At the close of Codecio’s exposition the padre, who had listened attentively, could not withhold his approval, which he characteristically expressed. “I declare to conscience, upon my soul, I believe you are right! But how are we to get on with our national mixtures, when the stronger prey upon the weaker, without laws and government? If we are not able to govern ourselves just now, individually and collectively, I think you must allow that it would be hard to find a better constitution than that of the United States for liberty?”
Codecio. “In answer to your inquiry, a clear demonstration of facts, derived from auramentation, will prove all sufficient for your comprehension of the real governmental status of the republic in question. We have traced the progress of the United States from their earliest date; at first with the hope of influencing the adverse experience of the Spanish, French, Dutch, and English colonists for lenient consolidation, despite their religious tenets, which had been the cause of counter oppressions and expatriation. This was attempted with the ulterior intention of effecting a cohesive tendency from a united education, adapted to their practical requirements for real progression in freedom from precedental imitation. But the repulsive elements of instinct continued, under the aggravations of exile, to grow more rampantly rabid in inveteracy, offering but little hope for the encouragement of our efforts for kindly reconciliation. With the one remarkable exception of the colony founded by Penn,—who tested and proved the trustworthy natures of the savages, when subject to honorable treatment,—the labors of our auramentors were void of effect. Of all the colonists those of New England waged the most ruthlessly relentless war against their aboriginal benefactors, seemingly intent upon offering them as a grateful sacrifice for their selfish ‘freedom to worship God.’ The next inevitable stage of instinctive fanaticism, was the inauguration of sectarian persecution, in direct rebuttal of their own claims for sympathy, and freedom of privilege. But a few generations passed before the old leaven of hereditary intolerance flourished its sceptre of arbitrary compulsion with renewed vengeful despite. Then a new bone of contention for future generations was introduced by the mother country, who bestowed the African troglodytes as bond slaves to work out the heavenly salvation of the colonists.
“The northern section of the country was alternated by seasons of extreme heat and cold, that rendered the negro an incumbrance rather than an aid, so that gradually the colonists with frugal policy emancipated their slaves, as the second grateful sacrifice to God. But the southern department with a semi-tropical climate, and a vegetation spontaneously fruitful, requiring for the production of cotton, rice, and sugar but little cultivation in comparison with the labor bestowed upon the detrite soil of the north, was well adapted for the propagation of the physical inertia of the negro. Also for the indulgence of their masters’ otium cum dignitate derivation from the English cavalier, the buccaneers of the Spanish main, and subordinate admixture of Huguenotic blood tainted with the religious fanatic absolutism demonstrated by Calvin in friendly bestowal upon Servetus. Under these favoring auspices, the institution of slavery flourished with the southern department, until the increasing herds of mongrelized humanity, and a ready market for their staple productions, brought into full play the old leaven of arrogance. In demonstration of our maxim, that indolence is the hatchment of vice and hot-bed for the enforcement of evil, the southrons began to plot for ruling supremacy, stigmatizing the northern laboring classes with comparisons that discovered in forecast the inveteracy of premeditated hatred. In practical demonstration of intention, after the republican era was well advanced in its first century, they inaugurated the trial of brute force as an argument in the national halls of legislation, not however, with the chivalric challenge of the lion’s roar, but with the sneaking approaches of the tigress who dares not brook manly opposition. This overt act, which plainly indicated the design of taking piratical advantage of the supposed pusillanimity of the northerners, for the purpose of subjecting them to dictation as plebeians, set the doors of ‘Janus ajar,’ until with opposing provocations, concessive on one side, and in degree aggressive on the other, they were finally opened wide for the inception of civil war. The comparatively healthy stamina of the laborer gained the victory, and the slaves were liberated. Then came the problem, ‘What shall we do with them? They are natives of the soil, and if we act consistently we must extend to them the privileges of citizenship, and a votive voice in governmental affairs.’ This was accorded, without any initiatory proviso for raising them from animal disability, to an instinctive perception of the responsibilities incurred.
“With this new element added to the antagonistic contributions of Europe and Asia, the attraction of cohesion became more widely separated. Yet with blind infatuation, the progressive stability of a republic of incompatibles was still proclaimed, in defiance of your ‘sacred’ proverb, which says, that ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand.’ In fact, we have looked upon your country as a cosmopolitan insane asylum, which naturalizes foreign lunatics for the election of the most desperate bedlamites to office, that in the confusion of governmental discord the kleptomaniac democracy may obtain its votive share of the spoils. Whereas, if the foreign elements had been treated as guest-patients, until their monomanias had been reduced to a condition for the legitimate appreciation of sane example, their children’s children, of the third generation, would have realized the benefits of votive unity. Or if the ‘pilgrim fathers’ had not been blinded by the fanatical infatuation which inculcates the doctrine ‘that it is not of ourselves, but through the intangible labyrinth of redeeming grace that a clue to salvation is to be obtained for heavenly citizenship,’ they would have extended to the children of their benefactors the privilege of uniting with their own in the advantages of a school education. This course which we have adopted in our colonistic settlements in foreign countries bespeaks for itself an abiding harmony. However honest the infatuation, there should be few sympathizers with the exterminating prayer of the veteran Miles Standish, sighted over the barrel of his musket, in voiced inflection to the report of powder-sped bullet, in behalf of its victim, ‘May God have mercy on your soul.’ This petition, which he negatived in act, was raised in reverential gratitude for a home with the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience. This glance, in answer to your question, will enable you to realize the impossibility of adverse elements abiding in concord together, after instinctive habits and customs, with their prejudices, have been confirmed in practice by long usage.”
Padre. “If I rightly understand your system of education, it deprives the children of parental care when most needed? This seems to me like refined cruelty, approaching barbarism in its tendency. With all your hopes I think you will find a decided opposition from motherly affection against its adoption by our race. Besides, it is opposed to sound doctrine, which urges children to obey parents in all things.”
Codecio. “Bethink you of your wet nurses, and the practical usage of your fashionable mothers, who intrust their infant’s nursery education to hireling instinct, and you will find your objections answered conclusively. In addition to the mercenary example of servants, follow the children of your race to the formulistic teachings of your schools in which a majority of your female teachers are yet in their teens, with an experience founded upon precedental rehearsals of the most repulsive description. Then for the illustration of the sordid inconsistency and treachery of your people toward their children, visit with your knowledge the boards of education and you will find ignorance the least objectionable trait, for they make a mart of their influence with dealers in school books that in the display of instinctive selfishness utterly ignores the real advantages of your own system of education. If you will, in addition, review the incidents of your own infantile period, you will discover that you was the cause of more anxiety than comfort to your parents, from the constant rebellion of your instinctive desires against what you then supposed to be arbitrary restrictions. Remember this injunction when you visit the Heraclean school; recall all the events of your past life within the scope of memory that you may be able to place them in the balance opposed to our method for Heraclean behoof. But if you do not make an avowal in commendation, as frank in acknowledgment of the children’s contented affection and the wisdom shown in their seclusion, as you made of their parent’s worth to Fraile Gallagato, I shall feel greatly disappointed in my estimate of your perceptive goodness.”
This allusion of Codecio, to the sacramental night scene passed with Fraile Gallagato at Amelcoy, suffused the padre’s face with the scarlet mantle of shame, from which he was relieved when the Dosch petitioned for his aid in adjusting the tympano-microscopes that had been presented by the members of the R. H. B. Society to the Dosch and prætor. Upon trial, when adjusted to the dining tables of the corps and prætor, they were found to exceed in reflective power the larger field instrument brought out by M. Hollydorf. The avenues of the instruments, surrounding the field platform of reflection, were margined on the outer side with a façade of palatial residences, appearing to the unassisted eye like a decorated moulding, with cornice beads elaborately carved, while with microscopic aid each building stood out in bold relief, exhibiting, as a whole, the grandeur of the architect’s conceptions. The minutiæ was also clearly exposed, showing an adaptation of intention for convenience and comfort that plainly declared the superintendence of interested parties. The convenient adjustment of the interiors, described by the Doschessa, was a source of unthinking surprise to the padre, until Fabricatus, a Manatitlan architect, announced that he had been commissioned to superintend the buildings while in the process of erection, not only with thought substitution, but actual labor, that in result surprised the superstitious awe of the German workmen. “The palace of the prince Dosch,” as it had been labeled in emblazoned advertisement, occupied the obtuse curve of the centre, midway between the tympano-auricular and microscopic reflectors. Its resemblance in external configuration to the ancient kingly palace of San Souci, was immediately recognized by the members of the corps. The Dosch enjoyed a hearty laugh when he read the inscription emblazoned on the central shield surmounting the architrave cornice of the portico. The arms of Prussia were united with an empty shield, evidently designed for the Manatitlan herald’s record, over which, and anchoring both, was the banded scroll of hope, with the legend, “In God we trust,” while underneath was inscribed, Palace of Prince Dosch of Manatitla.
To M. Hollydorf and Dr. Baāhar it was a source of special annoyance and chagrin, each urging that it should be erased, notwithstanding the genealogical curator of sound proved by quotation that it was legitimately proper and well designed for the expression of ancient usages. But the Manatitlans begged that it might remain intact, as it would prove an ungracious act to receive a present so apt and valuable in aiding personal intercourse between the races, and then mar it because the donor’s thoughts were prompted by custom to give it a sounding dedication, in ignorance of the recipient’s peculiarities.
“It matters little,” the Dosch urged, “what formulistic words are used in the bestowal of a gift, however selfish the insinuation may prove, when void in the possibility of attainment. But the implied arrogation bodes ill for the future peace of Europe, in despite of our auramental warnings, as it indicates a disposition to seek a pretext for the absorption of northern seaboard, adequate for the commercial representation of the coveted reputation of the leading continental power. As with Russia, who feels and understands that her power will be ranked second or third-rate, with its almost illimitable stretch of inland empire, without a seaboard with harbors approachable at all seasons, she covets the possibility of attainment. But as fealty to a government enjoins the adoption of laws and usages, the nominal bribe of an empty title will prove hardly sufficient for the encouragement of an instinctive adoption of a diet of kraut, sausage, lager bier, and tobacco smoke, as a viaticum of heavenly translation. However, we hope in reciprocation to bestow upon diplomatic master and pupil an impression that will induce them to aid in an effort for the kindly consolidation of a universal government of self legislation, under the sway of international schools, for the inception of a common language, and reciprocal interests in preliminary course for the introduction of our code of education.”
The padre, after the conclusion of his labors, occupied his eyes and newly aroused inception of thought in watchful meditation upon the scene in progress, endeavoring to believe the conjoined evidence of his senses; but, as a test, was trying an exorcising Ave Maria, when Manito and his choir added to his perplexity by singing the following stanzas:—