Chapter 26 Part IV

Truth, Honor and Justice at a Dinner Party

The judge smiled briefly. “We in this room are the fortunate. We are worldlier. We have travelled. We have observed much. We who are superior in mind and capabilities are in possession of knowledge many others are not. And we know what is important to civilization. The common men of the mass public are limited by their stupidity, lack of knowledge and greed and do not understand the complexity of governing or what is needed to ensure a peaceful and stable society where men can flourish. They cannot be trusted to their devices. So, we are burdened by a great responsibility to be leaders of our people. We know the truths that must be maintained, and the truths that must be shrouded in secrecy for the benefit of our people.” 

The words silenced the table and even Victoria felt the horribleness of the logic. She could not deny what her father said.

Then a short chuckle emerged. “Guardians of a sacred truth? I toast you to that,” said Thomas DeKay Winans, raising his goblet.  

The judge eyed him and gave a slight nod.  

“If you do not believe in anything, monsieur, then what is your motivator?” Madame asked.

“Duty, Madame. The execution of my duty.”  

“But wouldn’t a sense of duty rely on a moral code, just like honor? Many men see duty in the execution of their honor. In France we have the noblesse oblige. But what would an American man of integrity say instead?” she asked, looking knowingly at Teackle Harwood.  

“I acknowledge morality, Madame. But it is not necessary to believe in it as long as I carry out the duty expected of me.” 

“Ah. I see that Monsieur le Juge does not trust belief.” 

The judge smiled briefly again and put down his goblet. “Belief invites zealotry, Madame,” he calmly responded. “And who knows how many untold millions have died in the name of belief. If my duty is guided by anything, then let it be the justice described by Aristotle in his Nicomachean ethics, the dual forces of nominos, law-abiding, and isos, fairness. As an imperfect people living in an imperfect world, we cannot ask for anything better, which Mr. Lincoln fails to understand in his abandonment of the obligations of a president-elect to his duty to maintain the peace and order in these United States. But it is true most do men need to believe in something. It gives meaning to their lives. They are not strong enough to live without belief. They do not have the discipline that would be required.” 

“If only they knew the truth,” Winans agreed.  

“It would be a tragedy. They would be consumed by terrible doubt and doubt is hardly productive. Our civilization would collapse.” 

“I do not disagree,” Madame quietly said.

Victoria darkly suspected what her father and the Frenchwoman meant. But Philip looked at both with incomprehension growing on his face. 

“Do you believe in anything, sir?” he demanded to his father. “If there is nothing to believe in, then what is left?” 

An awkward silence descended upon the table. Then Mrs. Jerome Bonaparte, hitherto silent, softly spoke. “I once heard my father say how important it was for children to believe in Father Christmas,” she said, “because it would teach them to believe in justice and mercy and fairness when they grew up. It took me some time to understand what he meant. At least, sometimes I think I do.”