Part 3

[_There is music, suddenly and very bright and as the light floods the scene, two British soldiers have run in with regimental colors which conceal Freedom and Washington and the stair from our view. Then a gay crowd troops on to the stage and a double column of grenadiers in scarlet coats. The soldiers quickly form the three sides of a rectangle and General Howe and Major Andre ride into their midst. Ladies are there, richly clad and elaborately coiffured. Musicians are there with huge bass viols and sundry eccentric instruments of the period. When all the crowd are assembled, General Howe and Major Andre ride down to the water’s edge to welcome two barges. In one of them is the English Queen of Beauty and, in the other, the American Queen of Beauty. Each of the queens is attended by a bevy of damsels in Turkish costumes. General Howe leads the English Queen to her throne. Major Andre performs the same function for the American Queen. The damsels follow them and the barges are pulled away out of sight._

_Immediately the two queens have been enthroned, twelve knights ride into the scene, dressed in eighteenth century adaptations of the habiliments of chivalry. They divide into two parties, the Knights of the Blended Rose and the Knights of the Burning Mountain. Each party salutes its queen and the mock tournament is played out, terminating in an exchange of pistol fire without casualties. Then the horses are led off and the knights and the ladies all join in a brilliant, stately dance which ends in a picture centering in the two queens, each one of whom has removed a slipper from which her particular knight is drinking wine._

_Then the rout is scattered by the sound of cannon and all the gay folk run screaming and darkness gathers except for a single ray of light which strikes across the stage. Into this a horseman gallops frantically._]

THE HORSEMAN

(_Shouting._)

Yorktown! Yorktown is taken!

[_At the same time, Freedom and Washington and his army have been revealed. Cannon boom and flash over their joyous faces and the army breaks into frenzied cheering. The Chronicler leaps to his feet._]

THE CHRONICLER

Yorktown! The first goal is won!

[_Light spreads once more over the scene and, to the old English tune of “The World is Upside Down,” Cornwallis’ army marches out of Yorktown and surrenders. Freedom dominates the whole scene in her exultation. “The World is Upside Down” becomes a triumphal march and all the multitude of the people prance into the scene. Then dissonance creeps into the music and discord into the movement of the crowd. The Chronicler rises._]

THE CHRONICLER

Chaos succeeds revolt and triumph gives way to greed and hatred and what was harmony in war becomes jealousy and faction, for the faith of the people is dead and the united colonies break asunder, each one for itself.

[_Loyalists are singled out, perhaps, and stoned and jostled from the scene. Cheers become snarls. The multitude separates into small units, thirteen of them. These seem to wrangle among themselves, then, like so many socks, to turn inside out so that each menaces the other. The light over the multitude is murky. The music subsides to a low, ominous sound._

_All this time Washington has stood imperturbably upon the stair, looking grimly down with the eloquence and understanding of a great fatalism. Freedom, however, is amazed. She wrings her hands in despair. She cries out in anguish._]

FREEDOM

Sowing salvation, do I reap Havoc for harvest?

THE CHRONICLER

Upon the human tempest descends, once more, the calm of leadership. A marvelous boy emerges. The word is Hamilton’s.

FREEDOM

Ah!

[_She watches anxiously as Hamilton steps out of the gloom and comes up into the light about herself and Washington. Hope revives in her. She reaches her arms out toward him. Light shines upon the Spokesmen._]

HAMILTON

The business of America’s happiness is yet to be done.

(_The crowd snarls more loudly than ever._)

There is something noble and magnificent in the perspective of a great Federal Republic.... There is something proportionally diminutive and contemptible in the prospect of petty states with the appearance only of union.

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

(_To Freedom, speaking Hamilton’s words._)

Happy America, if those to whom thou hast entrusted the guardianship of thy infancy know how to provide for thy future repose!

[_From the people, a mocking laugh._]

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

(_Also speaking Hamilton’s words._)

Miserable and undone if their negligence or ignorance permits the spirit of discord to erect her banner on the ruins of your tranquillity!

[_Again the laughter of the people._

_Washington looks toward Hamilton who comes up nearer his chief. Freedom blesses him. The crowd shake their fists at him and turn away their faces. The laughter develops into a horrible jeer. Then Freedom speaks and the groups gather more closely together. But from each one of them, during her words, certain individuals detach themselves and move hesitantly until they stand about Hamilton’s feet._]

FREEDOM

Will you hear me, People? I understand you, People, as none other can, I serve you, People, as none other can; I tell you, here is your proving time. I bid you cast envy out from your hearts. For none will work you injustice, now, save only yourselves, And no folly will lead you astray now, but your own folly, Therefore, bestir you, People! You may not deny your leaders or your cause or me! You cannot, People, for we are your life!

HAMILTON

(_To Freedom._)

Tell them this Convention shall never rise until the Constitution is adopted!

FREEDOM

Marvelous Boy, Do you speak, now.

HAMILTON

(_Swinging to the people._)

Here, my countrymen, let us make a firm stand for our safety, our tranquillity, our dignity, our reputation. It belongs to us to vindicate the honor of the human race. Union will enable us to do it.... The necessity of a constitution is imminent. A nation without a national government is an awful spectacle. Why, then, do you hesitate? The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. The stream of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure original fountain of all legitimate authority. Let the thirteen states, bound together in an indissoluble union, concur in erecting one great American system, consecrated to the steady administration of the laws, dedicated to the protection of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, of anarchy, able to dictate the terms of connection between the old world and the new!

[_Gradually as he spoke, the groups have merged, slowly and diffidently, but surely. At the end they stand all together about his feet, looking up into his face. And the music crashes superbly out and light blazes upon the Spokesmen. And, as they begin to speak, the crowd joins hands and lifts linked arms high, as if to take an oath._]

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN AND FOUR VOICES

We, the people of the United States....

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN AND EIGHT VOICES

In order to form a more perfect union...

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN AND TWELVE VOICES

Establish justice...

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN AND SIXTEEN VOICES

Ensure domestic tranquillity...

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN AND TWENTY VOICES

Provide for the common defense...

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN AND TWENTY-FOUR VOICES

Promote the general welfare...

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN AND TWENTY-EIGHT VOICES

And secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity...

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN AND FULL CHOIR

Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

[_The triumphant music again and a shout of joy from all the people and Freedom lifts grateful hands to heaven._]

FOUR VOICES OF THE CHOIR

(_Intoning upon a high note._)

No law respecting an established religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.

THE FULL CHOIR

(_Sotto voce upon a higher note._)

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!

FREEDOM

We here highly resolve that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

[_Then the music bursts forth again and the first president is inaugurated. The scene is best described in the words of Lear’s diary. “All the churches in the city were opened and prayers offered up to the Great Ruler of the Universe for the preservation of the President. The troops of the city paraded.... The procession moved forward, the troops marching in front with all the ensigns of military parade. Next came the committees and heads of departments in their carriages, the foreign ministers and a long train of citizens.... About two hundred yards before we reached the hall we descended from our carriages and passed through the troops who were drawn up on either side, into the hall and the Senate Chamber where we found the Vice-President and the House of Representatives assembled. They received the President in a most respectful manner and the Vice-President conducted him to a balcony. The oath was administered in public by Chancellor Livingstone who proclaimed him President of the United States.”_]

WASHINGTON

My station is new. I walk on untrodden ground. With God’s help, I readily engage with you in the task of making a nation happy.

THE PEOPLE

God save our Washington! Long live our beloved President!

[_The celebration of Washington’s inauguration is then enacted with a torchlight procession, lanterns and transparencies and the frantic joy of the crowd and much singing of “Yankee Doodle.”_

_The scene darkens with the dying of the jubilation._

_The Chronicler rises._]

THE CHRONICLER

The eight years of administration pass. The faith of the people again grows cold. New voices speak flattery and falsehood and sow the seed of disaster to come. But the leaders are steadfast, always, and, even in farewell, the end of their leadership is wisdom.

[_The only light, now, shines upon the group of Freedom, Washington and Hamilton. The people stand, in the shadow, absolutely still and unresponsive._]

WASHINGTON

The time has come for me to return to retirement. Choice and prudence invite me to quit the scene. But a solicitude for your welfare which cannot end but with my life prompts me to offer to your solemn contemplation some sentiments which appear to me all important to the permanency of your felicity as a people.

FREEDOM

This is the warning word.

WASHINGTON

The power and right to establish government presuppose the duty to obey government. Providence connects the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue. Avoid the necessity of overgrown military establishments! Be warned against the baneful effects of the spirit of party! Promote institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. It is folly for one nation to look for disinterested favors from another. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.

THE CHRONICLER

The counsel is spoken. The farewell remains.

WASHINGTON

I shall carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view my errors with indulgence and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.

[_There is an instant of silence. Then Freedom puts her hands on the shoulders of Washington and Hamilton and looks into their eyes and the distant Chorus sings._]

THE CHORUS

And in regions far Such heroes bring ye forth As those from whom we came And plant our name Under that star Not known unto our north.

FREEDOM

(_Speaking above the Chorus._)

Ever and ever more, Under the western stars, Over the western lands, My leaders, Your names, Your words, Your dreams!

[_She turns with the two men and goes a few steps with them into the darkness above them. Then they go up and she is last seen looking after them. Darkness takes the entire scene._]

THE CHORUS

And in regions far, Such heroes bring ye forth, As those from whom we came....

_Part Three_

“_Social Freedom_”

THE CHRONICLER

The nation being established conceives the empire. The race, born of the romance of empire and nourished upon the adventure of freedom, turns to the wilderness.

THE CHOIR

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

THE CHRONICLER

Beyond these eastern mountains, the adventure of freedom is resumed, and the romance of empire lives anew!

THE CHOIR

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

[_Freedom turns at the shout and the music begins a soft, wild march theme. Suddenly possessed again, Freedom evokes the Western migration. As she begins to speak the first of it begins: a few timorous stragglers who appear from the trees at the left of the stage and peer up at her. Her gestures sweep them across the scene and they come, stopping here and there to build their camp fires. At the end of her harangue, five or six groups have spaced themselves along the line of the forestage, and from each group and its camp fire rises a thin column of smoke so that the varied and splendid processional of adventure which is to come will be seen behind this delicate colonnade._]

FREEDOM

Out of the east, Into the west, A vision of empire, my people, A vision of rivers and prairies, Of western mountains and a western ocean. And of a wider Freedom! New cities sleep unborn On the shores of the lakes and the rivers, Cities to be erected In a loftier image of Freedom, Cities, whence new generations, Forgetful of all save courage, Shall in their turn set out Into further western regions, Building cities and cities, Building always for Freedom, Building, renewing, creating.... Westward, westward, and westward, Over the walls of the mountains, Over the blight of the desert, To the urgent, star-scattered horizon, Where the stars and the sun and the moon Rise into the wind and the heavens, Out of the western ocean, Out of the west and the east, People, my people, set forward, For Freedom! For Freedom! For Freedom!

THE CHOIR

(_Shouting._)

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

[_With this, the musical accompaniment to Freedom’s words resolves itself into a triumphal march and the full bulk of the procession appears crossing from left to right of the stage. First are small wagons, so light you might almost carry them, as Birkbeck said of them, “yet strong enough to bear a good load of bedding, utensils and provisions and a swarm of young citizens.” Others have two horses and, sometimes, a cow or so. Other wagons are covered with canvas and blankets. There are Conestoga wagons and prairie schooners with herds of stock and sheep and the crowd of emigrants is gaily dressed as any gang of gipsies, red-shirted men, blue and yellow-skirted women, bright clothes for the children and bright blankets. And a great light grows up on the right of the stage into which this procession moves and all the while the circuit riders and hunters scatter through the crowd on their respective, mimed businesses. At the same time, shouting over the music, the two Spokesmen and the Choir have maintained a steady crescendo comment from the “Pioneers, O Pioneers!” of Walt Whitman._]

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

(_With the end of Freedom’s speech._)

Come, my tan-faced children, Follow well in order, get your weapons ready, Have you your pistols, have you your sharp-edged axes? Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

Have the elder races halted? Do they droop and end their lesson wearied over there beyond the seas? We take up the task eternal and the burden and the lesson, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

All the past we leave behind, We debouch upon a newer, mightier world, varied world, Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

We detachments steady throwing, Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep, Conquering, holding, daring, venturing as we go the unknown ways, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

We primeval forests felling, We the rivers stemming, vexing we and piercing the deep mines within, We the surface broad surveying, we the virgin soil upheaving, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

All the pulses of the world, Falling in they beat for us, with the Western movement beat, Holding single or together, steady moving to the front, all for us, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

Has the night descended? Was the road of late so toilsome? Did we stop discouraged, nodding on our way? Yet a passing hour I yield you in your tracks to pause oblivious, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

FREEDOM

Till with sound of trumpet, Far, far off the daybreak call--hark! how loud I hear it wind, Swift! to the head of the army!--swift! spring to your places, Pioneers!

THE CHOIR

O Pioneers!

[_At the final shout of the Choir, the western light turns suddenly bloody and the procession hurries off into murk and portent. At the same time a new light breaks over the forestage upon a sinister line of men which has come in between the thrones of the two Spokesmen._

_These men are negroes, naked, save for loin cloths and girdles, twenty-one in number, and all singers. The hands of each one are chained to the girdle of the one behind and they move up the slope toward Freedom in a slow, melancholy “V.”_

_As they move, they sing. Their song should, indeed, have scattered the echoes of the farewell acclamation of the pioneers. The strain of it is despair that takes refuge in worship. It is one of the old spirituals, “Go Down Moses.” They move, singing, up to Freedom and she comes sorrowfully down to meet them and the Chronicler rises._

_As the negroes finish their song, they kneel at Freedom’s feet and she bends over them._]

FREEDOM

While you suffer, I am nothing.

THE CHRONICLER

The trial of the race comes with the attainment of its empire. In the west the factions meet already and the issue is the slave.

FREEDOM

God alone knows the end Yet God understands!

[_The Chronicler sits and a blare of madness comes upon the music and a new group is upon the forestage. The center of this is an old man, white bearded, with a bloody head and a halter about his neck. Other figures stand about a gibbet. The music subsides softly into “John Brown’s Body” and continues to weave variations upon this until the final moment when the chorus of Union Soldiers takes it up. In the meanwhile, this old man, John Brown, speaks._]

JOHN BROWN

I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this land will never be purged away but with blood. For God has given the strength of the hills to Freedom. No man sent me here. I acknowledge no master in human form. I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them. That is why I am here. You may dispose of me very easily. I am nearly disposed of now. But this negro question is still to be settled. The end of that is not yet. I am ready. Do not keep me waiting. In no other possible way could I be used to so much advantage to the cause of God and of humanity.

[_He moves toward the gibbet and the scene goes into darkness with the pounding of a drum._]

FOUR VOICES

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

[_A pause and the drum again, tapped twice._]

EIGHT VOICES

(_Upon a higher note._)

This government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

[_Then light upon Freedom._]

FREEDOM

(_The light only upon her face._)

The day attends the sun and the event Attends the purpose of a steadfast mind. Always in all upheaval man must find The purpose of a master’s government.

Now in the darkling of calamity, The purpose and the character of one Called to a generation’s mastery Come as the sun,

Come and are known and spend Their powers hardily, And, in the end, Leave to the issue clarity again, And wisdom to the memories of men.

[_The light spreading about her discloses the figure of Abraham Lincoln standing at her feet. People gather at the sides of the stage._]

THE CHOIR

Lincoln ... Lincoln ... Lincoln....

LINCOLN

In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.

THE PEOPLE

(_Crescendo._)

Lincoln ... Lincoln ... Lincoln....

[_Freedom bends her head upon Lincoln. The negroes look up to him. The people come a little closer, moving restlessly among themselves with disturbed, though soundless, gestures._]

LINCOLN

I would save the Union.... If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could, at the same time, save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could, at the same time, destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.

[_Suddenly, as Lincoln’s voice concludes, the people divide impetuously, and draw back, in two great bodies, to either side of the stage._

_A cannon crashes out and all the people are aghast._

_Darkness obscures the two multitudes and the Spokesmen, in the light, strike antiphonally into the beautiful words which Mr. John Drinkwater wrote for the characters in his play, “Robert E. Lee.”_]

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

The strain comes and men’s wits break under it and fighting is the only way out.

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

War is the anger of bewildered peoples in front of questions that they can’t answer.

THE FIRST SPOKESMAN

The quarrel is so little beside the desolation that is coming.

THE SECOND SPOKESMAN

One year ... two ... three ... perhaps four! Then there will be just graves and a story and America.

[_Suddenly a pool of bloody light explodes upon the right of the stage and shows a knoll of gray uniforms about the flag of the Confederacy and the men in the light burst into the wild abandon of “Dixie.”_

_Then another pool of bloody light shows blue uniforms and the men and all the Chorus behind sing “John Brown’s Body” again, full voice._

_Then the light upon Lincoln is white and includes the group of slaves and the figure of Freedom._]

LINCOLN

All persons held as slaves are and, henceforward, shall be free. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

[_His hands bless the negroes and all the people look gratefully up to him and the armies turn their heads toward him._

_Two figures detach themselves from the two armies. One is Grant. The other is Lee. They walk toward each other and the armies fall back in great weariness. When they meet, the two generals speak._]

GRANT

Sir, you have given me occasion to be proud of my opponent.

LEE

I have not spared my strength. I acknowledge its defeat.

GRANT

You have come--

LEE