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every parental and every childish Circle would demoralize each other。
Only in discerning between the Father and the Mother would the Circular
infant find problems for the exercise of his understandingproblems too
often likely to be corrupted by maternal impostures with the result of
shaking the child's faith in all logical conclusions。 Thus by degrees the
intellectual lustre of the Priestly Order would wane； and the road would
then lie open for a total destruction of all Aristocratic Legislature and for
the subversion of our Privileged Classes。
SECTION 10 Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition
The agitation for the Universal Colour Bill continued for three years；
and up to the last moment of that period it seemed as though Anarchy were
destined to triumph。
A whole army of Polygons； who turned out to fight as private soldiers；
was utterly annihilated by a superior force of Isosceles Triangles the
Squares and Pentagons meanwhile remaining neutral。
Worse than all； some of the ablest Circles fell a prey to conjugal fury。
Infuriated by political animosity； the wives in many a noble household
wearied their lords with prayers to give up their opposition to the Colour
Bill； and some； finding their entreaties fruitless； fell on and slaughtered
their innocent children and husband； perishing themselves in the act of
carnage。 It is recorded that during that triennial agitation no less than
twenty…three Circles perished in domestic discord。
Great indeed was the peril。 It seemed as though the Priests had no
choice between submission and extermination； when suddenly the course
of events was completely changed by one of those picturesque incidents
which Statesmen ought never to neglect； often to anticipate； and
sometimes perhaps to originate； because of the absurdly disproportionate
power with which they appeal to the sympathies of the populace。
It happened that an Isosceles of a low type； with a brain little if at all
above four degreesaccidentally dabbling in the colours of some
Tradesman whose shop he had plunderedpainted himself； or caused
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himself to be painted （for the story varies） with the twelve colours of a
Dodecagon。 Going into the Market Place he accosted in a feigned voice a
maiden； the orphan daughter of a noble Polygon； whose affection in
former days he had sought in vain； and by a series of deceptionsaided； on
the one side； by a string of lucky accidents too long to relate； and； on the
other； by an almost inconceivable fatuity and neglect of ordinary
precautions on the part of the relations of the bridehe succeeded in
consummating the marriage。 The unhappy girl committed suicide on
discovering the fraud to which she had been subjected。
When the news of this catastrophe spread from State to State the minds
of the Women were violently agitated。 Sympathy with the miserable
victim and anticipations of similar deceptions for themselves； their sisters；
and their daughters； made them now regard the Colour Bill in an entirely
new aspect。 Not a few openly avowed themselves converted to antagonism；
the rest needed only a slight stimulus to make a similar avowal。 Seizing
this favourable opportunity； the Circles hastily convened an extraordinary
Assembly of the States； and besides the usual guard of Convicts； they
secured the attendance of a large number of reactionary Women。
Amidst an unprecedented concourse； the Chief Circle of those days
by name Pantocyclusarose to find himself hissed and hooted by a
hundred and twenty thousand Isosceles。 But he secured silence by
declaring that henceforth the Circles would enter on a policy of
Concession； yielding to the wishes of the majority； they would accept the
Colour Bill。 The uproar being at once converted to applause； he invited
Chromatistes； the leader of the Sedition； into the centre of the hall； to
receive in the name of his followers the submission of the Hierarchy。 Then
followed a speech； a masterpiece of rhetoric； which occupied nearly a day
in the delivery； and to which no summary can do justice。
With a grave appearance of impartiality he declared that as they were
now finally committing themselves to Reform or Innovation； it was
desirable that they should take one last view of the perimeter of the whole
subject； its defects as well as its advantages。 Gradually introduction the
mention of the dangers to the Tradesmen； the Professional Classes and the
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Gentlemen； he silenced the rising murmurs of the Isosceles by reminding
them that； in spite of all these defects； he was willing to accept the Bill if it
was approved by the majority。 But it was manifest that all； except the
Isosceles； were moved by his words and were either neutral or averse to
the Bill。
Turning now to the Workmen he asserted that their interests must not
be neglected； and that； if they intended to accept the Colour Bill； they
ought at least to do so with full view of the consequences。 Many of them；
he said； were on the point of being admitted to the class of the Regular
Triangles； others anticipated for their children a distinction they could not
hope for themselves。 That honourable ambition would not have to be
sacrificed。 With the universal adoption of Colour； all distinctions would
cease； Regularity would be confused with Irregularity； development would
give place to retrogression； the Workman would in a few generations be
degraded to the level of the Military； or even the Convict Class； political
power would be in the hands of the greatest number； that is to say the
Criminal Classes； who were already more numerous than the Workmen；
and would soon out…number all the other Classes put together when the
usual Compensative Laws of Nature were violated。
A subdued murmur of assent ran through the ranks of the Artisans； and
Chromatistes； in alarm； attempt