Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter I
Itissoinallourgreatcentres.Thereareothergreattrusts,Godknows,intheUnitedStatesbesidesourowndearP.andS.W.Railroad.EveryStatehasitsowngrievance.Ifitisnotarailroadtrust,itisasugartrust,oranoiltrust,oranindustrialtrust,thatexploitsthePeople,BECAUSETHEPEOPLEALLOWIT.TheindifferenceofthePeopleistheopportunityofthedespot.Itisastrueasthatthewholeisgreaterthanthepart,andthemaximissooldthatitistrite—itislaughable.Itisneglectedanddisusedforthesakeofsomenewingeniousandcomplicatedtheory,somewonderfulschemeofreorganisation,butthefactremains,nevertheless,simple,fundamental,everlasting.ThePeoplehavebuttosay’No,’andnotthestrongesttyranny,political,religious,orfinancial,thatwaseverorganised,couldsurviveoneweek.”
Theothers,absorbed,attentive,approved,noddingtheirheadsinsilenceasthemanufacturerfinished.
“That’sonereason,Mr.Derrick,”theotherresumedafteramoment,“whyIhavebeensogladtomeetyou.YouandyourLeaguearetryingtosay’No’tothetrust.Ihopeyouwillsucceed.IfyourexamplewillrallythePeopletoyourcause,youwill.Otherwise—”heshookhishead.
“Onestageofthefightistobepassedthisveryday,”observedMagnus.“MysonsandmyselfareexpectinghourlynewsfromtheCityHall,adecisioninourcaseispending.”
“Wearebothofusfighters,itseems,Mr.Derrick,”saidCedarquist.“Eachwithhisparticularenemy.
