South figures that the
cost of a laboring man, a slave, is perhaps a thousand or fifteen
hundred dollars. The South pays the cost of rearing that man. Any
nation pays the cost of bringing up a human being. Yet, within
this very year, Europe has sent into the North and into the West a
third of a million of men _already_ reared, already _paid_ for.
Sir, you ask me what will be the result of this discontent, the
result of this compromise. It seems to me plainly written in those
two facts--industrial, not political facts. The 'finality' of this
compromise, its final issue, will be established by conditions with
which laws or their enforcement have little to do. Yet statesmen
try to solve such a question by politics. I myself at one time
thought it could endure--but only if all the blacks were bought,
paid for and deported, to make room for those who come at no cost
to us. I thought for a time it could be done. I have tried to do
it. I have failed. I do not think others will follow in my
attempt."

"We have not undervalued, Madam, either the brilliance or the
profundity of your own active intellect! What you say is of
interest. We already have followed with profound interest your
efforts. Your words here justify our concern in meeting you. This
is perhaps the first time in our history when a woman has been
asked to meet those most concerned in even so informal an
assemblage as this, at precisely this place."

There were gravity and dignity in his words. The majesty of a
government, the dignity of even the simplest and most democratic
form of government, the unified needs, the concentrated wish of
many millions expressed in the persons of a few,--these are the
things which can not fail to impress even the most ignorant and
insensitive as deeply as the most extravagant pageantry of the
proudest monarchy. They did not fail to impress Josephine St.
Auban, brilliant and audacious thinker though she was, and used to
the pomp of Old World courts. At once she felt almost a sense of
fright, of terror. The silence of these other gentlemen, so able
to hold their peace, came to her mind with the impress of some
mighty power. She half shrank back into her chair.

"Madam, you have no need of fear," broke in the deep voice of the
gentleman who had escorted her thither, and who now observed her
perturbation. "We shall not harm you--I think not even criticize
you seriously. Our wish is wholly for your own good."