Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Icannottellwhetherornotyourtheoriesareexcellent.Idonotknowifyourideasareplausible.Idonotknowhowpracticalisyourschemeofsociety.IdonotknowiftheRailroadhasarighttoourlands,butIDOknowthatHarranisdead,thatAnnixterisdead,thatBrodersonisdead,thatHoovenisdead,thatOstermanisdying,andthatS.Behrmanisalive,successful,triumphant;thathehasriddenintopossessionofaprincipalityoverthedeadbodiesoffivemenshotdownbyhishiredassociates.

           “Icanseetheoutcome.TheRailroadwillprevail.TheTrustwilloverpowerus.Hereinthiscornerofagreatnation,here,ontheedgeofthecontinent,here,inthisvalleyoftheWest,farfromthegreatcentres,isolated,remote,lost,thegreatironhandcrusheslifefromus,crusheslibertyandthepursuitofhappinessfromus,andourlittlestruggles,ourmoment’sconvulsionofdeathagonycausesnotonejarinthevast,clashingmachineryofthenation’slife;afleckofgritinthewheels,perhaps,agrainofsandinthecogs—themomentarycreakoftheaxleisthemother’swailofbereavement,thewife’scryofanguish—andthegreatwheelturns,spinningsmoothagain,evenagain,andthetinyimpedimentofasecond,scarcenoticed,isforgotten.Makethepeoplebelievethatthefainttremourintheirgreatengineisamenacetoitsfunction?Whatafollytothinkofit.Tellthemofthedangerandtheywilllaughatyou.Tellthem,fiveyearsfromnow,thestoryofthefightbetweentheLeagueoftheSanJoaquinandtheRailroadanditwillnotbebelieved.