The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-17
THE GREAT REPUBLIC IN 1895.
Drawing on the agination-A Lively and
Absurd Prediction.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
There is in these days marked tendency
toward discounting the future in the form OF
literary predictions The Battle Of Dorking'
has had long line Of successors, of which Tho
Fall of the Great Republic" is the latest and by
no means one of the worst In this instance it is
Socialism through which the Republic is
to be wrecked, and the anonymous au-
so skillfully that few readers on
closing the book will feel disposed to assert posi-
lively the impossibilty of such disaster The
growth of Socialism is supposed to be stimu-
lated during several years by a secret organiza-
ton. Finally riot occurs at Chicago. 1t
is put down with difficulty, after much
damage has been done. A few months later,
through the cooperation of the trades
unions with the Socialists, another Chicago
outbreak occurs 1t is so serious that help
the Union. These denude themselves of
their militia in response to the appeal, aud
when they are on the way, at given signal revo-
luton breaks out in every one of the now de-
fenseless ceHters. The result scarcely requires
to be narrated. The Socialists overwheln the
peaceful citizens. Anarchy of tho most fright
full character prevails. Massacre, piliage, arson
are everywhere. Society has no time to collect
itself It's enemies are too thoroughly prepared.
They destroy the telegraphs, seize the railroads,
and render effective combination against them
impossible. The little federal army is
on the frontier fighting Indians
when it is brought back the Socialists have
already conquered the country. The awabid-
ing citizens are fugitives in the unsettled re-
gions. The towns and cities are all in the hands
of the sworn foes of order. The Irish, who have
held back during the overthrow of government,
now, through their leaders, offer the President to
restore order condition that their chiefs are
virtually given full control of the administra-
ton. The President, after fruitless resistance,
consents, but, finding that the new Secretaries
e 49, -, ,ho11 ,1xy%
be at once deposed.
The Irish, German and French leaders pro-
coed to seize and imprison the diplomatic agents
of London, Paris and Berlin. War is at once
declared against the United States by these
powers. who enter into firm alliance for the
punishment of the Socialist revolutionaries. A
powerful English fleet is swiftly dispatched,
and Boston is seized before the new Washing
ton government can do anything. Then half
a million European troops are landed on the
shores of Long Island sound, and after stub
born fight New York is taken, though not
until the Socialists have burned half of it.
The defeated revolutionists retreat upon Wash
ington, but are overtaken by the allies and
desperate two days battle is fought on the field
of Gettysburg. The close of the second day sees
the Socialist army not merely beaten, but
nhilated-reduced to fugitive crowd without
organization capacity for resistance. A gen
eral occupation of the country by the allies con-
cludes the narrative. which is supposed to be
written by the '1ntendant for the Board of Eu-
ropean Administration in the Province OF New
York" ard to be published "By permission of
the Bureau of Press Censorship"
1t must be admitted that the idea has been
artisticaly worked out. and that the literary
skill of the author, which is considerable i'm
parts to it verisimilitude productive of unpleas
ant feelings. Yet it is necessary to point out
that the kind of apprehension presumably sought
to be reinforced by such inventions is really
good deal like that from which Clever
Grethel suffered in Grimrns story, when she
saw the Ratchet On the wall, and reflected that
il she should marry Hans, and they should have
a son, and he should grow up. aud some day go
down into the cellar, and the matched should
fall on him, how terrible it would be! Just so,
if the animalcues in drop of water were really
as large as they appear under the microscope,
and if they should get loose, what havoc might
thew not causel