Seraphin cast a glance over the assembly. He received the painful
impression of a hopeless minority. Barely forty votes would the
ultramontanes be able to send to each of the wards. To compensate for
numbers, intelligence and faith were represented in the meeting.
Elegant gentlemen with intellectual countenances sat or stood in the
company of respectable tradesmen, and the long black coats of the
clergy were not few in number. On a table lay two packages of yellow
tickets to be distributed among the members of the assembly. At the
same table sat the chairman, a commissary of police named Parteiling,
whose business it was to watch the proceedings, and several other
gentlemen.

"Compared with the colossal preponderance of progress, our influence is
insignificant, and, compared with the masses of our opponents our
numerical strength is still less encouraging," said the speaker. "If in
connection with this disheartening fact you take into consideration the
pressure which progress has it in its power to exert on the various
relations of life through numerous auxiliary means, if you remember
that our opponents can dismiss from employment all such as dare uphold
views differing from their own, it becomes clear that no ordinary
amount of courage is required to entertain and proclaim convictions
hostile to progress."

Seraphin thought of Spitzkopf's mode of electioneering, and of the
terrible threats made to the "wild men," and concluded the incredible
statement was lamentably correct.

"Viewing things in this light," proceeded the orator, "I congratulate
the present assembly upon its unusual degree of pluck, for courage is
required to go into battle with a clear knowledge of the overwhelming
strength of the enemy. We have rallied round the banner of our
convictions notwithstanding that the numbers of the enemy make victory
hopeless. We are determined to cast our votes in support of religion
and morality in defiance of the scorn, blasphemy, and violence which
the well-known terrorism of progress will not fail to employ in order
to frighten us from the exercise of our privilege as citizens. We must
be prepared, gentlemen, to hear a multitude of sarcastic remarks and
coarse witticisms, both in the streets and at the polls. I adjure you
to maintain the deportment alone worthy of our cause. A gentleman never
replies to the aggressions of rudeness, and should you wish to take the
conduct of our opponents in gay good-humor, just