And he is ready.
He is working toward that end. And he wishes in all sincerity that the
audience would work with him. Start a reign of terror. Put the spirit of
the masses into the day. The unconquerable will to overthrow the tyrant
and govern themselves. He continues--an apostle of force. Of fighting. Of
shooting, stabbing and barricades that fly the red flag. He is sardonic
and sarcastic and everything else. And the audience is disturbed.
There are whispers of scandal. And half the faces of the intelligentsia
frown in disapproval. They came to hear economic argument, not a call to
arms. The other half is stirred.
It is almost eleven. The hall empties. The streets are alive. People
hurry, saunter, stand laughing. Street cars, store fronts, mean houses,
shadows and a friendly moon. These are part of the system. Three hours ago
they seemed a powerful, impregnable symbol. Now they can be overthrown.
The security that pervades the street is an illusion. Force can knock it
out. A strange force that lies in the masses who live in this street.
The audience moves away. The intelligentsia will discuss the possibility
of a sudden uprising of the proletaire and gradually they will grow
cynical about it and say, "Well, he was a good talker.
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