The South was entering the shadows of the darkest hour of her new life. A military dictator clothed with autocratic power could have subdued2 the discordant3 elements and marshaled the resources of the country to meet the crisis. A constitutional President would bind4 himself hand and foot with legal forms. A military dictator might ride to victory and carry his country with him.
His two Commanding Generals had allowed the victorious5 army of Manassas to drift into a rabble6 while they wrangled7 for position, precedence and power.
The swift and terrible blows which the navy had dealt the South, delivered so silently and yet with such deadly effect that the people had not yet realized their import, had convinced the President that the war would be one of the bloodiest8 in history.
The fall of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson with the evacuation of Nashville had been a sword thrust into the heart of the lower South. The extent of these disasters had not been realized by the public. The South was yet a sleeping lioness. She could be roused and her powers wielded9 with certainty by one man. But his hand must be firm.
There was one man in the Cabinet of the Confederacy who clearly saw this from the first dawn of the new year—Judah P. Benjamin, the astute10 Secretary of War. His keen logical mind had brushed aside the fog of sentiment and saw one thing—the need of success and the way in which to attain11 it.
The morning of February twenty-second was Washington's birthday, and for that reason fixed12 by the South as the day of the inauguration of their President. Nothing could have shown more clearly the tenacity13 with which the Southern people were clinging to their old forms. The day slowly dawned through lowering storm clouds.
The President went early to his office for a consultation14 with the members of his new Cabinet. Judah P. Benjamin, his chosen chief counselor15 as Secretary of State, was unusually reticent16. The details of the inauguration were quickly agreed on and Davis hastened to return to his room at the White House to complete his preparations for the ceremony.
Benjamin followed his Chief thirty minutes later with the most important communication he had ever decided17 to make.
As the most trusted adviser18 of the President he had long had the freedom of the house.
The resolute19 Hebrew features of the Secretary were set with resolution. He pushed his way to the door of Mr. Davis' room, rapped for admission and without waiting for an answer softly and swiftly entered. His mission was too important to admit of delay.
He paused at the threshold in surprise.
Jefferson Davis was on his knees in prayer so deep and earnest he had not heard.
He waited with head bowed in silent sympathy for five minutes and looked with increasing amazement20 at the white face of the man who prayed. This agony of soul before the God of his fathers was a revelation to the Minister of State.
His lips were moving now in audible words.
"Thou alone art my refuge, O Lord! Without Thee I shall fail. Have pity on Thy servant—with Thy wisdom guide!"
The time was swiftly passing. The Minister could not wait.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. President," he began in low tones, "but I have most important communications to make to you—"
The voice of prayer softly died away and slowly the look of earth came back to the tired face. He turned his hollow cheeks to Benjamin with no attempt to mask the agony of his spirit, slowly rose and motioned him to a chair.
The Secretary lifted his hand.
"I'm restless. If you don't mind, I'll stand. I have marked three editorial attacks on you and your administration in three of the most powerful newspapers in the South—the Richmond Examiner, the Raleigh Standard and the Charleston Mercury—read them please—and then I have something to say!"
The President seated himself and read each marked sentence with care.
"The same old thing, Benjamin—only a little more virulent21 this time—what of it?"
"This! The success of our cause demands the suppression of these reptile22 sheets and the imprisonment23 of their editors—"
"Would success be worth having if we must buy it at the cost of the liberties of our people?"
Benjamin stopped short in his tracks. He had been walking back and forth24 with swift panther-like tread.
"We are at war, Mr. President—fierce, savage25, cruel, it's going to be. You have realized this from the first. The world will demand of us just one thing—success in arms. With this we win all. Lose this and we lose all—our liberties and a great deal more. Our coast is pierced now at regular intervals26 to the mouth of the Mississippi River—at Fortress27 Monroe in Virginia—the entire inland waters of North Carolina, Port Royal, South Carolina, Florida's line has been broken. Grant's army is swarming28 into Tennessee. McClellan is drilling three hundred thousand men in Washington to descend29 on Richmond. It's no time to nurse such reptiles30 in our bosom—"
"I can't play the petty tyrant—"
"They'll sting you to death—I warn you—no administration on earth can live in times of war and endure such infamous31 abuse as these conspirators32 are now heaping on your head. And mark you—they have only begun. The junta33 of disgruntled generals which they have organized will strangle the cause of the South unless you grip the situation to-day with a hand of steel. They are laying their plans in the new Congress to paralyze your work and heap on your head the scorn of the world."
The President moved with a gesture of impatience34.
"I've told you, Benjamin, that I will not suppress these papers nor sign your order for the arrest of the editors. I am leading the cause of a great people to preserve Constitutional liberty. Freedom of speech is one of their rights—"
"In times of peace, yes—but not in the crisis of war when the tongue of a fool may betray the lives of millions. I am not here merely to ask you to suppress these three treacherous35 rags—I'm here to ask a bigger and far more important thing. I want you to stop this inaugural36 ceremony to-day—"
Davis rose with a quick excited movement.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I say. Stop in time. We inaugurated a Provisional Government at Montgomery to last one year. Why one year? Because we believed the war would be over before that year expired. It would have been madness to provide for the establishment of the elaborate and clumsy forms of a Constitutional Government during the progress of war. Why set up a Constitution until you have won by the sword the power to maintain it?"
"But," Davis interrupted, "if we delay the adoption37 of a Constitution we confess to the world our want of confidence in the success of our cause. Such a permanent Constitution will be to our people the supreme38 sign of faith—"
"With these jackals and hyenas39 of the press yelping40 and snarling41 and snapping at your heels? These men will destroy the faith of our best men and women if you only allow them to repeat their lies often enough. They will believe them at last, themselves. You have the confidence to-day of the whole South. Your bitterest enemy could not name a candidate to oppose your election last November. Give these traitors42 time and they will change all—"
"Not with military success—"
"Granted. But if these jackals break down the confidence of the people in the administration, volunteering ceases and we have no army."
"We must use the Conscription. It is inevitable—"
"Exactly!" the Secretary cried triumphantly43. "And Conscription is the reductio ad absurdum of your dream of Constitutional Law. Why set up a Constitution at all to-day?"
"Congress must pass a Conscript law when necessity demands it."
"In their own way, yes—with ifs and ands and clauses which defeat its purpose."
"They must respond to the demands of our people when their patriotism44 is aroused."
"Our people have patriotism to spare if we can only guide it in the right direction. If it goes to seed in the personal quarrels of generals, if it exhausts itself in abuse of the Executive, while an overwhelming enemy marches on us—What then?"
The President lifted his head.
"And you recommend?"
"Stop this ceremony. Refuse the position of permanent President and use your powers as Provisional President in a Military Dictatorship until the South wins—"
"Never!" was the quick reply. "I'll go down in eternal defeat sooner than win an empire by such betrayal of the trust imposed in me—"
"You're not betraying the trust imposed in you by assuming these powers!" Benjamin exclaimed with passion. "You're fulfilling that trust. You're doing what the people have called you to do—establishing the independence of the South! The Government at Washington has been compelled to exercise despotic powers from the first—"
"Exactly—and that's why we can't afford to do it. We are fighting the battle of the North and the South for Constitutional liberty."
"Even so, if we lose and they win, the cause is lost. Seward is now imprisoning45 thousands of Northern men who have dared to sympathize with us—"
"An act of infamous tyranny!"
"But if he wins—who will dare to criticise46 the wisdom of his policy fifty years from to-day? If we lose, who will give us credit for our high ideals of Civil Law in times of war? You have the chance to-day to win. Leap into the saddle and command the obedience47 of every man, woman and child in the South! Your Congress which assembles to-day is a weak impossible body of men. They have nothing to do except to make foolish speeches and hatch conspiracies48 against your administration. We have muzzled49 them behind closed doors. The remedy is worse than the disease. The rumors50 they circulate through the reptile press do more harm than the record of their vapid51 talk could possibly accomplish. Why tie these millstones around your neck? They came yesterday to demand the head of Albert Sidney Johnston. They are organizing to drive Lee out of the army. They allow no opportunity to pass to sneer52 at his position as your chief military adviser since his return from Western Virginia. You know and I know that Albert Sidney Johnston and R. E. Lee are our greatest generals—"
"I'll protect them from the chatter53 of fools—never fear—"
"To what end if you allow them to break down the faith of our people in their Government? The strong arm, alone, can save us. It's no time to haggle54 about the forms of law. Your duty is clear. Stop this foolish ceremony of Inauguration to-day and assume in due time the Dictatorship—"
Davis threw both arms up in a gesture of impatient refusal.
"It's a waste of breath, Benjamin. I'll die first!"
The elastic55 spirit of the younger man recovered its poise56 at once and accepted the decision.
With a genial57 smile he slipped one arm around the tall figure.
"Brave, generous, big-hearted, foolish—my captain! Well, I've done my duty as your chief counselor. Now I'll obey orders—one thing more I must add in warning. Richmond swarms58 with spies. It will be impossible to defend the Capital on the approach of McClellan's army without a proclamation of martial59 law."
The President looked up sharply.
"We'll compromise on that. I'll proclaim martial law and suspend the writ60 in Richmond—"
"And a radius61 of ten miles."
"All right—I'll do that."
It was the utmost concession62 the wily minister of State could wring63 from his Chief. But it was important. The Secretary had his eye on a certain house on Church Hill. It might be necessary to expel its owners.
"By the way," the President added, as his Secretary stood with his hand on the door. "I wrote a recommendation to your new department for the appointment of a young friend of Miss Barton to a position in your office. He's a man of brilliant talents—a foreigner who has cast his fortunes with us. Do what you can for him—"
"I'll remember—" the Secretary nodded and hurried to his office to issue his proclamation of martial law for the city and district of Richmond.
At ten o'clock the rain began to pour in torrents64. The streets were flooded. Rushing rivers of muddy water roared over its cobble stones and leaped down its steep hills into the yellow tide of the James.
Every flag drooped65 and flapped in dismal66 weeping against its staff. The decorations of the houses and windows outside were ruined. The bunting swayed and sagged67 in deep curves across the streets, pouring a stream of water from the folds.
At twelve o'clock, the procession formed in the Hall of the Virginia Legislature and marched through the pouring rain to the platform erected68 around the statue of Washington. In spite of the storm an immense crowd packed the space around the speaker's stand, presenting the curious spectacle of a sea of umbrellas.
Socola watched this crowd stand patiently in the downpour with a deepening sense of the tragedy it foreshadowed. The people who could set their teeth and go through an inauguration ceremony scheduled in the open air on such a day might be defeated in battle, but the victor would pay his tribute of blood. He had not dared to ask Jennie to accept his escort on such a day and yet they drifted to each other's side by some strange power of attraction.
The scene was weird69 in its utter depression of all enthusiasm, and yet the sullen70 purpose which held the people was sublime71 in its persistence72. An awning73 covered the speaker's stand and beneath this friendly cover the ceremony was performed down to the last detail.
The President rose and faced his audience under the most trying conditions. Oratory74 was beyond human effort. He did not attempt it. He read his frank dignified75 address in simple, clear, musical tones which rang with strange effect over the crowd of drenched76 men and women. Not a single cheer broke the delivery of his address. He sought in no way to apologize for the disasters which had befallen his people. He faced them bravely and summoned his followers77 to be equally brave.
The close of his address caught the morbid78 fancy of Socola with peculiar79 fascination80. Clouds of unusual threatening depths were rolling across the heavens, against which the canopied81 platform was sharply outlined. The thin form of the President rose white and ghostlike against this black background of clouds. He was extremely pale, his cheeks hollowed deep, his head bared regardless of the chill mists which beat through the canopy82.
His tall figure stood tense, trembling, deathlike—the emblem83 of sacrificial offering on the altar of his country.
Socola whispered to Jennie:
"Where have I witnessed this scene before?"
"Surely not in America—"
"No"—he mused84 thoughtfully—"I remember now—on a lonely hill outside Jerusalem the Roman soldiers were crucifying a man on a day like this—that's where I saw it!"
He had scarcely spoken the uncanny words in a low undertone when the speaker closed his address with a remarkable85 prayer.
Suddenly dropping his manuscript on the table he lifted his eyes into the darkened heavens and cried with deep passion:
"With humble86 gratitude87 and adoration88, to Thee, O God, I trustingly commit myself, and prayerfully invoke89 Thy blessing90 on my country and its cause!"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
inauguration
|
|
| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
discordant
|
|
| adj.不调和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rabble
|
|
| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
wrangled
|
|
| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bloodiest
|
|
| adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
astute
|
|
| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
tenacity
|
|
| n.坚韧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
counselor
|
|
| n.顾问，法律顾问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
reticent
|
|
| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
adviser
|
|
| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
resolute
|
|
| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
virulent
|
|
| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
reptile
|
|
| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
fortress
|
|
| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
swarming
|
|
| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reptiles
|
|
| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
infamous
|
|
| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
conspirators
|
|
| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
junta
|
|
| n.团体；政务审议会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
inaugural
|
|
| adj.就职的；n.就职典礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
adoption
|
|
| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
hyenas
|
|
| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
yelping
|
|
| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
snarling
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
traitors
|
|
| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
patriotism
|
|
| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
imprisoning
|
|
| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
criticise
|
|
| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
conspiracies
|
|
| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
muzzled
|
|
| 给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的过去式和过去分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
rumors
|
|
| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
vapid
|
|
| adj.无味的；无生气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
sneer
|
|
| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
chatter
|
|
| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
haggle
|
|
| vi.讨价还价，争论不休 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
elastic
|
|
| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
swarms
|
|
| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
writ
|
|
| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
radius
|
|
| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
concession
|
|
| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
wring
|
|
| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
torrents
|
|
| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
sagged
|
|
| 下垂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
persistence
|
|
| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
oratory
|
|
| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
drenched
|
|
| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
morbid
|
|
| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
fascination
|
|
| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
canopied
|
|
| adj. 遮有天篷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
canopy
|
|
| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
emblem
|
|
| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
adoration
|
|
| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
invoke
|
|
| v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |