The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-05-26

Eric took Pierce more fully INTO his con-
fidence and made his eyes fairly bulge
with an account of the vast treasure
within the city, but he had scruples
hard to overcome, which made it diff
cult to see his title to the hoard, and
these were shared by Pierce.
After their noon meal they resolved to
go to the city and confer with nklape1
both upon this matter and the general
effect Of the new arrivals upon the city's
welfare. In passing along to the temple
Gilbert noted carefully the faces Of the
people, and was glad to observe cheer
full temper apparent. While there was
mourning, he knew, in several houses,
he could see no evidence of an Ill feel
ing, and he hoped that the crisis was
over and the deaths of the most violent
and powerful leaders had ended all trou-
bic.
They found old Tklapel at the temple
and many priests around him. He had
just finished wise and forcible sermon,
in which he had outlined the many bene-
fits which would accrue to the nation
from following Eric's plans, accusing
Cha1pa's memory bitterly and with great
force as the eauseof all discord. He had
deprecated the craving for power and
place which had caused all the trouble,
and had drawn his hearers by his power
full logic and noble oratory to recog-
milton of the truth-that civilization
would, if adopted at once without re-
serve, place them upon an equality with
the rest of the world and prevent the
miserable decadence which would surely
ensue if they continued in their old
customs and beliefs.
Then, following upon the old priests
words, Eric stood before them and told
them simply and carefully of the his
tory of other nations. For two hours he
addressed them-and the gathering of
priests grew to great multitude ere he
had undertaking them of Greece and
Rome; of England and America; of
Peru and Mexico, and of the race Of In
dams dying off the face Of the earth be-
cause civilization is too powerful for
them to resist, and they are too weak to
accept its customs. When he had fin
ished, behold, Kulcan arose, and raising
his hands cried:
''My brethren and friends, our Quet-
zal speaks wise words. fear he will
leave US if we are stubborn and head
strong, and we want him with us. Dove
not?' He was answered with shouts OF
hearty volume and feeling. ''Now that
Cha1pa is gone from us there will be no
more trouble, and I feel that if Quetzal
were our governor we would be prosper
GUS and content. desire not the Office;
it i'll BELTS me, for am too easily infu-
enced this way and that. You want a
81 ~
zal, who knows the men of all the earth
and their tongues and their willy ways,
that he may protect us from them and
guard us from the enemy who comes in
forms we know not. Let US have great
meeting in the estufa tonight and hold
another election. Go now and tell all
the people, and think well upon Iklapels
words and Quetzal's and mine, the least
of you ALL"
They dispersed, and Eric led Iklape1
into the temple and seated himself be-
side him, Pierce standing outside looking
down with curious eyes upon the city.
Eric opened at once upon the subject
of the treasure, telling him frankly how
much it was valued by the rest Of the
world and to what mad extremes men
would go for tenth or twentieth of
it. He told him its worth, but succeed
ed only in dimly impressing it upon the
priest, but Iklapel realized keenly the
evils that would follow a repetition of
the scenes of Cortez or Pizarro's plum
behring's as depicted by Eric. He heard
the latter through without saying much
until Eric finally said:
''Now, my father Iklapel, you are the
oldest here. You have said the treasure
Is mine, but it is yours and your peoples
to hold or to give away. Tell me now,
what say you as to its dispositionw
"You have told me many things" he
began. "You have made my heart soar
and my ears burn with wondrous tales
of your great people and their cities. I
yearn to see them. 1 long to witness
these wonders, but am old, and grow
feeble. But my people are young; they
are your brothers now. Why should they
not see and have these marvels? You
tell me that we have the wealth of many
nations, and that wealth does all things.
Why cannot you bring these wonders
here? Need you leave us if you can
command these things? Need you go
away If you can bring them here to us?
Illus We can dI Ou0 DOunu OV0r16ap GQ0
gulf which separates US from the New
World and be equal in wealth and knowl-
edge and power to any city of the earth.
1--WE are not dull; we learn readily,
and you will be proud of your people
before another decade passes. Here in
this city you can plan new enterprises,
put in practice your theories of govern
ment, and make of this ancient Atzlan,
80 full Of all the memories of past ages,
a new and mighty city-a monument to
your wisdom forever. leave it in your
hands, oh, my Quetzal; tbs yours to take
or leave-this treasure. give it to you
as have the power, but ponder well my
words, for they are full Of wisdom given
me this day by God himself
"But, answered Eric, sit is no ordi-
nary undertaking that you propose. One
man could not hope to rule this people
alone"
"You viii have all the power of this
wealth behind you, !" interrupted nlapel.
"You can make the law"
"But not enforce it, my old friend.
There's the rub. Money may rule where
it is feared or worshiped, but here,
where men do not need much, they do
not fear the power of wealth. The
mere possession of money viii not be