The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-01

standardization or our minds, our tenn
peraments. ILhad come, by slow yet
certain degrees, broadening outward
from those centers which we're once
deemed incapable of such artistic ex'
pansion. What our predecessors, in
lofty and prophetic moods, had spoken
of as the higher life, we had reached
with no apparent effort. All the future
potentialities Of peace and happiness
were plain to US as the sun and stars
We realized ourselves to be the final
fruit and flower OF mortal development
Other physical development we clearly
foresaw, but we felt that an ideal ol
sweet and holy meaning, long deserted
from afar, steadily gaining strength and
splendor, had now burst uron us OF last,
IN the largeness OF its benedlctlon ana
salvation.
But, like all dawns, this one had first
smitten the mountain peaks, leaving the
valleys in the shade. The Indomitables
we're in that shade. We perceived the
possibility of our own destruction at the
hands of these less fortunate beings,
who in every country of the globe fal
outnumbered US. To annihilate them
was against our will, and yet we felt
that not to make the attempt would
be doubtless to delay thousands OF
years the coming OF happiness on earth
and the reign there Of wisdom and
peace.
We were stronger than tho Indomita.
bles in everything but numbers. Fol
years past we had been slowly gaining
force through organization. fraterniza-
ton, and all methods by which great
sect Of believers. with the certainty oil
right on their side, may prepare for the
victory or defeat Of a last epical and
prodigious contest. A system Of inter-
communication had become established
between US in all parts OF the world; at
almost an hours notice we could flash to
Australia, New Zealand or Patagonia, by
means of submarine cable, intelligence
in cipher which would cause those
of our order dwelling there to send US
naval and other aid. For in many O
secret nook of the coast, unknown to
the anarchical governments, huge ships
had long ago been prepared and posi-
tive clandestine military network may
be said to have stretched from Sweden
to the Cape of Hope, from the Canadae
to Terra del Fuego. OF course l dc
not wish to have you suppose, dear
nephew, that the Indomitables were
ignorant of these far-reaching and sub.
tie preparations. They decidedly were
not, but, altogether masters OF the stu.
alton in every political sense, they
nevertheless had lapsed into that most
piteous form of weakness which is born
of internal corruption. Teeming with
dishonesty, they could not trust one
another as individuals; and as different
communities they we're divided by sharp
lines of feud. know Of nothing more
sad and odious than their msrule ard in
ternecine turmoil. They had complete.
Iy proved the total fallacy Of all equal
rights" principles when applied to bodice
in which individualism held potent
sway and true philanthropy was at g
zero mark The worst form Of monarch.
les, like ambition, envy, greed Of gain.
arrogance, cold-blooded selfshness.
tramping rough-shod on the feeble,
hypocrisy, falsehood, audacious theft,
conscience!ess nepotism, wholesale
slander-these ragged far more hotly
among the rabbles, who now called
themselves law anu OrueT, Indu luey
had ever approximated toward raging
when anarchy, in all it's crude and far
ing usurpature, had not flooded the
world. Ages previously certain French
revolution had foretokened just the
horrid effects from which We OF o
sounder and more enlightened condition
were suffering then. But then there
had come the reaction Of tyranny; now
reaction was threatened, but it did
not in the least rartake Of social ven
geance or even revolt. AS l have said,
we were silently yet potently massing,
without shadow OF rancor or passion.
The Indomitables must 60. or we must
20. The globe must either be given up
to wild sin and misery tfor every year
each increased, one being q conse-
quence of the other). or it must, by a
tremendous pulse Of righteous onslaught
on our part, become the habitation OF
humanitarianism, content and philo-
sophie virtue.
CHAPTER III.
All through these latter years we
Cautio.-.s had openly concerned our
selves with the pursuits of learning,
knowledge and scientific search.