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 out the sound of the waterfall which nearby thundered down against the rock and like a live column of crystal reflected all the prismatic colors of the sunshine in a shimmering ribbon above the heads of the gathering.

Zakhar continued, “Cast your eyes upon that banner again! You will further note that each link of the chain is encrusted with silver in various pleasing designs. These incrustations are not a burden upon the links but add to their general attractiveness and stoutness. Thus each community also has its invaluable customs and institutions of government, born of necessity and established by the wisdom and experience of our predecessors, which hold it together.”

“These institutions are sacred not because they are ancient and were established by our forefathers but because they are democratic, non-coercive and non-restraining to the honest and law-abiding individuals and repressive only to those who are evil and wish to harm the community. Nor do these institutions of government restrain or coerce the municipality but lend it the power and authority to preserve what it holds good and beneficial and to destroy that which is deemed harmful and evil.”

“If it were not for those silver incrustations the wooden links could easily crack and break and their union within the chain be destroyed. Therefore, if it were not for our sacred, well-established institutions of democratic government, our fundamental associations within and outside the township, which insure order and mutual protection for all the members, the community would fall apart.”

“Take heed, estimable citizens! The hand of a thief has stretched forth its talons to tear off the silver incrustations from our link, to weaken and then trample under-foot our liberty and our traditions of independent government under which we have so tranquilly and fortunately lived!”

“We will heed! We will not allow him to do it!” cried