The last war; or, The triumph of the English tongue; a story of the twenty-sixth century

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Chapter I. Commotion At The Capital

“What is the cause of this commotion, Wellington?”

“The arrival of the delegates to the Congress of the Allied Nations of English-Speaking Peoples. Where have you been that you have not read the news?”

“I have been rusticating in the mountains. We had such fine sport fishing and hunting that wc gave no attention to news. But why do they come together? It is not their regular time for sessions.”

“Rumors of war! The Great Bear is growling. Indeed, the news bulletins state that he has ordered all English-speaking people to leave his dominions forthwith and that he is mobilizing a great army near Belgrade. Professor Wallace has announced, in the Calendar, that he will devote his first three lectures to discussing the causes 5 of the present international dispute. Come, it is almost time for the first lecture.”

The young men who had been thus conversing turned from watching the concourse of people in the streets below them and ascended the marble steps leading up to the great portal of the lecture hall, devoted to history and sociology, of the American University at Washington. Pausing on the broad platform before the door, they turned and again looked down upon the city.

The university buildings stand on the crest of a high hill, overlooking the Mississippi river, anu command a magnificent view for many miles above and below, along the stream. Across the valley, on a high plateau, stood the vast palace, the capitol of United America. The great river, bending with majestic sweep around its bordering bluffs, with white villages nestling along its shores, and with great woodlands of park-like arrangement touching it at points, the tree-covered island in the midst of the stream, the vast bridges, as wide as streets, which spanned the water, all lying beneath a hazy September sun, presented a scene worthy of admiration. Certainly it deserved the patriotic love of those who acknowledged it as the center of government. Washington, while it is devoted solely to the business of the government, has been so well laid out that it presents the appearance of a park. The wide streets, clean and well swept, are straight and paved; the walks are bordered with trees; palaces of stone are set in the midst of beautiful gardens, except by the street devoted to trades, where the massive structures closely line the walks; fountains, f^d by artesian streams, play in the gardens; the elevated roads and sidewalks are of the most modern construction and are almost noiseless; the electric conduits are cabled and concealed. All the territory within ten miles square is public property and occupied only on leasehold tenures. By this means government cares for all structures. The architecture and gardening are most beautiful and useful. Unlike the more ancient city, situated on the Potomac, the new city has been carefully and symmetrically built, and is indeed the center of civilization. The capitol building is said to be the last wonder of the world.

Such was the city on that September day, in the year 2565, when Arthur Wellington and his friend, James Newman, stood in the university portal and looked down upon the throng of people walking across the central bridge and gathering, restless and expectant, around the great palace where congress was sitting.

“Great America!” exclaimed Wellington, as they turned again to enter the hall. “This is a city such as our fathers dreamed of; but, as Wallace says, it is the result of natural law.”

“How?”

“Natural law consolidated America. Natural law compelled the removal of the nation’s archives to the heart of the country, where they would be safe from destruction in foreign wars and where they could be reached by the people with least expenditure of time and money. But there goes the chime! We should hurry.”

They rapidly traversed the mosaic floor of the hallway, stepped into an elevator and were lifted to the third floor, where they went forth into a throng of students who were waiting at the door of the lecture room of Professor Wallace. They were pleasantly received and exchanged greetings with several young gentlemen and ladies, who, like themselves, had just returned from vacation.

Presently a bell tinkled and the great sliding doors rapidly opened, drawn back by dynamic rollers. The students, forming into four lines, rapidly and quietly marched to desks set in a semicircular position around a raised platform at the end of the lecture room, and stood until, at a signal of the professor’s hand, they were permitted to sit. The room occupied one wing of the main lecture hall. From its broad, low windows could be seen the river valley above and the capitol, beyond the city park. It was pleasant, well lighted and tastefully decorated with paintings and statuary, while maps and charts of the subjects treated by the professor in his lectures were arranged on the walls. A vast globe, fully ten feet in diameter, occupied one corner of tlie room.

The white-bearded professor sat in a highbacked chair on the raised platform. In front of him was a small reading desk. He looked down upon his pupils with a grave, kindly air, and for a moment was silent. The quiet, respectful demeanor of all denoted the interest teacher and student had each in the other. White cravat and white cuffs relieved the sober shade of black worn by the former. The students were dressed in uniform. The young men wore neat, gray suits and white shirts and black ties and shoes; the young ladies were uniformly dressed in gray, the robes being neatly but plainly made. Ornaments were not seen.

The blonde type of humanity prevailed, the Anglo-American type, so called. With few exceptions, dark-blue eyes, brown, wavy hair, regular features, high foreheads and oval faces, set on strong, graceful necks and broad shoulders, prevailed. But here and there, darker skins, round faces, dark eyes and smaller busts showed the ancient blood of the Latin nations, not yet absorbed by the stronger flow of Anglo-Saxon fluid.

Presently the professor took up a manuscript from the reading desk and arranged its pages. Then he adjusted his gold-rimmed spectacles and, again looking upon his pupils, said:

“Students: This school term opens with the beginning of a new era in the world’s history, if I read rightly the signs of the times. I belie vc; that the beginning of the end of that struggle which, for a thousand years, has been growing acute, has come, and that the next few weeks, perhaps days, may see the nations of the earth in death-grapple for existence. The struggle between light and darkness, liberty and slavery, religion and bigotry, which has lasted since the human race sprang into existence, will reach a crisis.”

He paused a moment to allow the gravity of his words to sink into the minds of his hearers.

“You noticed a commotion in the streets,” he continued, “and that the people were gathering around the capitol. You have read that it was caused by the arrival of the delegates of the Allied English-Speaking Nations, called together in extraordinary session of congress. They come together to consider a momentous problem, a matter of the gravest nature. This matter is the impending conflict I have mentioned. Upon their decision will depend the inception of the most stupendous conflict of arms that ever has caused or shall cause the earth to vibrate by its violence. For the onward march of enlightened civilization has met inertia; it can neither go around nor through — it must crush and destroy and pass over. I have seen this contest approaching during the fifty years of my acii tive life and have made the study of its causes the subject of a series of lectures. But events are now moving so rapidly that we shall not consume much of the term with these lectures. I have prepared, however, three outline discourses, and shall deliver them on the first, second and third days of this week, in order that you may have a general idea of the subject to he considered by this extraordinary session of the Congress of Allied Nations. I desire that as many of you as possible attend the sittings of the congress. You will learn much.

“We shall now proceed with the first discourse, which will be mainly descriptive of the conditions as they now are, the territories of the contestants,' their relative strength and the issues involved. To-morrow we shall deal with the subject historically. On the day after to-morrow we shall consider, somewhat, the social progress of humanity, particularly during the last five hundred years.”

CHAPTEE II.

THE POWERS OF THE WORLD.

The professor paused and arose. Turning to a large map of the world hanging on the wall at the rear of the platform, he called the attention of the pupils to it with a motion of his hand. All studied it in silence for a moment. There were hut three colors on the map. Pale green represented the seas. Light red covered all of America, all of Europe, from the western coast to a line drawn irregularly northward from the Adriatic sea to the Baltic sea; all of Afiica, except Abyssinia and a large territory around the great lakes of central Africa; all of Asia south of the Himalaya mountains, the Yellow river, and east of Persia; and Australia, together with the thousands of islands of the Polynesian archipelago. Yellow covered the remainder of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Japan islands. But along the western borders of the yellow surface in Europe and on the Japan islands were spots tinted with red.

“Notice particularly the shading of this map/' said the professor. “I have had it drawn thus in order that you may have a perfect concept of the present political divisions of the world. The pale red indicates the English-speaking world. The pale green indicates the seas. The yellow indicates the many nations now under the influence of the Czar-pope, Emperor of Greater Russia and pro-, tector of Turkish Asia and Mohammedan Abyssinia. The English-speaking peoples, however, are not confined to the limits of the red, but wherever you note the red spots on the yellow there you will find large populations using the world-wide language. In the yellow are many languages and many religions. These red spots on the yellow are now causing the commotion likely to result in war.

“We will now look upon another map.”

He touched a knob on his reading desk. Instantly the map which he had been describing rolled upward into a case, leaving a similar map iianging in its place. This contained several colors. All of America was shown in blue, with black lines subdividing it into the various states of the great republic. All of Europe west of a line drawn from the Adriatic sea to the Baltic sea northwardly was colored red. All the remainder of Europe and all of Asia north of the Himalaya mountains and the Yellow river and west of the east line of Persia were tinted yellow. The remainder of Asia was tinted green. Australia and the islands of the archipelago were brown. Africa, except Abyssinia and the country around the lakes, which bore the yellow tint, was gray. The seas were light green.

“United America includes all the American continent, both north and south,” continued the professor. “United Europe is tinted red and includes the British isles. The African Union is tinted gray and comprises all the states of Africa, including the colored peoples of central Africa, who are English-speaking, except Abyssinia, which is Mohammedan and Catholic. India, the great republic of Asia, is included within the green tint. Australia, the republic of islands, is brown. All these are English-speaking and are closely united under the title ‘The Allied Anglo-American Nations/ known commonly as the Anglo-American Alliance. The yellow tint indicates, as on the other map, the sphere of influence of the Emperor of Greater Russia, the Czar-pope of the world. But the dark lines within the yellow show the different nations under his sway. Here, in Europe, are the Slavs and old Russians. Indeed, they preponderate throughout Europe and Asia. Here, in. old China and Japan, are the Mongolians, the Buddhists in religion, and their kindred, the Mohammedan Turks and Arabs. The old Persians and Assyrians and other nations of similar origin occupy southeastern Asia and join hands with the Mohammedan and old Greek Catholics of Abyssinia. It is is said that one hundred different dialects are spoken in this vast empire which acknowledges the supreme rule of the Czar-pope in temporal and spiritual affairs, except where the fanatical Mohammedans refuse to he converted either by sword or book.”

The professor now resumed his seat, took up his manuscript, and read:

“The nations of the earth have become fewer in number as the civilizing influence of freedom has spread, but more notably so within the last five hundred years. After the breaking up of the great Roman empire, which embraced almost the whole of the nations known in history, a large number of small states formed governments and became nations, race and religion governing the division. The discovery of the new world and the enlightened age came together. The art of printing and the consequent dissemination of knowledge led to wonderful advances in civilization, wonderful progress in arts and in sciences, and wonderful breaking down of superstitions, bigoted manners and customs, religions and institutions. Amongst no people did these arts and sciences make such progress as amongst the Anglo-Saxons and the nations which sprang from them or arose under the influence of their manners and customs.

“Having thoroughly absorbed the British isles, the English-speaking race peopled North America, Australia, India and South Africa. Having at their command a language of great flexibility and power of absorption, this race built up a literature whose scope exceeded all others, even if combined. Commerce and international intercourse became i6 so vast and frequent that the world felt the need of a world-language. By reason of its common use throughout so many nations of the earth and by the travelers and residents who used it in nations whose tongue was different, the English language became finally the world-language, and so remained until in A. D. 2422 the Czar-pope issued a decree forbidding its use within his dominions.

“The progress of the language accompanied the progress of the people who used it. AVe naturally consider America first, because it is our home, and, further, because it is the most powerful nation, as a nation, on earth at this time. The English-speaking people built up a powerful republic in the United States of America and a powerful empire in the Dominion of Canada, besides various minor colonies in the islands and smaller territories of the western hemisphere. These states, after many years, absorbed the remainder of America, the process of which I will treat in my second lecture. To-day, therefore, we behold a United America, built on the old constitution of the United States, the provisions of which have been copied in many cases, word for word, into the constitutions of other republics, and which without doubt have proved to be the elementary principles of true human liberty. United America consists of 185 states, of which 105 are in North America and the remainder in South America, or on the islands at

1 7 the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, of which Cuba is most important, and on the Hawaiian islands, the Samoan islands and Greenland. All of these states have constitutions, built on the provisions of the federal constitution, and are subdivided into counties and townships. United, liberty-loving, satisfied, because the people • govern themselves, the new American race has not only absorbed its old dissimilar elements and made them one grand system, but it has sent out into every land hosts of educators who have carried their sentiments into the whole world.

“What we have said of America applies, with variations, to Australia, India and the republic of Africa. Those countries were colonized by English-speaking people as far back as the seventeenth century; and, assisted by the mother country, Great Britain, until they became powerful in themselves, they too adopted free institutions and became hives whence issued swarms of educators.

“In Europe the process was somewhat different, national sentiment and race prejudice being very strong there. Nevertheless liberty prevailed, monarchies and empires became no more, and a confederacy of nations was established, primarily to resist the immense empire of Russia, but, later, because the results were so good to all and people had become educated so highly that prejudice gave way. United Europe is the result.

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“I have deemed it necessary to say this much historically, at this time, in order that you may take into account the strength which union gives to people. This principle was followed when the English-speaking races united and intrusted their international policy to the control of the Allied Congress. In the approaching contest, therefore, we shall have on the side of truth and enlightenment five allied nations, of power sufficient to crush all opposition when once that power is called into action.

“But in opposition to the allies we have the centralized power of a great military and spiritual despotism. The new Holy Empire, of which the Czar-pope is the head, ruling, with one iron hand holding a sword and the other holding the cross and the crescent, is a vast centralized autocracy, state and church being united. The incongruous blending of the religion of Christ with the religions of Buddha and Mohammed, the terrific wars which enforced within his dominions the authority now held by the Emperor, fill the books of history of the last five hundred years with tales of slaughter and persecution almost indescribable. But they have resulted in the creation of an immense army and a navy sufficient to defy the united powers of the Allied Nations, and indeed sufficient to crush any one of them, unless we (except United America.

“We will now consider the elements of strength and the means of warfare of the two opposing powers of the world. For you have already received an intimation of the causes of the present conflict. In a sentence, the Emperor has determined to stop the dissemination of liberal ideas in his dominions, and it is believed he intends to crush Europe and India and establish his sway over the vast continent of Europe and Asia. The present commotion and the extra session of congress have been caused by a recent decree expelling all English-speaking people from his dominions within ten days and confiscating all their property, accompanied by the mobilization of huge armies along the borders of Europe and India. It is further believed that the Abyssinian monarch, who holds his realms in fealty to the Emperor, has been incited to attack United Africa with the promise that it shall be added to his dominions. For he, also, has gathered an immense army and now stands threateningly on his borders waiting for a signal to proceed.

“We have reliable estimates that the Czar-pope has now in arms on the borders of United Europe 7,000,000 of men, on the borders of India 4,000,- 000 and in Abyssinia 2,000,000, all well armed and equipped. For, while he has repressed liberal ideas and progress with his immense power, he has adopted the modern appliances of war. His dynamic cannon number 4,000 with the army in Europe, about 1,000 with the army in Asia and as many more with the Abyssinians. Multiply these numbers by six and you have approximately th° number of the rapid-fire guns of smaller caliber. To every fifty men is an automobile war chariot, used for transport on the march and for charges and as fortalices in battle. Besides these there is in the transport service for carrying supplies a like number of automobile wagons. Accompanying the army is the vast air fleet of 4,000 war vessels in Europe and 1,000 each in Asia and Africa. Concentrating in the Mediterranean sea is the ocean fleet of 3,000 first-class men-of-war and twice that number of swift cruisers and torpedo boats, while on his Pacific coast another fleet half as large is watching the actions of India and Australia. Add to the army half as many more men of the second grade who are being armed, equipped and practiced, to take the places of those lost in battle, and you have the power of the emperor well in mind.

“With what force will the allies oppose him? United Europe will he the first to feel his wrath. Her army of 3,000,000 men is now rapidly concentrating upon Vienna. Her proportion of guns and war machines is about the same as that of the opposing army in Europe. Her air fleet numbers 1,500 vessels. Her ocean fleet, now united with that of Africa, is about half as strong as that of the Emperor. India has 2,000,000 men under arms, with its proportionate number of war vessels of all classes. Australia lias about the same strength as India. Africa has about the same strength as India, but will have its power opposed by the Abyssinians. America alone could place 10,000,000 men under arms within thirty days, with air fleet and ocean fleet to match. But this war may be ended in thirty days, and hence the utmost that we could do would be to transfer to the aid of Europe 3,000,000 men with their guns, carriages and war machines, in time to aid the Europeans against their foe. We could probably do this within one week. Hence, if the European army could hold its ground one week, our re-enforcements would enable the allies to take the offensive. The shrewd old Czar-pope, however, will spring suddenly and without warning. Should he crush the European army, it would be a serious matter for the allies. In one arm the allies excel, and that is in their long-range dynamic cannon. This arm, invented within the last twenty years, will, it is said, alone render the army using it invincible. It has a range of thirty miles and its shells have a bursting and rending power almost incalculable. The Emperor has nothing so powerful, because he has not been able as yet to obtain information of the elements of the explosive gas with which its shells are projected. That combination is known only to the war office of United America, the inventor having patriotically given the invention to the government. Three hundred of these guns have been placed with the European forces and 4,000 of them are ready for service in the arsenals of United America. The strongest guns of the enemy have a range of less than twenty miles, and their effective range is much less. It is to he hoped that no delay will be made in placing these engines of war near the enemy.

“The choice of leaders for the respective armies is a most important matter. The leader of the allied armies must he a man of uncommon mold. The concentration of the various forces must be quick, decisive and overwhelming. In my judgment the only man in whom we can trust now is Mitchell, general of the American army and late commander of the allied army in the Indo- Mohammedan war, which compelled the treaty of peace of Teheran, ten years ago. I think he will receive the appointment. No other soldier of this day so well understands military science or knows how to use the modern arms with such power. General Ostrand now commands the European army near Vienna. General Maharal leads the Indian army. General Grenoble leads the Australians. General Bennett is commander of the African hosts.

“Under the Emperor, General Dolgourousk holds chief command of the armies, and General Romanoff, brother to the Czar-pope, is second in command. General Zaral commands the Turko- Mongolians in Persia and Thibet, while General

Moudah, under King John, leads the Abyssinian troops. These are all veteran commanders and saw service in the Indo-Mohammedan war just mentioned. But, as all held subordinate positions then, we are not able to judge their merits.

“The allied air fleet will be led, in all probability, by Captain Phoenix, he being the greatest living navigator of the atmosphere. Admiral Kens, being the ranking officer in the cccan fleet, will undoubtedly command the allied fleets.

“Having reviewed somewhat the power of the opponents, we shall close this lecture by predicting that the day is not far distant when the fall of the last autocracy and spiritual despotism of the world shall be seen. So perfect and swift have become the means of transportation that the world forces will come together with the speed of the cyclone, and with similar destructive power/’

He paused and closed his manuscript. As he dismissed the class he said:

“Attend the sitting of congress, and to-morrow we shall, perhaps, have our minds clear upon the action to be taken, and can follow more readily the outline of history which I have prepared.”

Chapter III. Anglo-american Congress

After the lecture many of the students went to the capitol, and among them were Arthur Weiington and his friend, James Newman. The friends went on the elevated car, and were deposited in a few moments at the station near the great steps leading up to the plaza on which the magnificent building stood. They mingled with a crowd of quiet, thoughtful men, who were discussing the situation and watching the bulletin-board at the entrance of the palace.

The news system of that day, while not so perfect as now, was excellent. Hourly bulletins emanated from the great news centers and were delivered into the receptacles in every house within five minutes of their issue, through the pneumatic-tube system of mail delivery, which the government had adopted about one hundred years before, and which had been greatly improved. Besides the private news bulletins delivered hourly, there were in every public place and in every branch news office great bulletin-boards, upon which were instantaneously proj ected di spatches . received by telegrapher photophone, and illustrations transferred by pictograph, or actual scenes as they were transpiring by means of the spectroscope.

At this moment the elevated bulletin-hoard, or receiver, contained a bird’s-eye view of a fortified city and a host of moving minute objects, under which was shown in large letters: “Belgrade and the Emperor’s Army.” A thousand men stood in the great portico of the capitol, closely scanning the view. Conspicuous among them was a man of middle age, whose fine features and leonine countenance made him remarkable, and around him were gathered a dozen other men of like noble aspect. Our friends joined this group and were kindly greeted by him. He was the chairman of the house of representatives, and, as such, a member of the Allied Congress about to assemble. His words were eagerly received and repeated. He was saying:

“The situation is very grave. I do not think there will be much chance for debate or speculation. The war seems to be upon us, if the movements from Belgrade shown yonder mean anything. It is the beginning of the end, an irrepressible conflict. The world is not large enough to hold the Czar-pope and the Allied Nations. One must go down. His power and empire must be effaced from the world-map.”

Exclamations of approval greeted this positive statement.

“But,” asked one, “is he not well prepared? Can he be crushed so easily?”

“Certainly it will be no easy task. But he will not find the allies unprepared. For one hundred years we have been dealing with that empire, endeavoring to remain at peace and introduce civilization. For twenty-five years, or since the present Emperor assumed the crown and miter, we have been preparing for this war. The wise men saw it coming. We have not been idle in America, especially. Our arsenals are full of arms and ammunition. Our militia numbers 20,000,000, and half of that number can be sent to battle in thirty days. We have 3,000,000 second-term militia, many of whom saw service in the Indian war ten years ago. Our war machines, our long dynamic cannon, will win the day, even against odds. Let him move! To-morrow morning, I predict, 3,000,000 men will seize their arms and make ready to cross the ocean. The people will now see that the policy of this administration has been right in spending billions of dollars in armament. President Morgan will recommend a positive declaration of war.”

At this moment an exclamation from many people caused attention to be given to the news bulletin-board. On this was shown the following dispatch:

“Vienna, Sept. 10, 11:05 a. m. — Airship scouts report movements of army corps toward the frontier. The EmperoPs fleet- is moving out of the /Egean sea. A section of airships have crossed our frontier. Smoke is arising in Poland, Servia and Greece. It is thought that the EmperoPs

2 7 troops are slaughtering the English-speaking people.”

A, murmur of surprise and indignation arose from the people. All discussed the probability of the supposition contained in the last sentence. Their doubts were put at rest some minutes later by the appearance of the following message:

“Vienna, Sept. 10, 11:10 a. m. — Fugitives by airship from Grecian peninsula and Poland report terrible massacre of foreigners at daylight this morning. All English-speaking people have been driven out or killed and their property destroyed It is thought 2,000,000 men, women and children have met death. Some have been pursued almost to Vienna by airship. General Ostrand is moving forward to the frontier to receive the fugitives.”

Cries of rage and execration arose. War, extermination, annihilation, were threatened. Some had friends in the Emperor’s territory and were especially violent. Some rushed to the telegraph offices to send dispatches. Others hurried homeward to impart the news.