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Napoleon； mad about himself； to go on casually appearing and turning
everything upside down。 In the past it didn't so much matter； but our
modern machine is too delicate。 A few more knocks like the Great War；
another Luther or two； and the whole concern will go to pieces。 In future；
the men of reason must see that the madness of the world's maniacs is
canalised into proper channels； is made to do useful work； like a mountain
torrent driving a dynamo。。。〃
〃Making electricity to light a Swiss hotel；〃 said Denis。 〃You ought to
complete the simile。〃
Mr。 Scogan waved away the interruption。 〃There's only one thing to
be done；〃 he said。 〃The men of intelligence must combine； must
conspire； and seize power from the imbeciles and maniacs who now direct
us。 They must found the Rational State。〃
The heat that was slowly paralysing all Denis's mental and bodily
faculties； seemed to bring to Mr。 Scogan additional vitality。 He talked
with an ever…increasing energy； his hands moved in sharp； quick； precise
gestures； his eyes shone。 Hard； dry； and continuous； his voice went on
sounding and sounding in Denis's ears with the insistence of a mechanical
noise。
〃In the Rational State；〃 he heard Mr。 Scogan saying； 〃human beings
will be separated out into distinct species； not according to the colour of
their eyes or the shape of their skulls； but according to the qualities of their
mind and temperament。 Examining psychologists； trained to what would
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now seem an almost superhuman clairvoyance； will test each child that is
born and assign it to its proper species。 Duly labelled and docketed； the
child will be given the education suitable to members of its species； and
will be set； in adult life； to perform those functions which human beings of
his variety are capable of performing。〃
〃How many species will there be？〃 asked Denis。
〃A great many； no doubt；〃 Mr。 Scogan answered； 〃the classification
will be subtle and elaborate。 But it is not in the power of a prophet to go
into details； nor is it his business。 I will do more than indicate the three
main species into which the subjects of the Rational State will be divided。〃
He paused； cleared his throat； and coughed once or twice； evoking in
Denis's mind the vision of a table with a glass and water… bottle； and； lying
across one corner； a long white pointer for the lantern pictures。
〃The three main species；〃 Mr。 Scogan went on； 〃will be these： the
Directing Intelligences； the Men of Faith； and the Herd。 Among the
Intelligences will be found all those capable of thought； those who know
how to attain a certain degree of freedomand； alas； how limited； even
among the most intelligent； that freedom is！from the mental bondage of
their time。 A select body of Intelligences； drawn from among those who
have turned their attention to the problems of practical life； will be the
governors of the Rational State。 They will employ as their instruments of
power the second great species of humanitythe men of Faith； the
Madmen； as I have been calling them； who believe in things unreasonably；
with passion； and are ready to die for their beliefs and their desires。
These wild men； with their fearful potentialities for good or for mischief；
will no longer be allowed to react casually to a casual environment。 There
will be no more Caesar Borgias； no more Luthers and Mohammeds； no
more Joanna Southcotts； no more Comstocks。 The old…fashioned Man of
Faith and Desire； that haphazard creature of brute circumstance； who
might drive men to tears and repentance； or who might equally well set
them on to cutting one another's throats； will be replaced by a new sort of
madman； still externally the same； still bubbling with a seemingly
spontaneous enthusiasm； but； ah； how very different from the madman of
the past！ For the new Man of Faith will be expending his passion； his
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desire； and his enthusiasm in the propagation of some reasonable idea。
He will be； all unawares； the tool of some superior intelligence。〃
Mr。 Scogan chuckled maliciously； it was as though he were taking a
revenge； in the name of reason； on enthusiasts。 〃From their earliest years；
as soon； that is； as the examining psychologists have assigned them their
place in the classified scheme； the Men of Faith will have had their special
education under the eye of the Intelligences。 Moulded by a long process
of suggestion； they will go out into the world； preaching and practising
with a generous mania the coldly reasonable projects of the Directors from
above。 When these projects are accomplished； or when the ideas that
were useful a decade ago have ceased to be useful； the Intelligences will
inspire a new generation of madmen with a new eternal truth。 The
principal function of the Men of Faith will be to move and direct the
Multitude； that third great species consisting of those countless millions
who lack intelligence and are without valuable enthusiasm。 When any
particular effort is required of the Herd； when it is thought necessary； for
the sake of solidarity； that humanity shall be kindled and united by some
single enthusiastic desire or idea； the Men of Faith； primed with some
simple and satisfying creed； will be sent out on a mission of evangelisation。
At ordinary times； when the high spiritual temperature of a Crusade would
be unhealthy； the Men of Faith will be quietly and earnestly busy with the
great work of education。 In the upbringing of the Herd； humanity's
almost boundless suggestibility will be scientifically exploited。
Systematically； from earliest infancy； its members will be assured that
there is no happiness to be found except in work and obedience； they will
be made to believe that they are happy； that they are tremendously
important beings； and that everything they do is noble and significant。
For the lower species the earth will be restored to the centre of the
universe and man to pre… eminence on the earth。 Oh； I envy the lot of the
commonality in the Rational State！ Working their eight hours a day；
obeying their betters； convinced of their own grandeur and significance
and immortality； they will be marvellously happy； happier than any race of
men has ever been。 They will go through life in a rosy state of
intoxication； from which they will never awake。 The Men of Faith will
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play the cup…bearers at this lifelong bacchanal； filling and ever filling
again with the warm liquor that the Intelligences； in sad and sober privacy
behind the scenes； will brew for the intoxication of their subjects。〃
〃And what will be my place in the Rational State？〃 Denis drowsily
inquired from under his shading hand。
Mr。 Scogan looked at him for a moment in silence。 〃It's difficult to
see where you would fit in；〃 he said at last。 〃You couldn't do manual
work； you're too independent and unsuggestible to belong to the larger
Herd； you have none of the characteristics required in a Man of Faith。 As
for the Directing Intelligences； they will have to be marvellously clear and
merciless and penetrating。〃 He paused and shook his head。 〃No； I can
see no place for you； only the lethal chamber。〃
Deeply hurt； Denis emitted the imitation of a loud Homeric laugh。 〃I'm
getting sunstroke here；〃 he said； and got up。
Mr。 Scogan followed his example； and they walked slowly aw