Part 2, Chapter 2

I trembled at the suggestion of my own thoughts. Was this an enchanted country? Where the lovely blonde women fairies—or some weird beings of different specie, human only in form? Or was I dreaming?

I trembled at the thought. Was this an enchanted country? Were the lovely blonde women fairies or strange beings of another species, human only in form? Or was I dreaming?

"I do not believe I understand you," I said. "I never heard of a country where there were no men. In my land they are so very, very important."

“I don't think I understand you,” I said. “I've never heard of a country with no men. In my country, men are very, very important.”

"Possibly," was the placid answer.

"Possibly," came the calm answer.

"And you are really a nation of women?"

"And are you really a nation of women?"

"Yes," she said. "And have been for the last three thousand years."

"Yes," she said. "And have been for the past three thousand years."

"Will you tell me how this wonderful change came about?"

"Can you tell me how this wonderful change happened?"

"Certainly. But in order to do it, I must go back to our very remote ancestry. The civilization that I shall begin with must have resembled the present condition of your own country as you describe it. Prisons and punishments were prevalent throughout the land."

"Certainly. But to do that, I must go back to our very distant ancestors. The civilization I will begin with must have resembled your country today, as you describe it. Prisons and punishments were common throughout the land."

I inquired how long prisons and places of punishment had been abolished in Mizora.

I asked how long ago prisons and places of punishment had been abolished in Mizora.

"For more than two thousand years," she replied. "I have no personal knowledge of crime. When I speak of it, it is wholly from an historical standpoint. A theft has not been committed in this country for many many centuries. And those minor crimes, such as envy, jealousy, malice and falsehood, disappeared a long time ago. You will not find a citizen in Mizora who possesses the slightest trace of any of them.

"For more than two thousand years," she replied. "I have no personal experience of crime. When I speak of it, I speak only from a historical perspective. No theft has been committed in this country for many, many centuries. Minor crimes, such as envy, jealousy, malice, and lying, disappeared long ago. You will not find a citizen in Mizora who has the slightest trace of any of them.

"Did they exist in earlier times?"

"Did they exist in the past?"

"Yes. Our oldest histories are but records of a succession of dramas in which the actors were continually striving for power and exercising all of those ancient qualities of mind to obtain it. Plots, intrigues, murders and wars, were the active employments of the very ancient rulers of our land. As soon as death laid its inactivity upon one actor, another took his place. It might have continued so; and we might still be repeating the old tragedy but for one singular event. In the history of your own people you have no doubt observed that the very thing plotted, intrigued and labored for, has in accomplishment proved the ruin of its projectors. You will remark this in the history I am about to relate.

“Yes. Our oldest histories record a series of dramas in which the actors constantly struggled for power. They used all those ancient qualities of mind to gain it. Plotting, intrigue, murder, and war occupied the earliest rulers of our land. As soon as death silenced one actor, another took his place. This might have continued, and we might still be repeating the old tragedy, but for one unusual event. No doubt you have seen something similar in the history of your own people. The very thing people plotted and worked to achieve has, once achieved, proved their ruin. You will see this in the history I am about to tell.

"Main ages ago this country was peopled by two races—male and female. The male race were rulers in public and domestic life. Their supremacy had come down from pre-historic time, when strength of muscle was the only master. Woman was a beast of burden. She was regarded as inferior to man, mentally as well as physically. This idea prevailed through centuries of the earlier civilization, even after enlightenment had brought to her a chivalrous regard from men. But this regard was bestowed only upon the women of their own household, by the rich and powerful. Those women who had not been fortunate enough to have been born in such a sphere of life toiled early and late, in sorrow and privation, for a mere pittance that was barely sufficient to keep the flame of life from going out. Their labor was more arduous than men's, and their wages lighter.

"Many ages ago, this country was populated by two races, male and female. The male race ruled in public and domestic life. Their supremacy dated back to prehistoric times, when muscle strength was the only master. Woman was a beast of burden. She was regarded as inferior to man, both mentally and physically. This idea persisted through centuries of early civilization, even after enlightenment had led men to treat women with chivalrous respect. But rich and powerful men showed this respect only to women in their own households. Women who were not fortunate enough to be born into such circumstances worked from morning to night, enduring sorrow and hardship. They earned a mere pittance, barely enough to keep the flame of life from going out. Their work was harder than men's, and their wages were lower.

"The government consisted of an aristocracy, a fortunate few, who were continually at strife with one another to gain supremacy of power, or an acquisition of territory. Wars, famine and pestilence were of frequent occurrence. Of the subjects, male and female, some had everything to render life a pleasure, while others had nothing. Poverty, oppression and wretchedness was the lot of the many. Power, wealth and luxury the dower of the few.

"The government was an aristocracy, a fortunate few who constantly fought one another for power or territory. Wars, famine, and disease were common. Some subjects, both men and women, had everything they needed to enjoy life, while others had nothing. The many lived in poverty, oppression, and misery. Power, wealth, and luxury belonged to the few.

"Children came into the world undesired even by those who were able to rear them, and often after an attempt had been made to prevent their coming alive. Consequently numbers of them were deformed, not only physically, but mentally. Under these conditions life was a misery to the larger part of the human race, and to end it by self-destruction was taught by their religion to be a crime punishable with eternal torment by quenchless fire.

"Children were born unwanted, even by those who could afford to raise them. Often, someone had tried to prevent them from being born alive. As a result, many had physical as well as mental deformities. Under these conditions, life was miserable for most of the human race. Yet their religion taught that ending one's own life was a crime punishable by eternal torment in unquenchable fire.

"But a revolution was at hand. Stinted toil rose up, armed and wrathful, against opulent oppression. The struggle was long and tragical, and was waged with such rancor and desperate persistence by the insurrectionists, that their women and children began to supply the places vacated by fallen fathers, husbands and brothers. It ended in victory for them. They demanded a form of government that should be the property of all. It was granted, limiting its privileges to adult male citizens.

"But a revolution was near. Poorly paid workers rose up, armed and furious, against their wealthy oppressors. The struggle was long and tragic. The rebels fought with such bitterness and desperate persistence that their women and children began to replace fallen fathers, husbands, and brothers. The rebels won. They demanded a government that would belong to everyone. Their demand was granted, but the government's privileges were limited to adult male citizens.

"The first representative government lasted a century. In that time civilization had taken an advance far excelling the progress made in three centuries previous. So surely does the mind crave freedom for its perfect development. The consciousness of liberty is an ennobling element in human nature. No nation can become universally moral until it is absolutely FREE.

"The first representative government lasted a century. During that time, civilization advanced far more than it had in the previous three centuries. The mind truly needs freedom to develop fully. Knowing we are free brings out the noblest qualities in human nature. No nation can become moral in every part until it is absolutely FREE.

"But this first Republic had been diseased from its birth. Slavery had existed in certain districts of the nation. It was really the remains of a former and more degraded state of society which the new government, in the exultation of its own triumphant inauguration, neglected or lacked the wisdom to remedy. A portion of the country refused to admit slavery within its territory, but pledged itself not to interfere with that which had. Enmities, however, arose between the two sections, which, after years of repression and useless conciliation, culminated in another civil war. Slavery had resolved to absorb more territory, and the free territory had resolved that it should not. The war that followed in consequence severed forever the fetters of the slave and was the primary cause of the extinction of the male race.

“But this first Republic had been diseased from birth. Slavery had existed in certain parts of the nation. It was really a remnant of an earlier, more degraded state of society. In its joy at its own triumphant beginning, the new government neglected slavery or lacked the wisdom to remedy it. One part of the country refused to allow slavery within its borders. But it pledged not to interfere with slavery where it already existed. Even so, hostility arose between the two sections. After years of suppression and useless attempts at reconciliation, it culminated in another civil war. Slavery had resolved to expand into more territory, and the free territory had resolved to prevent it. The resulting war freed the slave forever and was the primary cause of the extinction of the male race.”

"The inevitable effect of slavery is enervating and demoralizing. It is a canker that eats into the vitals of any nation that harbors it, no matter what form it assumes. The free territory had all the vigor, wealth and capacity for long endurance that self-dependence gives. It was in every respect prepared for a long and severe struggle. Its forces were collected in the name of the united government.

"Slavery inevitably weakens and corrupts. In any form, it is a disease that eats away at the heart of any nation that allows it. The free territory had all the strength, wealth, and endurance that self-reliance gives. It was fully prepared for a long and severe struggle. Its forces were gathered in the name of the united government.

"Considering the marked inequality of the combatants the war would necessarily have been of short duration. But political corruption had crept into the trust places of the government, and unscrupulous politicians and office-seekers saw too many opportunities to harvest wealth from a continuation of the war. It was to their interest to prolong it, and they did. They placed in the most responsible positions of the army, military men whose incapacity was well known to them, and sustained them there while the country wept its maimed and dying sons.

"Given how unevenly matched the combatants were, the war would necessarily have been short. But political corruption had crept into positions of trust in the government. Unscrupulous politicians and office-seekers saw too many opportunities to make money by continuing the war. It was in their interest to prolong it, and they did. They gave the most responsible army positions to military men they knew were incompetent. They kept those men in place while the country wept for its maimed and dying sons.

"The slave territory brought to the front its most capable talent. It would have conquered had not the resources against which it contended been almost unlimited. Utterly worn out, every available means of supply being exhausted, it collapsed from internal weakness.

"The slave territory put forward its most capable talent. It would have conquered if the resources against it had not been almost unlimited. Completely worn out and with every available means of supply exhausted, it collapsed from internal weakness.

"The general government, in order to satisfy the clamors of the distressed and impatient people whose sons were being sacrificed, and whose taxes were increasing, to prolong the war had kept removing and reinstating military commanders, but always of reliable incapacity.

"People were distressed and impatient. Their sons were being sacrificed, and their taxes were rising to prolong the war. To satisfy their demands, the general government kept removing and reinstating military commanders. But the commanders were always reliably incompetent.

"A man of mediocre intellect and boundless self-conceit happened to be the commander-in-chief of the government army when the insurrection collapsed. The politicians, whose nefarious scheming had prolonged the war, saw their opportunity for furthering their own interests by securing his popularity. They assumed him to be the greatest military genius that the world had ever produced; as evidenced by his success where so many others had failed. It was known that he had never risked a battle until he was assured that his own soldiers were better equipped and outnumbered the enemy. But the politicians asserted that such a precaution alone should mark him as an extraordinary military genius. The deluded people accepted him as a hero.

"A man of average intelligence and boundless self-importance happened to command the government army when the rebellion collapsed. The politicians had prolonged the war through their wicked schemes. Now they saw a chance to advance their own interests by making him popular. They claimed he was the greatest military genius the world had ever produced. His success where so many others had failed was supposedly proof of this. It was known that he had never risked a battle without first making sure his soldiers were better equipped and outnumbered the enemy. But the politicians claimed that this precaution alone marked him as an extraordinary military genius. The deceived people accepted him as a hero.

"The politicians exhausted their ingenuity in inventing honors for him. A new office of special military eminence, with a large salary attached, was created for him. He was burdened with distinctions and emoluments, always worked by the politicians, for their benefit. The nation, following the lead of the political leaders, joined in their adulation. It failed to perceive the dangerous path that leads to anarchy and despotism—the worship of one man. It had unfortunately selected one who was cautious and undemonstrative, and who had become convinced that he really was the greatest prodigy that the world had ever produced.

"The politicians exhausted their ingenuity inventing honors for him. They created a new position of special military distinction for him, with a large salary. They burdened him with honors and rewards, always using him for their own benefit. The nation followed its political leaders and joined in praising him. It failed to see that worshipping one man was a dangerous path leading to anarchy and despotism. Unfortunately, the nation had chosen a man who was cautious and reserved. He had also become convinced that he really was the greatest prodigy the world had ever produced."

"He was made President, and then the egotism and narrow selfishness of the man began to exhibit itself. He assumed all the prerogatives of royalty that his position would permit. He elevated his obscure and numerous relatives to responsible offices. Large salaries were paid them and intelligent clerks hired by the Government to perform their official duties.

"He became President, and his egotism and narrow selfishness soon began to show. He claimed all the royal privileges his position allowed. He appointed his many obscure relatives to positions of responsibility. They received large salaries, while the government hired capable clerks to do their official duties.

"Corruption spread into every department, but the nation was blind to its danger. The few who did perceive the weakness and presumption of the hero were silenced by popular opinion.

"Corruption spread through every department, but the nation was blind to the danger. The few who saw the hero's weakness and arrogance were silenced by popular opinion.

"A second term of office was given him, and then the real character of the man began to display itself before the people. The whole nature of the man was selfish and stubborn. The strongest mental trait possessed by him was cunning.

"He was given a second term in office, and then his true character began to show itself to the people. He was selfish and stubborn through and through. His strongest mental trait was cunning.

"His long lease of power and the adulation of his political beneficiaries, acting upon a superlative self-conceit, imbued him with the belief that he had really rendered his country a service so inestimable that it would be impossible for it to entirely liquidate it. He exalted to unsuitable public offices his most intimate friends. They grew suddenly exclusive and aristocratic, forming marriages with eminent families.

"His long hold on power and the praise of those who benefited from his politics fed his enormous self-importance. He came to believe he had done his country a service so invaluable that it could never fully repay him. He appointed his closest friends to public offices for which they were unsuited. They quickly became exclusive and aristocratic, marrying into prominent families.

"He traveled about the country with his entire family, at the expense of the Government, to gradually prepare the people for the ostentation of royalty. The cities and towns that he visited furnished fetes, illuminations, parades and every variety of entertainment that could be thought of or invented for his amusement or glorification. Lest the parade might not be sufficiently gorgeous or demonstrative he secretly sent agents to prepare the programme and size of his reception, always at the expense of the city he intended to honor with his presence.

"He traveled around the country with his entire family at the government's expense. He did this to gradually prepare the people for the splendor of royalty. The cities and towns he visited provided celebrations, light displays, parades, and every kind of entertainment they could devise for his amusement or glorification. To make sure each parade was splendid and enthusiastic enough, he secretly sent agents to plan his reception and determine its size. The city he intended to honor with his presence always paid for it.

"He manifested a strong desire to subvert the will of the people to his will. When informed that a measure he had proposed was unconstitutional, he requested that the constitution be changed. His intimate friends he placed in the most important and trustworthy positions under the Government, and protected them with the power of his own office.

"He showed a strong desire to bend the will of the people to his own. When told that a measure he proposed was unconstitutional, he asked to change the constitution. He placed his close friends in the most important and trusted government positions. He protected them with the power of his office.

"Many things that were distasteful and unlawful in a free government were flagrantly flaunted in the face of the people, and were followed by other slow, but sure, approaches to the usurpation of the liberties of the Nation. He urged the Government to double his salary as President, and it complied.

"Many things that were offensive and illegal in a free government were openly flaunted before the people. These were followed by other slow but sure steps toward taking away the Nation's liberties. He urged the Government to double his salary as President, and it did.

"There had long existed a class of politicians who secretly desired to convert the Republic into an Empire, that they might secure greater power and opulence. They had seen in the deluded enthusiasm of the people for one man, the opportunity for which they had long waited and schemed. He was unscrupulous and ambitious, and power had become a necessity to feed the cravings of his vanity.

"For a long time, a group of politicians had secretly wanted to turn the Republic into an Empire. They hoped to gain more power and wealth. They saw the people's misguided enthusiasm for one man as the opportunity they had long awaited and plotted for. He was unscrupulous and ambitious, and he needed power to satisfy his vanity.

"The Constitution of the country forbade the office of President to be occupied by one man for more than two terms. The Empire party proposed to amend it, permitting the people to elect a President for any number of terms, or for life if they choose. They tried to persuade the people that the country owed the greatest General of all time so distinctive an honor. They even claimed that it was necessary to the preservation of the Government; that his popularity could command an army to sustain him if he called for it.

“The country’s Constitution barred any man from serving as President for more than two terms. The Empire party proposed changing it. The change would let the people elect a President for any number of terms, or for life if they chose. The party tried to persuade people that the country owed this special honor to the greatest General of all time. They even claimed it was necessary to preserve the Government. They claimed his popularity could bring an army to support him if he called for one.

"But the people had begun to penetrate the designs of the hero, and bitterly denounced his resolution to seek a third term of power. The terrible corruptions that had been openly protected by him, had advertised him as criminally unfit for so responsible an office. But, alas! the people had delayed too long. They had taken a young elephant into the palace. They had petted and fed him and admired his bulky growth, and now they could not remove him without destroying the building.

"But the people had begun to see through the hero's plans. They bitterly denounced his decision to seek a third term in power. He had openly protected terrible corruption, showing that he was criminally unfit for such a responsible office. But, alas, the people had waited too long. They had taken a young elephant into the palace. They had petted and fed him and admired his enormous growth. Now they could not remove him without destroying the building.

"The politicians who had managed the Government so long, proved that they had more power than the people They succeeded, by practices that were common with politicians in those days, in getting him nominated for a third term. The people, now thoroughly alarmed, began to see their past folly and delusion. They made energetic efforts to defeat his election. But they were unavailing. The politicians had arranged the ballot, and when the counts were published, the hero was declared President for life. When too late the deluded people discovered that they had helped dig the grave for the corpse of their civil liberty, and those who were loyal and had been misled saw it buried with unavailing regret. The undeserved popularity bestowed upon a narrow and selfish nature had been its ruin. In his inaugural address he declared that nothing but the will of the people governed him. He had not desired the office; public life was distasteful to him, yet he was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of his country.

"The politicians who had controlled the Government for so long proved that they had more power than the people. Using practices common among politicians in those days, they got him nominated for a third term. The people, now deeply alarmed, began to see how foolish and deceived they had been. They worked hard to defeat him, but their efforts failed. The politicians had arranged the ballot, and when the votes were counted, the hero was declared President for life. Too late, the deceived people discovered that they had helped dig the grave for their civil liberty. Those who were loyal but had been misled watched that liberty buried, with regret that could change nothing. The undeserved popularity they had given a narrow and selfish man had destroyed their liberty. In his inaugural address, he declared that nothing but the people's will guided him. He had not wanted the office, and public life was distasteful to him. Yet he was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of his country.

"Had the people been less enlightened, they might have yielded without a murmur; but they had enjoyed too long the privileges of a free Government to see it usurped without a struggle. Tumult and disorder prevailed over the country. Soldiers were called out to protect the new Government, but numbers of them refused to obey. The consequence was they fought among themselves. A dissolution of the Government was the result. The General they had lauded so greatly failed to bring order out of chaos; and the schemers who had foisted him into power, now turned upon him with the fury of treacherous natures when foiled of their prey. Innumerable factions sprung up all over the land, each with a leader ambitious and hopeful of subduing the whole to his rule. They fought until the extermination of the race became imminent, when a new and unsuspected power arose and mastered.

"If the people had been less enlightened, they might have submitted without a complaint. But they had enjoyed the rights of a free Government for too long to let it be seized without a struggle. Turmoil and disorder spread across the country. Soldiers were called out to protect the new Government, but many refused to obey. As a result, the soldiers fought among themselves. The Government fell apart. The General they had praised so highly failed to bring order out of chaos. The schemers who had put him in power now turned on him. They attacked him with the fury of traitors who had been robbed of their prey. Countless factions sprang up across the country. Each had a leader who hoped and aspired to bring the whole country under his rule. They fought until the extermination of the race was near. Then a new and unsuspected power arose and gained control.

"The female portion of the nation had never had a share in the Government. Their privileges were only what the chivalry or kindness of the men permitted. In law, their rights were greatly inferior. The evils of anarchy fell with direct effect upon them. At first, they organized for mutual protection from the lawlessness that prevailed. The organizations grew, united and developed into military power. They used their power wisely, discreetly, and effectively. With consummate skill and energy they gathered the reins of Government in their own hands.

"The women of the nation had never had a share in the government. They had only the privileges that men, out of chivalry or kindness, allowed them. Under the law, women had far fewer rights. They suffered directly from the effects of anarchy. At first, they organized to protect one another from the widespread lawlessness. Their organizations grew, joined together, and developed into a military force. They used their power wisely, discreetly, and effectively. With extraordinary skill and energy, they took control of the government.

"Their first aim had been only to force the country into peace. The anarchy that reigned had demoralized society, and they had suffered most. They had long pleaded for an equality of citizenship with men, but had pleaded in vain. They now remembered it, and resolved to keep the Government that their wisdom and power had restored. They had been hampered in educational progress. Colleges and all avenues to higher intellectual development had been rigorously closed against them. The professional pursuits of life were denied them. But a few, with sublime courage and energy, had forced their way into them amid the revilings of some of their own sex and opposition of the men. It was these brave spirits who had earned their liberal cultivation with so much difficulty, that had organized and directed the new power. They generously offered to form a Government that should be the property of all intelligent adult citizens, not criminal.

"Their first aim had been only to force the country into peace. The anarchy that ruled had corrupted society, and they had suffered most. For a long time, they had pleaded in vain for equal citizenship with men. They now remembered this and resolved to keep the government that their wisdom and power had restored. Their educational progress had been hindered. Colleges and all paths to higher intellectual development had been firmly closed to them. They were denied entry to the professions. But a few had forced their way in with extraordinary courage and energy. They faced insults from some women and opposition from men. These brave women had gained a broad education with great difficulty. They were the ones who had organized and directed the new power. They generously offered to form a government that would belong to all intelligent adult citizens who were not criminals."

"But these wise women were a small minority. The majority were ruled by the remembrance of past injustice. They were now the power, and declared their intention to hold the Government for a century.

"But these wise women were a small minority. The majority were driven by memories of past injustice. They were now in power and declared that they would hold the government for a century.

"They formed a Republic, in which they remedied many of the defects that had marred the Republic of men. They constituted the Nation an integer which could never be disintegrated by States' Rights ideas or the assumption of State sovereignty.

"They formed a Republic and corrected many of the flaws that had marred the Republic of men. They made the Nation an indivisible whole, one that could never be broken apart by ideas of States' Rights or claims of state sovereignty.

"They proposed a code of laws for the home government of the States, which every State in the Union ratified as their State Constitution, thus making a uniformity and strength that the Republic of men had never known or suspected attainable.

"They proposed a code of laws for governing the States. Every State in the Union adopted it as its State Constitution. This created a unity and strength that the Republic of men had never known or even imagined possible.

"They made it a law of every State that criminals could be arrested in any State they might flee to, without legal authority, other than that obtained in the vicinity of the crime. They made a law that criminals, tried and convicted of crime, could not be pardoned without the sanction of seventy-five out of one hundred educated and disinterested people, who should weigh the testimony and render their decision under oath. It is scarcely necessary to add that few criminals ever were pardoned. It removed from the office of Governor the responsibility of pardoning, or rejecting pardons as a purely personal privilege. It abolished the power of rich criminals to bribe their escape from justice; a practice that had secretly existed in the former Republic.

"They passed a law in every State allowing criminals to be arrested in any State they fled to. The only legal authority needed was that obtained near the scene of the crime. They also passed a law requiring the approval of seventy-five out of one hundred educated, impartial people before convicted criminals could be pardoned. These people had to weigh the evidence and make their decision under oath. It hardly needs saying that few criminals were ever pardoned. This law removed the Governor's personal power to grant or deny pardons. It also ended the ability of rich criminals to bribe their way out of justice, a practice that had secretly existed in the former Republic.

"In forming their Government, the women, who were its founders, profited largely by the mistakes or wisdom displayed in the Government of men. Neither the General Government, nor the State Government, could be independent of the other. A law of the Union could not become such until ratified by every State Legislature. A State law could not become constitutional until ratified by Congress.

"When the women founded their government, they learned a great deal from the mistakes and wisdom shown in men's governments. Neither the federal government nor the state governments could act independently of the other. A federal law could not take effect until every state legislature had approved it. A state law could not be constitutional until Congress had approved it.

"In forming the State Constitutions, laws were selected from the different State Constitutions that had proven wise for State Government during the former Republic. In the Republic of men, each State had made and ratified its own laws, independent of the General Government. The consequence was, no two States possessed similar laws.

"In forming the State Constitutions, they selected laws from the different State Constitutions that had proven wise for governing states during the former Republic. In the Republic of men, each State had made and approved its own laws independently of the General Government. As a result, no two States had similar laws.

"To secure strength and avoid confusion was the aim of the founders of the new Government. The Constitution of the National Government provided for the exclusion of the male sex from all affairs and privileges for a period of one hundred years.

"The founders of the new Government aimed to ensure strength and avoid confusion. The National Government's Constitution excluded men from all affairs and privileges for one hundred years.

"At the end of that time not a representative of the sex was in existence."

At the end of that time, not one member of that sex remained.