Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           “Wehavehad,”hecontinued,“bloodshedenough,andIwanttosayrightherethatIamnotsosurebutwhatyesterday’sterribleaffairmighthavebeenavoided.Agentlemanwhomweallesteem,whofromthefirsthasbeenourrecognisedleader,is,atthismoment,mourningthelossofayoungson,killedbeforehiseyes.GodknowsthatIsympathise,asdoweall,intheafflictionofourPresident.Iamsorryforhim.Myheartgoesouttohiminthishourofdistress,but,atthesametime,thepositionoftheLeaguemustbedefined.Weoweittoourselves,weoweittothepeopleofthiscounty.TheLeaguearmedfortheverypurposeofpreservingthepeace,notofbreakingit.Webelievedthatwithsixhundredarmedanddrilledmenatourdisposal,readytomusteratamoment’scall,wecouldsooveraweanyattempttoexpelusfromourlandsthatsuchanattemptwouldnotbemadeuntilthecasespendingbeforetheSupremeCourthadbeendecided.Ifwhentheenemyappearedinourmidstyesterdaytheyhadbeenmetbysixhundredrifles,itisnotconceivablethattheissuewouldhavebeenforced.Nofightwouldhaveensued,andto-daywewouldnothavetomournthedeathsoffourofourfellow-citizens.AmistakehasbeenmadeandweoftheLeaguemustnotbeheldresponsible.”

           ThespeakersatdownamidstloudapplausefromtheLeaguersandlesspronounceddemonstrationsonthepartoftheaudience.

           AsecondLeaguertookhisplace,atall,clumsyman,half-rancher,half-politician.

           “Iwanttosecondwhatmycolleaguehasjustsaid,”hebegan.