Makers of Madness / A Play in One Act and Three Scenes

by Hermann Hagedorn

SCENE II

As the lights rise again they reveal a small, comfortably furnished clubroom, with a wide window opening on a balcony in the back, and doors right and left. It is evening and the electric lamps are lit.

grosvenor, a man of fifty-odd, large, sleek, unctuous, well-groomed, is discovered in an arm-chair, surrounded by newspapers. He glances with feverish interest at one after the other. A cheer is heard outside, then the sound of fifes and drums. He rises excitedly and throws open the French window. The tramp, tramp of a regiment is heard. two officers in uniform, a general and a captain, enter left.

general

[A strongly-built man in middle age, with a firm, resolute face.

Evening, Grosvenor. Not poaching on your rights if we come in here a minute? The other windows were crowded.

grosvenor

Not at all, General, not at all. We're all making way for the khaki today, sir. And proud to have the chance.

[With overdone politeness to the Captain, a handsome man of the romantic type.

Take my place, Captain.

captain

Thanks. Great tune that, eh? Stirs up a man's vitals, eh?

grosvenor

Yes, indeed; yes, indeed.

captain

Wait till we put that into the repertory of the enemy's bandmasters.

[Leaning out of the window.

Come. They're a fine-looking lot, eh?

general

Fine! Fine! The pick of the land. Fighters to a finish, every one of 'em.

captain

And say, but they're thanking God tonight for the war-scare that's brought 'em back from manœuvres.

grosvenor

[Eagerly.

They are, eh?

captain

Manœuvres are too tame. They're crazy to get into a real fight.

grosvenor

[In excited, subdued tones.

Then you think—there'll be war?

general

[Turning.

The President expects to hear from our Ambassador any minute about the private interview he wired he was about to have with the King.

grosvenor

[Taking up the papers.

Seen the latest?

general

[Picking out one paper with a particularly flaring headline.

"Iberia planning secret attack," eh? That man Pollen knows more things that aren't so than a college graduate.

captain

[Taking another paper.

He's entertaining enough, though. I daresay he has some influence.

grosvenor

I pray to God that we may keep peace, but we must not let ourselves be walked over—we must not—

captain

[Laughing.

Exactly. The nation is at last to see what it spends its army and navy appropriations for. Eh?

general

No sane man wants war, but if—

captain

I'm sane. And I want war. I want to go out and help lambaste those infernally cocksure armies of that jelly-and-cream King. We've parleyed long enough. Now we'll fight. Force is the only convincing argument after all.

grosvenor

As our Master said, "I bring a sword"—

general

[At the window again.

Fine fellows those. Look at that boy there, third from the end. And that lieutenant. Strapping, wonderful fellows—with brains! That's the great thing. Give me five hundred thousand of those and I'll hold off all comers.

grosvenor

[With nervous acuteness.

How long d'ye think it'll last?

general

Six months. Maybe a year.

grosvenor

[Tentatively.

You couldn't, I suppose—say—more exactly?

general

[With a glance of suspicion.

How should I—before it's even begun?

grosvenor

[Hastily.

Oh—er—just a matter of curiosity.

captain

[Laughing.

At any rate, we'll be back in time for the next presidential election. We're coming back with the General on our shoulders, and when we drop him it'll be through the skylight of the President's house.

general

[Self-consciously.

Don't talk nonsense.

captain

There's nothing like a war to make a man President.

[At window.

More and more and more of 'em. Bully lines. Not natty enough to be a joke, just straight and trim. Those fellows'll carry you into the presidency, General, if anyone can. A few of 'em'll have to choke first, but that's fisherman's luck.

general

[Turning.

That'll do, Dave.

[A page enters Right.

page

[Crossing the room.

Mr. Grosvenor? Mr. Grosvenor?

grosvenor

[Eagerly.

Here.

page

[Handing him a telegram.

Any answer?

grosvenor

Wait.

captain

[Still watching the soldiers.

They are happy.

[Pause.

I wonder which of 'em'll come back, and which won't.

grosvenor

[Who has torn open the yellow envelope, sinks back in his chair. To page.

No answer.

[He mops his brow in utter dejection. The officers by the window do not see him as he studies the telegram and studies it again as though he could not believe his eyes.

captain

[Turning.

Any news, Mr. Grosvenor?

grosvenor

[Thickly.

A plot, a damned Stock Exchange plot.

[He hands the captain the message.

captain

[After a glance at the message.

Hello! Say, General, look at this.

general

[Turning.

What's up?

captain

The State Department has just had news from our Ambassador to Iberia. Delightful interview with the King. Evident willingness to meet us half way.

general

[Coolly.

Is this straight? It sounds fishy.

captain

They're trying to gain time. I don't believe it.

grosvenor

It's a damned plot.

general

Looks to me like a blind to stop our preparations. I'm going over to the War Department. Coming, Captain?

captain

It's that crafty Prime Minister over there playing us tricks, eh?

grosvenor

[Hotly.

It's a plot!

general

Something's queer! Good night, Grosvenor!

grosvenor

[Effusively.

Good night, General, good night. God be with us all in these dark days, I say!

general

[Solemnly.

Amen to that!

captain

[Saluting carelessly.

Good night.

grosvenor

Good night, good night.

[The officers go out. grosvenor strides excitedly up and down.

It's a plot, it's a damned plot—

[He goes toward the rear and picks up a telephone instrument on a desk by the window.

Can you get me the House? Mr. Maynard. Yes. Making a speech? Never mind.

[He hangs up the receiver and presses a button on the wall. Then he quickly writes a message on the back of the telegram and encloses it in an envelope. The page enters.

page

Ring, sir?

grosvenor

Yes. Take this to the House at once. To Mr. Maynard. See that he gets it himself. Here's a dollar.

page

[Touching his cap.

Thank you, sir.

[Exit.

grosvenor

[Taking up the telephone again.

Give me the Senate. Mr. Taney. Saw him go out?

[He hangs up the receiver impatiently.

Isn't anyone on the job?

[He strides up and down.

A damned plot!—

[Enter, right, hurriedly, senator taney, a stout, red-haired man, clean-shaven.

taney

[Puffing.

Hello, Grosvenor.

grosvenor

Thank God, you're here.

taney

Only got a minute. Hell's loose in the Senate.

grosvenor

I've been nearly crazy waiting for news.

taney

God, man. Perhaps you think I ain't been busy rounding up a lot of on-the-fence-men? It seems to me pretty nearly everybody was on the fence. No decided opinions at all. But they're coming, they're coming.

grosvenor

How 'bout that report about the King over there wanting peace?

taney

That's what the row's about. The highbrows an' the peace people are shouting hurrahs all over the place, an' the rest of us has to do what we can to drown 'em out.

grosvenor

[Restlessly moving about the room.

If it's true about the King, can you—work it—anyway?

taney

How do I know?

grosvenor

Got any figures? For or against?

taney

Yes. It's about an even go.

grosvenor

[Disappointed.

You can't give me anything more definite?

taney

What's up, anyway? You look nervous.

grosvenor

I am. This business is cutting into my sleep. My last cent is tied up, and I've got a good many other people's last cents as well. Damn it, Taney, this is worse than Monte Carlo. You're dealing with cold-blooded chance there, but here you're dealing with sentiments, emotions. It's exhausting. War is a terrible thing, Taney. It worries me day and night. Think of the lives! And yet we need this war, we need it for the good of the nation. And now that we're ready, it would be a calamity if—

taney

[Turning to go.

Don't you worry about that.

grosvenor

[Nervously.

How's the House going?

taney

Don't know anything about the House. But I guess your man Maynard is doing his job. I'm off to see Cottrell. Another man that wants news. Be back in ten minutes.

grosvenor

Keep me posted, for God's sake. You know—I'm not ungrateful. You shan't lose by your efforts, Taney. You know I'm a liberal man.

taney

[Quietly, but with emphasis.

Look here. You're not Conroy and you're not Pollen. They're the whales in this pond. You're only a nervous minnow. I'm working with bigger men than you. And perhaps I've got some convictions of my own, had 'em for years. If I hadn't, no money of yours would buy me. I believe the people want this war to settle once and for all whether that wishy-washy King or us is going to direct the universe, and if the people want it, it's my business to see that they get it. If that means any money in your pocket, it's none of my business. But I'm not your slave, Grosvenor. And don't you forget it.

grosvenor

You'll keep me posted? If anything goes wrong, I've got to have time to get from under. You'll surely keep me posted?

taney

Get your man Maynard on the string. I'm hanged if I'll be your office boy.

grosvenor

[Beseechingly.

Taney—

[taney goes out. grosvenor takes a step toward the door, stops, and drawing a cigar from his pocket, begins chewing the end nervously. Then he turns quickly, and crossing to the right, picks up the telephone instrument again.

Office of the "Morning Bulletin," please.

[Pause.

Mr. Pollen, please. Out? This is Mr. Grosvenor. On his way to the Club? Thanks.

[mr. conroy enters, right. He is a short, stockily-built man with a belligerent chin covered by a close-cropped, grizzled beard.

conroy

Hello, Grosvenor.

[With a sharp glance and not entirely pleasant smile.

I might have known that I'd find you on the job. What is it this time—canned goods, uniforms, hospital supplies—or just general enthusiasm?

grosvenor

A little business, but mainly enthusiasm. A great time to be alive, Conroy! Any news?

conroy

Maynard's making a rousing speech. Spread eagle. Our honor as a nation. The dearest, sweetest flag that ever waved over a noble, invincible people. Damned rot. But the brethren from the rural districts lap it up like cider in October. He's gaining votes. Protégé of yours, ain't he?

grosvenor

Yes. Used to be my office boy. Clever chap. Has a sensible view of things. Realizes that our national honor and our property must be defended at all hazards.

conroy

[Sitting down at the desk and beginning to write. With a cynical laugh.

You mean property. You don't give a damn about national honor. You know you don't. What's the use of trying to fool me?

grosvenor

Conroy, do you mean to impugn my patriotic motives?

conroy

[Without looking up, good-naturedly.

Grosvenor, we've known each other thirty years. I don't try to bluff you because I know that you know too much about me. You made the beginnings of your pile out of one big war and you've been playing up a lot of little republics against each other ever since, harvesting a neat little fortune every time. Now it's a real world-war you're after. If it comes, you're made, if it don't, you're broke. It's a cinch. Mind you, I'm not throwing stones. Only I don't want you to think you can pull the noble patriotic guff on me.

grosvenor

I have certain investments, of course, which might possibly be promoted by a war. But I am not thinking of that. I am thinking of the honor of my country, that honor which has never yet been stained, and shall not be stained if I can do aught by my own efforts and by my prayers to God, to keep it pure.

conroy

[Rising.

You carry it off well. I couldn't bluff the way you can. I haven't your religious feeling. I know why I want war. It's because I'm a manufacturer of guns. Everybody knows my business, and they know that if there wasn't war or a fear of war constantly, I and my wife and children would starve. War is my work and it's been my work most of my life. And I've worked for this war because it was the biggest thing in sight. I've worked for it with all the brains I've got, just as I'd have worked for two-hundred-egg hens if I'd been a chicken farmer. I'm not a sentimentalist. Besides, war's a good thing occasionally. I believe that absolutely. It quiets down your socialists, cuts down your superfluous population, increases the moral stamina of the nation. A lot of this talk of war being hell is mush. A few people get shot up, but no one forced 'em to go. It's their own funeral.

grosvenor

No, Conroy, no. I don't agree with you. I may possibly not lose financially by this war, but nevertheless, war is terrible, awful. The Christian sense balks at it. Only, I feel this way, sometimes when the honor of the nation demands—

conroy

You damn bluff!

grosvenor

[Confronting him.

Conroy! If you please!

[pollen, a tall, thin man in the late forties, enters left. He has an impassive, intellectual face, interesting though unsympathetic. His manner is calm and quietly alert, suggestive of reserve power.

pollen

[Without cordiality.

Hello, Conroy. Hello, Mr. Grosvenor.

grosvenor

[Obsequious at once.

Mr. Pollen!

conroy

I was just going to send a note round to you, Pollen. Couldn't get you on the phone. What d'ye think? Yes or no?

pollen

[With a faint, ironic smile.

Yes.

grosvenor

[Excitedly.

What?

conroy

[Deliberately.

Are you sure?

grosvenor

How can you be sure?

pollen

I have two reasons. One, because the biggest banker in the country told me so. That's unimportant. He may have been lying. The other, because—

[He smiles quietly.

my papers tell me so.

[He picks up one of the papers off the floor.

I see you have been honoring me by reading them. Don't my papers tell you that there's going to be war?

conroy

No one pretends, Pollen, that your papers are wonders of undecorated truth.

pollen

Well, this time, trust them. What if they do lie about facts occasionally? I am not interested in facts. Facts are always misleading. But I know something about psychology—

conroy

And you're sure?

grosvenor

How can you be sure?

pollen

[Standing at the window.

Because the people are smelling blood. That's why. And now they won't let up till they're satisfied. I've watched the war-feeling growing for a year. I tried 'em out on headlines and editorials, first little mild fellows to set them thinking. Then, when their thoughts were set toward trouble, well, we increased the percentage of oxygen.

[Thoughtfully.

It's been extremely interesting. The psychology of crowds is one of the most satisfying subjects I have ever studied. Say, fifteen, twenty millions, that individually hate you, but as a crowd, a body of readers, unconsciously, perhaps, even against their will, do exactly what you say. We're going to have war, because the people have now got to a state in which they believe that nothing short of war will save them from utter ruin. They want war. I know it. The circulation of my papers has mounted by the hundred thousand daily. And it isn't only because the people want the news. They want the excitement. It's the gambling instinct in them. They've seen the ball rolling, and they can't keep out of the game. The very bigness of the thing lures them on; the bigger the issue, the bigger the fascination. The millions of men and the billions of dollars—that lures them. And the awfulness—the dead, the wounded, the horrors, that lures them like nothing else. There was one thing missing until tonight.

grosvenor

[Fascinated.

What was that?

pollen

Fear. They were too cocksure. But I gave them fear in the eight o'clock extra. There was a rumor that the rest of Europe would take part.

grosvenor

[With a malicious glance.

That looks well for your business, Conroy.

conroy

I'm not complaining.

pollen

We're playing the thing up in the late editions all over the country. It'll give the people a queer catch in the throat. They'll see the possibility of a fierce struggle, even of defeat. There'll be a wonderful wave of patriotism. You watch. The people'll rise right up. In twenty-four hours there won't be a man in the country that'll be able to tell black from white. All they'll see will be red.

[Pointing out of the window.

Look at the people out there, standing round. They can't stay indoors. They're waiting for the extras. They won't believe 'em when they read 'em, but they can't resist the excitement. Well, the bonfire's ready. Nothing lacking now except the match.

grosvenor

[Striding up and down.

That's all very well, Mr. Pollen. But suppose the King over there backs down?

pollen

He won't. The people won't let him.

conroy

His people? They don't want war.

pollen

Not his people.

[Pointing.

Ours. I tell you, they've smelt blood.

[From a distance, faintly, but growing louder, boys are heard calling, "Extra! Extra!"

grosvenor

[Excitedly.

Extra! I wonder—

conroy

[Going to the balcony, and calling down.

Here, boy!

pollen

[Laughing softly.

There you go.

[He presses a bell-button on the wall, bends over the writing-desk and writes a line which he encloses in an envelope.

You're easy. And there are a hundred million like you. When it comes to war, reason goes to sleep. You both of you knew perfectly well that I had absolutely no later news than you, but you let yourself be hypnotized like children. I can do anything I want with you.

[Enter page.

page

Ring, sir?

pollen

Take this to the news-stand in the hall.

page

Yes, sir.

[Exit.

pollen

[At the window again.

The edition is going like hotcakes. It has Maynard's speech in it. Did either of you hear it?

conroy

Yes. Damned rot, but effective.

pollen

He keeps the patriotism hot.

grosvenor

[Proudly.

I trained that young man in patriotism.

[Enter representative maynard, left; a young man, conceited and with a swagger.

maynard

Good evening, gentlemen.

grosvenor

Maynard!

conroy

Great boy!

[They all clap him on the shoulder and shake his hand.

pollen

A wonderful speech, my boy. We're playing you up for Governor of the State in tonight's late editions.

maynard

I'll sweep the State. It's patriotism, it's the flag, that gets the rubes. You should have seen the whiskers of the rural sections waving in the wind!

[Shouts of newsboys outside: "Bulletin! War! All about the war!"

conroy

Eh?

maynard

[To Pollen.

Any news I've missed?

grosvenor

How's that? They're shouting "War" already.

pollen

[Calmly.

I told 'em to. That was the message I sent down. That shout gave you a thrill, didn't it? Well, that was what I was after. If I don't hold you down in your chair you'll rush out to buy a copy, even though I should stand here all night, shouting in your ears that it's a fake.

grosvenor

[Shocked.

You are inflaming the people!

pollen

Exactly. There have been people unkind enough to assert that that was my business. What's yours, Grosvenor?

grosvenor

Eh?

[Hotly.

What d'ye mean?

conroy

You're livin' in a crystal palace, Grosvenor. Don't you go and forget that.

grosvenor

[Indignantly.

I—

maynard

[To Grosvenor.

I've got to get back to the House, Mr. Grosvenor. I just came over to see if you had any—suggestions?

grosvenor

[Testily.

No. Only keep me posted. That's all.

[Expanding again.

And remember, our honor as a nation is at stake.

maynard

They're not forgetting our honor while I'm on the floor.

conroy

[Drawing maynard aside as he is about to go out, and whispering.

Need any—ready money?

maynard

[Grinning.

There were a half dozen brethren on the steps as I came out, who implied they were broke, and wouldn't object to a loan.

conroy

[Taking a wallet from his pocket and handing it to Maynard, after he has made sure that Grosvenor and Pollen are not looking.

Here. Help the poor devils along.

maynard

Thanks. I will.

[page enters right, with a card on a salver.

page

Senator Taney?

maynard

No.

[Taking up the card.

Who wants him?

[He whistles softly.

Harradan! No, son, Senator Taney is not here.

[Exit page, left.

grosvenor

[Excitedly.

Harradan's smelling a rat. He's getting after Taney!

pollen

[Quietly.

Don't you worry. I can finish Harradan up in black-faced letters tomorrow morning. He'll think he's reading his own tombstone.

[taney enters, right.

taney

Hello, Pollen. Hello, Conroy. Well, Grosvenor, Cottrell is as jumpy as you are.

grosvenor

Have you seen Harradan?

taney

Have I seen Harradan? I should say I had! He's leading the peace party in the Senate. Fighting like a fiend.

[Clearing his throat.

That man has nearly cost me my vocal chords.

[Ruefully.

To see him you wouldn't connect him with the word "peace."

grosvenor

He's in the club. He's asked for you.

conroy

Come on, Grosvenor. This is no place for an honest business-man to be found conversing with a Senator.

grosvenor

[Nervously.

Quite right.

taney

[With a grin.

Well, Maynard, they don't seem to think we're safe company for good little boys. Suppose we get back on the job?

[They move toward the right. pollen remains standing, calm and imperturbable, by the window.

pollen

You people act as though you had a bad conscience. I don't think I'd let a mere Senator interfere with the freedom of my movements, if I were you.

[senator harradan enters, left. He is a soldierly-looking man in the seventies.

harradan

Good evening, gentlemen.

[Pause.

I seem to have tumbled into headquarters.

taney

Hello, Harradan. Looking for me?

harradan

Yes.

taney

You know these gentlemen?

harradan

[Coolly.

Sufficiently.

taney

I'm due back at the Senate. I'll talk with you till the cock crows after we adjourn. Will that do?

harradan

I should like to talk to you now.

maynard

In that case, I'll go back to the House.

grosvenor

We won't intrude—

conroy

The Senators have the floor—

[They are about to beat a retreat.

harradan

I wish you'd stay, gentlemen.

grosvenor

[Looking at his watch, nervously.

I'm sorry I—

harradan

You'll please stay, Mr. Grosvenor. You, too, Mr. Conroy.

conroy

I'm hanged if I'll be dictated to.

harradan

[Quietly.

Do as you please. But if you don't stay, I'll have you both under arrest in fifteen minutes.

conroy

[In disgust.

Oh, come off!

grosvenor

[Indignantly.

What do you mean, Senator?

harradan

[Fiercely.

My God, man, don't make me mad. I'm twenty years older than you, but I could wipe the floor up with you yet!

grosvenor

[Nervously lights a cigar and during the ensuing scene shifts it with his lips from one corner of his mouth to the other in extreme agitation.

I don't know what you're talking about.

maynard

Well, you don't need me.

harradan

I do.

[maynard sits down, chewing his lips.

pollen

[With an amused, patronizing smile.

You haven't expressed yourself about me yet, Senator. Am I invited to the party?

harradan

You may stay or not as you like.

pollen

Thanks.

[Deliberately.

Do you know, if I were you, I don't think I'd detain these other gentlemen just now.

harradan

[Calmly.

Go to the Devil to whom you belong, Mr. Pollen. I'll do as I see fit.

pollen

I merely advise you. It isn't always considered patriotic when the people want war, for a Senator to want peace too hard. I shall strive to point that out to twenty million people or so tomorrow morning. Make your will, Senator. The avalanche is coming. You'll be the loneliest voice that ever came out of the wilderness. I prophesy your swift demise.

harradan

This is wartime. Most of us are ready to die, if necessary. Only some of us would rather die in the service of peace than in the service of war. You're a very powerful man, Mr. Pollen. I don't doubt at all that you can kill me if you put your mind on it. You have poisoned the whole nation. You are at liberty to kill me outright, but I won't let you slow-poison me.

[Turning.

Taney, I've got information against you, and you've got to listen. You, too, Maynard.

pollen

[At window.

Am I out in the cold again? I'm listening intently.

[He goes to the telephone and takes up the receiver.

News-stand, please.

harradan

[Pleadingly.

Taney—

pollen

[At the telephone.

That you, Burke? Liven up your youngsters outside. They've gone to sleep.

[He hangs up the receiver, and complacently lights a cigarette.

harradan

We were friends in the past, Taney. I always knew you were a jingo, but I thought there was hope. I came here because I still thought so. I didn't know you had lined up with the buzzards.

taney

See here, Harradan. What are you talking about anyway?

harradan

We all know why Grosvenor and Conroy and their kind are here. And a few of us have been wondering who were pulling the wires for them.

grosvenor

You've got me mixed up with somebody else. I'm here attending to—to my regular business.

conroy

[Bluntly.

And why shouldn't we be down here? I'm in a legitimate business. Guns. And I'm looking after my interests. I'm not declaring war. But if there is a war I don't see any reason why I should get left in the scramble.

harradan

War! God, do you know what the word means? I've been in two wars. I've seen and heard and—smelt battlefields. And I've seen women and children waiting at home—and waiting.

pollen

I'll give you a thousand dollars, Senator, for a thousand-word article on the horrors of war. You can't make it strong enough.

maynard

[Laughing.

That's one on you, Senator.

harradan

Taney, you're a man of sense, and you love your country. Now—

taney

Good night, gentlemen, I'm going.

[He turns toward the door.

maynard

Same here.

harradan

[Turning swiftly.

No, you're not. I want a list of names. I want a list of all the people who are paying you to shout for war. Understand?

[Fiercely.

I want that list now.

taney

[Coolly.

Hell may grow buttercups, Harradan. But you don't get any names out o' me.

[Quickly.

Besides, I ain't got any to give. And I'll have you up for defamation of character for saying that there's anybody can buy me!

harradan

[After a pause, quietly.

Taney, you've always been a business-man. You look at things just one way. You aren't bothered much by imagination. Perhaps you don't know what you're doing. War, man! Dead men by thousands, wounded men shrieking for some one to put them out of their misery, fire, ruin, starvation! For what good, for what good, ever?

pollen

I raise my offer, Senator. Make it two thousand.

taney

You ought to go into vaudeville, Senator. Subject, "The Horrors of War."

[The others laugh.

harradan

God, the country stands on the verge of the greatest calamity in its history and you can't do anything but laugh!

maynard

You're an inspiration, Senator. Just like that dago or Dutchman or whoever he was who tried to smash up the windmills. But you haven't a sense of humor.

harradan

[With quiet dignity.

No. My sense of humor died during our last war. Will you give me those names that are going to help me kill this satanic craving for war? Are you?

maynard

You're talking through your hat, Senator. I don't know anything about any names.

harradan

Very well.

[Turning to go.

I have five names. They'll do until to-morrow. God willing, they'll bring Congress back to its senses. I thank my God that I found you buzzards out in time. I'll fling your names across the Senate tonight—yours, Conroy, and yours, Grosvenor, and yours, Taney, and yours, Pollen, and yours, Maynard! By Heaven, the country shall hear them from end to end. And there'll be less talk of war then! You and your kind are stirring up the millions to dream of war, to shout about defending our national honor—What honor is there in murder?—stirring their blood with the fifes and drums of your rhetoric! Through your newspapers, you are turning the thoughts of our children to war, our children who should be to us the symbol of a nobler, purer future rising out of the sordid wreckage of the present—you make them drunk with your cant about national glory—glory!—until their innocent faces glow feverishly up to you, hungry for battle. You will not rest until you hear the terrible savage cry from their lips—War, war! You shall not hear it if I can prevent it! I am going to the Senate now. In fifteen minutes your names shall be a byword and a hissing among the nations. The best you can do is to take your vile guns and turn them on yourselves!

[A great shout is heard outside. Then the fifes and drums again. The page enters excitedly.

page

Message for Senator Taney.

taney

Here, quick.

[He takes the paper.

Gentlemen, listen to this from the Iberian Foreign Office to the Associated Press: "The King sent for the Ambassador of the Republic this afternoon and outlined a plan that would satisfy the royal government. The Ambassador regretted that he was unable to consider any compromise. The King replied that he could have nothing further to say in the matter."

[grosvenor and the others jump to their feet with excited exclamations.

harradan

[Quickly.

The thing's not true. There's a mistake somewhere. It doesn't fit in with what went before.

maynard

Fit in? Who cares? It's a challenge! They've insulted us!

grosvenor

They've challenged our national honor!

conroy

Now, by God, they can pay!

harradan

[Rushing to the telephone.

Give me the Department of State.

[There are more shouts outside and more bands. Suddenly the door, left, is burst open by a crowd of men, some in dress clothes, some in uniform, shouting "War!"

taney

For God's sake, what's up?

an officer

[Delightedly.

We're off!

grosvenor

What d'ye mean?

a civilian

They've declared war!

harradan

[Turning.

Who has?

officer

Congress!

taney

Senator, you're left.

harradan

[With a sob.

God! You buzzard! You buzzard!

[A band in the distance strikes up the national anthem. grosvenor, conroy, pollen, taney and maynard stand. harradan sinks into a chair.

maynard

Senator, it's the national anthem. Haven't you got any patriotism?

[grosvenor opens the windows. The notes of the anthem are drowned out by shouts and cries and the calls of newsboys.

voices of the crowd

War! War!

[The anthem sounds loud and clear, but harradan buries his face in his hands. The stage is gradually darkened. The music grows fainter as if the band were marching away; and now and then the shouts of the crowd make themselves heard above it. These subside, too, into a low, muffled roar, sullen and ominous.

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