New Ulm review., 1913-01-01
HIS RISE
POWER
By HENRY RUSSELL MllLER.
Authof Of
.The Man Higher w.
Copyright. 1911, BY lie Bebbs.Alessn
Company
TcoNr1NrED.l

the defendant. Sheehan sat slOuched
In his chair in nm attitude that he
vainly sought to render jaunty, conf
dent. His cheeks had fallen in slight
~. his eyelids were puffy and red rim.
med. His mouth hung flabbily. His
hands played nervously with piece OF
paper.
Whittredge, the famous lawyer
brought from Steel City to defend Shee.
han. brought his brilliant perOration to
close. The audience relapsed into an
expectant silence. all eyes fixed on the
district attorney. For a moment he
remained as he had sat throughout the
plea for the defense. mOticniess. lean
ing little forward and staring tixedly
at the wall behind the judge, as though
he saw vision.
The moment ended. He rose and
stood before the jury box. first ad-
dressing the court He smiled gravely
ut the jurors. 1t had taken whole
\ days session to select them. but he
knew them and that they were well
chosen. Then the smile faded from
his lips and eyes. replaced by look to
which his neighbOrs were growing ac-
customed. He began to speak.
Gentlemen Of the jury, what l have
to do is not pleasant. But there is a
thing called duty
As the first words fell Murchell's in
terest ieaped. He knew that he was
seeing man mount to a climax In his
= 1,1.1 v1v,fn khn nd 1nvno<
was caught in the mans spell by some
thing that breathed through his voice
and that had been absent from Whit
tre1ge's perfervid periods. He had
clear. flexible voice and knew how to
uGe it.
The speech had been skillfuily plan
ned. At first he confined his argument
10 the jury and the case at bar. Logic
ally he marshaled the evidence against
the defendant and analysed the de-
tense. Then when he felt that he had
brought intellectual conviction to all
he began to direct his words at the au-
dience not for the telepathic effect Oh
the Jury. but because he believed q ver-
dict of guilty would be worthless un-
less 1T aroused common horror for
the crime.
Never afterward in speech did John
reach quite the same heights as on the
afternoon when the bright blade of his
young Indignation cut into the con-
sciences of his hearers. The matter be-
came deeply personal with them. Each
man suddenly felt himself aggrieved.
felt that shameful attempt had been
made to take advantage Of his good
faith and trust. And then. even while
they were condemning Sheehan. John
seemed to arraign them. He set them
b asking the question, What part have
I I'm this crime? Such Offenses are pos
sible only among people asleep.
They were both aggrievetl and ayErcs-
ooeo. f f
Senator Murchell sat to all outward
seeming impassive. He listened. as as
bonished as the rest, but with under
standing and-he was himself amazed
eo mark it-sadly. For he read In the
ardent face and words passion for u
hopeless ideal. So much power. he
thought, going to waste! For he
knew, better than did those who pos
sessed It, the power Of moral passion
eontrolled-but always properly con-
rolled! Was there not some way to
hind this force to his interest? ~
Bribery at the polls and Justification
of election returns. familiar weapons
II machine politics. SO long used that
hey had ceased to arouse horror and
revolt In the careless, callOused hearts
Of the people. were Johns text. They
explained the continuance Of the ma
thine in power. They shed bright
hght, too. on the 80 called genius OF
sertain political leaders at which men
narveled as at some miraculous mani
lestation Of godlike mind-it was not
genius. merely crude. primitive dishon-
esty requiring the direction Of no COM
handing intellect. needing nothing but
he will to debauch others honor. 1T
b the case of government by 1ndividu-
II craft and greed against government |
by the law that Is the expression Of
The moral sense Of the people" he said.
Sul uON IL. lC HuuICASC SliASN
lneasily. Murcllell smiled grimly.
The voice of the Judge was cold and
wen. devoid of emotion, as he began
b instruct the jury. Critical listeners
observed that his charge favored the
defendant rather more strongly than
he evidence seemed to require. They
attributed it to his anxiety not to be
biased by the fact that the district at
'orney was his son. Judge Dunmeade
vas said to possess an admirably judi
.ial temperament. The jury. impor-
Antly led by the fat bailiff, filed out of
he courtroom. There were no other
'ases on the days list, and the judge
talked down from the bench to await
he verdict in his chambers. John
vent to his Office. Senator Murchell
md Whittredgc conducted the droop-
ng Sheehan to the witness room away
rom tho curiOus ovos ~ tho crowd