“I repeat, I am not standing here as a prophet of misfortune; but neither do I stand here as a preacher of virtue. The need is not to educate to goodness, to create and awaken feelings of benevolence; only the goodness which is alive among us men needs to be put into action. There is a field, a vast field embracing almost all social relations, and at its very entrance stands this placard of warning: ‘Goodness and Benevolence are forbidden entrance to this field’—the name of which is: ‘Politics.’

“This placard, put up by folly and stupidity, must be torn down. There must be room even on this, especially on this, field for humanity’s Highest Thinking.

“Some two thousand years ago a great, good, wise spirit put into words a similar High Thought: ‘Love one another.’ But in vain. And some thousands of years ago an Icarus had attempted to fly up to the sun—but in vain. And yet to-day we can fly. And likewise that other lofty realm is to be won—in which not our bodies but our souls are to soar!

“Woe to us if we delay much longer to make ready for this new conquest. Persecution, slavery, and destruction must no longer be regarded as legitimate means for the attainment of social and political ends. For the possibilities of annihilation have grown to be too powerful. There is no other way of self-protection against the flying man than by making him a brother. We are now at the parting of the ways; we must go up higher—up to the highest heights with intellect and heart—sursum corda—or we shall sink into nameless abysses. We must make clear to ourselves whither lead the two paths that lie open before us—for the choice is ours.”

Here again Helmer made a brief pause; then he stepped to the very edge of the platform:—

“Now one further word about thoughts that soar.... The evil does not consist in the fact that men are incapable of cherishing High Thoughts, but in this:—that they have a low opinion of man. Their so-called Worldly Wisdom culminates in their declaring with a scornful face that it is impossible to set up noble and elevated ideals as acting rules for life. He who scents out low and selfish motives back of every really noble word and deed believes that he is wise and keen, that his mind is peculiarly shrewd. Such men are always trying to see through things—they have not learned to look up. Confidence in the good awakens the good. The masses will follow up to that height to which a real leader will venture to lead them; they will never go farther than the leader thinks them capable of going. We have arrived at an epoch when, in spite of the law of gravity, the body can soar to unknown heights. It is beyond the power of the imagination to foresee to what spiritual heights we and our children may attain, when once, with resolution and earnestness, with confidence and enthusiasm, we endeavor to bring about the conquest of High Thinking. The great philosopher who was filled with equal awe before the splendor of the starry heavens and before the Categorical Imperative of his own conscience, Immanuel Kant, anticipated the motto of this Rose-Week when he said—and with this quotation I bring my address to a close:—‘Men cannot think highly enough of man.’”

CHAPTER XXIII
A COZY SUPPER

Franka drew a deep breath. She had listened with the deepest interest to every word spoken by Helmer, and now, when he had concluded, she turned around for the first time and became again aware of the prince’s presence.

“Well, what do you say, Your Highness?”

Victor Adolph had risen to his feet. His features expressed inward emotion. “The man stirred me.—Did you listen, Orell?”