any
higher sanction, beheaded them in a single hour.

[PAGES 101-116]

At one time the population of Persia exceeded fifty millions. This has
been dissipated partly through civil wars, but predominantly because of
the lack of an adequate system of government and the despotism and
unbridled authority of provincial and local governors. With the passage of
time, not one-fifth of the population has survived, for the governors
would select any victim they cared to, however innocent, and vent their
wrath on him and destroy him. Or, for a whim, they would make a pet out of
some proven mass murderer. Not a soul could speak out, because the
governor was in absolute control. Can we say that these things were in
conformity with justice or with the laws of God?

Can we maintain that it is contrary to the fundamentals of the Faith to
encourage the acquisition of useful arts and of general knowledge, to
inform oneself as to the truths of such physical sciences as are
beneficial to man, and to widen the scope of industry and increase the
products of commerce and multiply the nation's avenues of wealth? Would it
conflict with the worship of God to establish law and order in the cities
and organize the rural districts, to repair the roads and build railroads
and facilitate transportation and travel and thus increase the people's
well-being? Would it be inconsistent with the Divine commands and
prohibitions if we were to work the abandoned mines which are the greatest
source of the nation's wealth, and to build factories, from which come the
entire people's comfort, security and affluence? Or to stimulate the
creation of new industries and to promote improvements in our domestic
products?

By the All-Glorious! I am astonished to find what a veil has fallen across
their eyes, and how it blinds them even to such obvious necessities as
these. And there is no doubt whatever that when conclusive arguments and
proofs of this sort are advanced, they will answer, out of a thousand
hidden spites and prejudices: "On the Day of Judgment, when men stand
before their Lord, they will not be questioned as to their education and
the degree of their culture--rather will they be examined as to their good
deeds." Let us grant this and assume that man will not be asked as to his
culture and education; even so, on that great Day of Reckoning, will not
the leaders be called to account? Will it not be said to them: "O chiefs
and leaders! Why did