按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kindly consented to be present。 They will be here in half an
hour's time。〃
A general and hearty approval of his action was expressed； after
which the Chairman invited suggestions as to the course to be
pursued。 But no one was ready with a suggestion。 Somehow the
outlook upon life was different this morning； and readjustment of
vision appeared to be necessary。 No man felt himself qualified to
offer advice。
From this dilemma they were relieved by a knock upon the door and
the Mayor appeared。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃I have no wish to intrude； but a great many
of our citizens are in the larger hall。 They are anxious to be
advised upon the present trying situation。 It has been suggested
that your committee might join with us in a general public
meeting。〃
After a few moments' consideration； the Mayor's proposition was
accepted and the committee adjourned to the larger hall； Mr。
Farrington resigning the chair to His Worship； the Mayor。
The Mayor's tongue was not so ready this morning。 He explained the
circumstances of the meeting and thanked the committee for yielding
to his request。 He was ready to receive any suggestions as to what
the next step should be。
The silence which followed was broken by Mr。 McGinnis； who arose
and； in a voice much shaken； he inquired：
〃Can anyone tell us just what is the last word concerning the young
girl this morning？〃
Mr。 Maitland replied： 〃Before I left the house； the last report
was that she was resting quietly and； while the doctor was not able
to offer any hope of her recovery； he ventured to say that he did
not quite despair。 And that from Dr。 Meredith； as we know； means
something。〃
〃Thank God for that；〃 said McGinnis； and leaning his head upon his
hand； he sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor。
Again the Mayor asked for suggestions； but no one in the audience
appeared willing to assume the responsibility of offering guidance。
At length Rupert Stillwell arose。 He apologised for speaking in
the presence of older men； but something had to be done and he
ventured to offer one suggestion at least。
〃It occurs to me；〃 he said； 〃that one thing at least should be
immediately done。 Those responsible for the disgraceful riot of
last evening； and I mean more than the actual ringleaders in the
affair； should be brought to justice。〃 He proceeded to elaborate
upon the enormity of the crime； the danger to the State of mob
rule； the necessity for stern measures to prevent the recurrence of
such disorders。 He suggested a special citizens' committee for the
preservation of public order。
His words appeared to meet the approval of a large number of those
present； especially of the younger men。
While he was speaking； the audience appeared to be greatly relieved
to see Dr。 Templeton and the Reverend Murdo Matheson walk in and
quietly take their seats。 They remembered； many of them； how at a
recent similar gathering these gentlemen had advised a procedure
which； if followed； would have undoubtedly prevented the disasters
of the previous night。
Giving a brief account of the proceedings of the meeting to the
present point； the Mayor suggested that Dr。 Templeton might offer
them a word of advice。
Courteously thanking the Mayor for his invitation； the Doctor said：
〃As I came in this room； I caught the words of my young friend； who
suggested a committee for the preservation of public order。 May I
suggested that the preservation of public order in the community is
something that can be entrusted to no committee？ It rests with the
whole community。 We have all made mistakes； we are constantly
making mistakes。 We have yielded to passion； and always to our
sorrow and hurt。 We have vainly imagined that by the exercise of
force we can settle strife。 No question of right or justice is
settled by fighting； for； after the fighting is done； the matter in
dispute remains to be settled。 We have tried that way and to…day
we are fronted with disastrous failure。 I have come from a home
over which the shadow of death hangs low。 There a father and
mother lie prostrate with sorrow； agonising for the life of their
child。 But a deeper shadow lies there； a shadow of sin； for the
sting of death is sin。 A brother torn with self…condemnation； his
heart broken with grief for his sister； who loved him better than
her own life； lies under that shadow of sin。 But； gentlemen； can
any of us escape from that shadow？ Do we not all share in that
sin？ For we all have a part in the determining of our environment。
Can we not； by God's grace； lift that shadow at least from our
lives？ Let us turn our faces from the path of strife toward the
path of peace； for the pathway of right doing and of brotherly
kindness is the only path to peace in this world。〃
The Chairman then called upon the Reverend Murdo Matheson to
express his mind。 But at this point； the whole audience were
galvanised into an intensity of confused emotion by the entrance of
the Executive of the Allied Unions； led by McNish himself。 Simmons
alone was absent； being at that moment； with some half dozen
others； in the care of the police。 Silently the Executive
Committee walked to the front and found seats； McNish alone
remaining standing。 Grey； gaunt； hollow…eyed； he met with steady
gaze the eyes of the audience； some of them aflame with hostile
wrath； for in him they recognised the responsible head of the
labour movement that had wrought such disaster and grief in the
community。
Without apology or preface McNish began： 〃I am here seeking
peace；〃 he said； in his hoarse； hard； guttural voice。 〃I have made
mistakes。 Would I could suffer for them alone； but no； others must
suffer with me。 I have only condemnation for the outrages of last
night。 We repudiate them； we lament them。 We tried to prevent
them； but human passion and circumstances were too strong for us。
We would undo the illwould to God could undo the ill。 How gladly
would I suffer all that has come to others。〃 His deep； harsh voice
shook under the stress of his emotion。 He lifted his head： 〃I
cannot deny my cause；〃 he continued； his voice ringing out clear。
〃Our cause was right； but the spirit was wrong。〃 He paused a few
moments； evidently gathering strength to hold his voice steady。
〃Yes； the spirit was wrong and this day is a black day to me。 We
come to ask for peace。 God knows I have no heart for war。〃
Again he paused； his strong stern face working strangely under the
stress of the emotions which he was fighting to subdue。 〃We
suggest a committee of three； with powers to arbitrate； and we name
as our man one who till recently was one of our Union； a man of
fair and honest mind； a man without fear and with a heart for his
comrades。 Our man is Captain Maitland。〃
His words； and especially the name of the representative of the
labour unions produced an overwhelming effect upon the audience。
No sooner had he finished than the Reverend Murdo Matheson took the
floor。 He spoke no economics。 He offered no elaborate argument
for peace。 In plain； simple words he told of experiences through
which he had recently passed：
〃Like one whom I feel it a