Page:Minnie's Bishop and Other Stories (1915).djvu/48

 eign politics, being quite uncomprehensible, are dull. American politics are to me the dullest of all, because I never get anywhere near understanding them. Nevertheless it was American politics my keen-eyed chess-player talked.

I listened and gained nothing from his denunciation of one party or the other. I forget now which it was that he denounced. At last I asked my question. I call it mine because I have asked it eighteen times of eighteen Americans and got eighteen different answers to it: "Why is there no Labour party in America—no Labour party that runs candidates in frank opposition to Republicans and Democrats alike, as the English Labour party opposes both Conservatives and Liberals?"

This is, I think, an intelligent question. There are labourers in America—immense numbers of them. It seems odd that they should be satisfied with either of the old-established parties. My new friend pondered the answer for a minute. Then he gave me his answer—a clear-cut, logically complete answer, which did not satisfy me in the least.

"America," he said, "is a land of free opportunities for all. Any man, no matter how he starts, may become rich."

"Lots of men do," I said. "Look at and ." I named two worthy millionaires who happened to be on board our steamer.

"Well," said my friend, "if a man thinks he's going to be rich—and every labourer in America