Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
ButletTaggartTranscontinentaldropeverythingelse—yes,everything—anddevoteallourresources,equipmentandrailtothetrafficoftheEasternstates.Letusshrinkbacktothestartofthiscountry,butletusholdthatstart.We’llrunnotrainswestoftheMissouri.We’llbecomealocalrailroad—thelocaloftheindustrialEast.Letussaveourindustries.
There’snothinglefttosaveintheWest.Youcanrunagricultureforcenturiesbymanuallaborandoxcarts.Butdestroythelastofthiscountry’sindustrialplant—andcenturiesofeffortwon’tbeabletorebuilditortogathertheeconomicstrengthtomakeastart.Howdoyouexpectourindustries—orrailroads—tosurvivewithoutsteel?Howdoyouexpectanysteeltobeproducedifyoucutoffthesupplyofironore?SaveMinnesota,whatever’sleftofit.Thecountry?Youhavenocountrytosave,ifitsindustriesperish.Youcansacrificealegoranarm.Youcan’tsaveabodybysacrificingitsheartandbrain.Saveourindustries.SaveMinnesota.SavetheEasternSeaboard."
Itwasnouse.Shesaiditasmanytimes,withasmanydetails,statistics,figures,proofs,asshecouldforceoutofherwearymindintotheirevasivehearing.Itwasnouse.Theyneitherrefutednoragreed;theymerelylookedasifherargumentswerebesidethepoint.Therewasasoundofhiddenemphasisintheiranswers,asiftheyweregivingheranexplanation,butinacodetowhichshehadnokey.
