“The uniform surely does show up the man for what he is,” said Macloud. “Look at these two for instance—from the stripes on the sleeves, a Lieutenant-Commander and a Senior Lieutenant. Did you ever see a real Bowery tough?—they are in that class, with just enough veneer to deceive, for an instant. There, are two others, opposite. They look like soldiers. Observe the dignity, the snappy walk, the inherent air of command.”
“Isn’t it the fault of the system?” asked Croyden. “Every Congressman holds a competitive examination in his district; and the appointment goes to the applicant who wins—be he what he may. For that reason, I dare say, the Brigade of Midshipmen contains muckers as well as gentlemen—and officers are but midshipmen of a larger growth.” 119
“Just so! and it’s wrong—all wrong! To be a commissioned officer, in either Army or Navy, ought to attest one’s gentle birth.”
“It raises a presumption in their favor, at least.”
“Presumption! do you think the two who passed us could hide behind that presumption longer than the fraction of an instant?”
“Don’t get excited, old man! I was accounting for it, not defending it. It’s a pity, of course, but that’s one of the misfortunes of a Republic where all men are equal.”
“Rot! damn rot!” Macloud exclaimed. “Men aren’t equal!—they’re born to different social scales, different intellectualities, different conditions otherwise. For the purpose of suffrage they may, in the theory of our government, be equal—but we haven’t yet demonstrated it. We exclude the Japanese and Chinese. We have included the negro, only within the living generation—and it’s entirely evident, now, we made a monstrous mistake by doing it. Equal! Equal! Never in this world!”
“How about the next world?” asked Croyden.
“I don’t know!” laughed Macloud, as they ascended the steps of the hotel. “For my part, I’m for the Moslem’s Paradise and the Houris who attend the Faithful. And, speaking of houris!—see who’s here!”
Croyden glanced up—to see Elaine Cavendish and Charlotte Brundage standing in the doorway.