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that which the more advanced nations above the earth now enjoy。 They
were familiar with most of our mechanical inventions； including the
application of steam as well as gas。 The communities were in fierce
competition with each other。 They had their rich and their poor； they had
orators and conquerors； they made war either for a domain or an idea。
Though the various states acknowledged various forms of government；
free institutions were beginning to preponderate； popular assemblies
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increased in power； republics soon became general； the democracy to
which the most enlightened European politicians look forward as the
extreme goal of political advancement； and which still prevailed among
other subterranean races； whom they despised as barbarians； the loftier
family of Ana； to which belonged the tribe I was visiting； looked back to
as one of the crude and ignorant experiments which belong to the infancy
of political science。 It was the age of envy and hate； of fierce passions；
of 34constant social changes more or less violent； of strife between classes；
of war between state and state。 This phase of society lasted； however； for
some ages； and was finally brought to a close； at least among the nobler
and more intellectual populations； by the gradual discovery of the latent
powers stored in the all…permeating fluid which they denominate Vril。
According to the account I received from Zee； who； as an erudite
professor of the College of Sages； had studied such matters more
diligently than any other member of my host's family； this fluid is capable
of being raised and disciplined into the mightiest agency over all forms of
matter； animate or inanimate。 It can destroy like the flash of lightning；
yet； differently applied； it can replenish or invigorate life； heal； and
preserve； and on it they chiefly rely for the cure of disease； or rather for
enabling the physical organisation to re…establish the due equilibrium of its
natural powers； and thereby to cure itself。 By this agency they rend way
through the most solid substances； and open valleys for culture through the
rocks of their subterranean wilderness。 From it they extract the light
which supplies their lamps； finding it steadier； softer； and healthier than
the other inflammable materials they had formerly used。
But the effects of the alleged discovery of the means to direct the more
terrible force of vril were chiefly remarkable in their influence upon social
polity。 As these effects became familiarly known and skillfully
administered； war between the vril…discoverers ceased； for they brought
the art of destruction to such perfection as to annul all superiority in
numbers； discipline； or military skill。 The fire lodged in the hollow of a
rod directed by the hand of a child could shatter the strongest fortress； or
cleave its burning way from the van to the rear of an embattled host。 If
army met army； and both had command of this agency； it could be but to
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The Coming Race
the annihilation of each。 The age of war was therefore gone； but with the
35cessation of war other effects bearing upon the social state soon became
apparent。 Man was so completely at the mercy of man； each whom he
encountered being able； if so willing； to slay him on the instant； that all
notions of government by force gradually vanished from political systems
and forms of law。 It is only by force that vast communities； dispersed
through great distances of space； can be kept together； but now there was
no longer either the necessity of self…preservation or the pride of
aggrandisement to make one state desire to preponderate in population
over another。
The Vril…discoverers thus； in the course of a few generations；
peacefully split into communities of moderate size。 The tribe amongst
which I had fallen was limited to 12；000 families。 Each tribe occupied a
territory sufficient for all its wants； and at stated periods the surplus
population departed to seek a realm of its own。 There appeared no
necessity for any arbitrary selection of these emigrants； there was always a
sufficient number who volunteered to depart。
These subdivided states； petty if we regard either territory or
population；… all appertained to one vast general family。 They spoke the
same language； though the dialects might slightly differ。 They
intermarried； They maintained the same general laws and customs； and so
important a bond between these several communities was the knowledge
of vril and the practice of its agencies； that the word A…Vril was
synonymous with civilisation； and Vril…ya； signifying 〃The Civilised
Nations；〃 was the common name by which the communities employing
the uses of vril distinguished themselves from such of the Ana as were yet
in a state of barbarism。
The government of the tribe of Vril…ya I am treating of was apparently
very complicated； really very simple。 It was based upon a principle
recognised in theory； though little carried out in practice； above ground…
viz。； that the object of all systems of philosophical thought tends to the
attainment of unity； or the ascent through all intervening labyrinths to the
simplicity of a single first cause or principle。 Thus in 36politics； even
republican writers have agreed that a benevolent autocracy would insure
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The Coming Race
the best administration； if there were any guarantees for its continuance； or
against its gradual abuse of the powers accorded to it。 This singular
community elected therefore a single supreme magistrate styled Tur； he
held his office nominally for life； but he could seldom be induced to retain