"Olaf Stapledon - Light and the Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stapledon Olaf)

Under the influence of the Friends and the growing danger from Russia, four North American states, Canada, the Atlantic
Republic, the Mississippi Republic, and the Pacific Republic, were once more unified. North America became once more a great,
though not the greatest, power. For a while, moreover, it looked as though North America would become the model community,
destined to save mankind by example and by leadership. Here at last, it seemed, was the true though inarticulate and un-doctrinal
faith in the spirit. Here was the true liberalism of self-disciplined free citizens, the true communism of mutually respecting
individuals. Rumour of this new happy society began to spread even in conquered Europe in spite of the Russian imperial
censorship, and to hearten the many secret opponents of the dictatorship. Between the new North America and the new India
there was close contact and interchange of ideas. From the Indian wisdom the Friends learned much, and they gave in return
much American practical skill.

But it became clear that the American renaissance somehow lacked vitality. Somehow the old American forcefulness and drive
had waned. On the surface all seemed well, and indeed Utopian. The population lived in security and frugal comfort. Class
differences had almost wholly vanished. Education was consciously directed towards the creation of responsible citizens.
European classical and Christian culture was studied afresh, with a new zeal and a new critical judgment; for it was realized that
in the European tradition lay the true antidote to the new-fangled barbarism. Yet in spite of all this manifestation of sanity and
good will, something was lacking. The American example appealed only to those who were already well- disposed. The great
mass of mankind remained unimpressed. Many observers conceded that North America was a comfortable and amiable society;
but it was stagnant, they said, and mediocre. It was incapable of giving a lead to a troubled world. No doubt this general
ineffectiveness was partly due to the decline of average intelligence which North America shared with Europe. There Was a lack




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of able leaders and men of far-reaching vision; and the average citizen, though well trained in citizenship, was mentally sluggish
and incapable of clear-headed devotion to the ideals of his state. The new Russian imperialism, on the other hand, in spite of all
its faults, combined the crusading and at heart mystical fervour of the short- lived German Fourth Reich with some measure at
least of the fundamental rightness the original Russian revolution. In competition with the vigour and glamour of Russia the
American example had little power to attract 'men. Even in the South American continent the lead given by the North Americans
proved after all ineffective. One by one the Southern states turned increasingly to Russia for guidance, or were forcibly annexed.

In the Northern Continent itself disheartenment was spreading. One of its causes, and one of its effects, was an increasingly rapid
decline of population. Every inducement was made to encourage procreation, but in vain. The state granted high maternity
subsidies, and honorific titles were offered to parents of large families. Contraception, though not illegal, was morally
condemned. In spite of all this, the birth rate continued to decline, and the average age of the population to increase. Labour
became a most precious commodity. Labour-saving devices were developed to a pitch hitherto unknown on the planet. Domestic
service was completely eliminated by electrical contraptions. Transport over the whole country was carried out mainly by self-
regulating railways. The predominantly middle-aged population felt more at home on the ground than in the air. There was no
shortage of power, for the deeply indented north western coast-line afforded vast resources of tidal electricity. But in spite of this
wealth of power and other physical resources North American society began to fall into disorder simply through its mediocre
intelligence and increasing shortage of young people. Every child was brought up under the anxious care of the National Fertility
Department. Every device of education and technical training was lavished upon him, or her. Every young man and every young
woman was assured of prosperity and of a career of skilled work in service of the community. But the increasing preponderance
of the middle-aged gave an increasingly conservative tilt to the whole social policy. In spite of lip-service to the old pioneering