The chieftains looked nonplussed. Earnest thinking and investigation upon subjects pertaining to religion were not customary among the disciples of progress. They looked upon religion as something so common and trivial that anybody was free to argue upon and condemn it with a few flippant or smart sayings. But the millionaire was now disclosing views so new and vast, that their weak vision was completely dazzled, and their steps upon the unknown domain became unsteady.
Mr. Seicht, observing the embarrassment of the leaders, felt it his duty to hasten to their relief. His polemical weapons were drawn from the armory of bureaucracy.
“The progressive development of humanity,” said Mr. Seicht, “has revealed an admirable substitute for all religious ideas. A state well organized can exist splendidly without any religion. Nay, I do not hesitate to maintain that religion is a drawback to the development of the modern state, and that, therefore, the state should have nothing whatever to do with religion. An invisible world should not exert an influence upon a state—the wants of the times are the only rule to be consulted.”
“What do you understand by a state, sir?” asked the millionaire.
“A state,” replied the official, “is a union of men whose public life is regulated by laws which every individual is bound to observe.”
“You speak of laws; upon what basis are these laws founded?”
“Upon the basis of humanity, morality, liberty, and right,” answered the official glibly.
“And what do you consider moral and just?”
“Whatever accords with the civilization of the age.”
A faint smile passed over the severe features of Mr. Conrad.