mr. Warth.e.l.l, do you hope to affect the result in the pending campaign?” enquired Morlene.

”The Negroes, you know, are vitally affected by the issues in this campaign. With England imposing its will upon India, with the Southern whites imposing their will on the Negroes, only one great branch of the white race exists which is not imposing its will upon a feebler race. I allude to the white people of the North.

”Should our nation impose its will upon the Filipinos, by the force of arms and without the underlying purpose of ultimately granting to them full political liberty, the weaker peoples the world over will lose their only remaining advocate in the white race, namely the people of the North.

”I hope to be able to show the Negroes that they, of all citizens in this country, cannot afford to permit either silence as to, or the abandonment of, the doctrine of the inherent equality of all men. The Negroes of the pivotal states, when, united, can easily decide the election in whatever direction they choose. It is my purpose to attempt to weld together the Negroes in the hope of defeating any man that will not unequivocally and openly declare in favor of the ultimate political equality of the Filipinos.”

”Are you not leaning on a broken reed, Mr. Warth.e.l.l?” asked Morlene in earnest tones. ”Have the Negroes acquired sufficient self-confidence to feel justified in pitting their judgment against that of the Republican party? Can the recent beneficiary be so soon transformed into a dictator?

More important still, can you uproot those tender memories which flourish in the sentimental bosom of the Negro, a.s.sociating, indissolubly his freedom with the Republican party?” she asked.

Dorlan sighed deeply. He recalled how madly he had to fight against the tender memories aroused by Morlene's singing when we saw him so deeply stirred. He remembered how that on that occasion her playing and singing had carried his mind back to those great days when the freedom of the Negroes was in the balances. He knew what an effort it required on his part to persuade his heart to allow him to strike a blow at that hitherto hallowed name--Republican.

Dorlan not replying, Morlene resumed, ”Mr. Warth.e.l.l, in attempting to disillusion the Negroes with regard to the Republican party you shall march against one of the strongest attachments in all of human history. I have known deaths to result from a.s.sailing attachments far less deep-seated than that. May a special providence preserve you.”

Morlene now arose to go, her beautiful face giving signs of the fear for Dorlan's safety that had stolen into her heart.

Subsequent happenings showed how well grounded were her fears.

CHAPTER XIII.

A WHOLE CITY STIRRED.

The editor of one of the leading morning papers of R---- sat at his desk one afternoon, knitting his brows as he read a doc.u.ment spread out before him. Having finished reading it once, he began the second reading, wearing on his face the same intent expression. Having concluded the second reading, he laid the article down, rested his head on the back of his chair and closed his eyes as if in deep meditation. After a few moments'

reflection he decided upon the third reading of the doc.u.ment. When he had finished this last perusal, he went to the telephone and summoned Dorlan Warth.e.l.l to an immediate conference with him. Dorlan soon arrived and was ushered into the editors's private office.

”Be seated,” said the editor, in a most cordial manner. ”Mr. Warth.e.l.l,”

said he, ”I have read your doc.u.ment the third time and I now desire to ask you two questions. The character of your answers to them will determine whether I shall propound to you a third.” Looking earnestly into Dorlan's face, he enquired, ”Was it your desire and expectation that this article should be published?”

”Most a.s.suredly,” said Dorlan, manifesting surprise that the editor should deem it necessary to ask such a question.

”Again,” said the editor, ”are you well acquainted with the moods of your people?”