Part 4
Well, smoothly or not, it will have to be done.
HOVSTAD.
Yes, if the press exerts its influence.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Not at all necessary, my dear fellow; I am sure my brother——
HOVSTAD.
Excuse me, Doctor, but I must tell you that I think of taking the matter up.
DR. STOCKMANN.
In the paper?
HOVSTAD.
Yes. When I took over the _People’s Messenger_, I was determined to break up the ring of obstinate old blockheads who held everything in their hands.
DR. STOCKMANN.
But you told me yourself what came of it. You nearly ruined the paper.
HOVSTAD.
Yes, at that time we had to draw in our horns, that’s true enough. The whole Bath scheme might have fallen through if these men had been sent about their business. But now the Baths are an accomplished fact, and we can get on without these august personages.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Get on without them, yes; but still we owe them a great deal.
HOVSTAD.
The debt shall be duly acknowledged. But a journalist of my democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity slip through his fingers. We must explode the tradition of official infallibility. That rubbish must be got rid of, like every other superstition.
DR. STOCKMANN.
There I am with you with all my heart, Mr. Hovstad. If it’s a superstition, away with it!
HOVSTAD.
I should be sorry to attack the Burgomaster, as he is your brother. But I know you think with me—the truth before all other considerations.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Why, of course. [_Vehemently._] But still—! but still——!
HOVSTAD.
You mustn’t think ill of me. I am neither more self-interested nor more ambitious than other men.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Why, my dear fellow—who says you are?
HOVSTAD.
I come of humble folk, as you know; and I have had ample opportunities of seeing what the lower classes really require. And that is to have a share in the direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what develops ability and knowledge and self-respect——
DR. STOCKMANN.
I understand that perfectly.
HOVSTAD.
Yes; and I think a journalist incurs a heavy responsibility if he lets slip a chance of helping to emancipate the downtrodden masses. I know well enough that our oligarchy will denounce me as an agitator, and so forth; but what do I care? If only my conscience is clear, I——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Just so, just so, my dear Mr. Hovstad. But still—deuce take it——! [_A knock at the door._] Come in!
ASLAKSEN, _the printer, appears at the door leading to the hall. He is humbly but respectably dressed in black, wears a white necktie, slightly crumpled, and has a silk hat and gloves in his hand._
ASLAKSEN.
[_Bowing._] I beg pardon, Doctor, for making so bold——
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Rising._] Hallo! If it isn’t Mr. Aslaksen!
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, it’s me, Doctor.
HOVSTAD.
[_Rising._] Is it me you want, Aslaksen?
ASLAKSEN.
No, not at all. I didn’t know you were here. No, it’s the Doctor himself——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Well, what can I do for you?
ASLAKSEN.
Is it true, what Mr. Billing tells me, that you’re going to get us a better set of water-works?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, for the Baths.
ASLAKSEN.
Of course, of course. Then I just looked in to say that I'll back up the movement with all my might.
HOVSTAD.
[_To the DOCTOR._] You see!
DR. STOCKMANN.
I'm sure I thank you heartily; but——
ASLAKSEN.
You may find it no such bad thing to have us small middle-class men at your back. We form what you may call a compact majority in the town—when we really make up our minds, that’s to say. And it’s always well to have the majority with you, Doctor.
DR. STOCKMANN.
No doubt, no doubt; but I can’t conceive that any special measures will be necessary in this case. I should think in so clear and straightforward a matter——
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, but all the same, it can do no harm. I know the local authorities very well—the powers that be are not over ready to adopt suggestions from outsiders. So I think it wouldn’t be amiss if we made some sort of a demonstration.
HOVSTAD.
Precisely my opinion.
DR. STOCKMANN.
A demonstration, you say? But in what way would you demonstrate?
ASLAKSEN.
Of course with great moderation, Doctor. I always insist upon moderation; for moderation is a citizen’s first virtue—at least that’s my way of thinking.
DR. STOCKMANN.
We all know that, Mr. Aslaksen.
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, I think my moderation is generally recognised. And this affair of the water-works is very important for us small middle-class men. The Baths bid fair to become, as you might say, a little gold-mine for the town. We shall all have to live by the Baths, especially we house-owners. So we want to support the Baths all we can; and as I am Chairman of the House-owners' Association——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Well——?
ASLAKSEN.
And as I'm an active worker for the Temperance[9] Society—of course you know, Doctor, that I'm a temperance man?
DR. STOCKMANN.
To be sure, to be sure.
ASLAKSEN.
Well, you’ll understand that I come in contact with a great many people. And as I'm known to be a prudent and law-abiding citizen, as you yourself remarked, Doctor, I have a certain influence in the town, and hold some power in my hands—though I say it that shouldn’t.
DR. STOCKMANN.
I know that very well, Mr. Aslaksen.
ASLAKSEN.
Well then, you see—it would be easy for me to get up an address, if it came to a pinch.
DR. STOCKMANN.
An address?
ASLAKSEN.
Yes, a kind of vote of thanks to you, from the citizens of the town, for your action in a matter of such general concern. Of course it will have to be drawn up with all fitting moderation, so as to give no offence to the authorities and parties in power. But so long as we’re careful about that, no one can take it ill, I should think.
HOVSTAD.
Well, even if they didn’t particularly like it——
ASLAKSEN.
No no no; no offence to the powers that be, Mr. Hovstad. No opposition to people that can take it out of us again so easily. I've had enough of that in my time; no good ever comes of it. But no one can object to the free but temperate expression of a citizen’s opinion.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Shaking his hand._] I can’t tell you, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, how heartily it delights me to find so much support among my fellow townsmen. I'm so happy—so happy! Come, you’ll have a glass of sherry? Eh?
ASLAKSEN.
No, thank you; I never touch spirituous liquors.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Well, then, a glass of beer—what do you say to that?
ASLAKSEN.
Thanks, not that either, Doctor. I never take anything so early in the day. And now I'll be off round the town, and talk to some of the house-owners, and prepare public opinion.
DR. STOCKMANN.
It’s extremely kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but I really cannot get it into my head that all these preparations are necessary. The affair seems to me so simple and self-evident.
ASLAKSEN.
The authorities always move slowly, Doctor—God forbid I should blame them for it——
HOVSTAD.
We’ll stir them up in the paper to-morrow, Aslaksen.
ASLAKSEN.
No violence, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with moderation, or you’ll do nothing with them. Take my advice; I've picked up experience in the school of life.—And now I'll say good morning, Doctor. You know now that at least you have us small middle-class men behind you, solid as a wall. You have the compact majority on your side, Doctor.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Many thanks, my dear Mr. ASLAKSEN. [_Holds out his hand._] Good-bye, good-bye.
ASLAKSEN.
Are you coming to the office, Mr. Hovstad?
HOVSTAD.
I shall come on presently. I have still one or two things to arrange.
ASLAKSEN.
Very well.
[_Bows and goes. DR. STOCKMANN accompanies him into the hall._
HOVSTAD.
[_As the DOCTOR re-enters._] Well, what do you say to that, Doctor? Don’t you think it is high time we should give all this weak-kneed, half-hearted cowardice a good shaking up?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Are you speaking of Aslaksen?
HOVSTAD.
Yes, I am. He’s a decent enough fellow, but he’s one of those who are sunk in the swamp. And most people here are just like him; they are for ever wavering and wobbling from side to side; what with scruples and misgivings, they never dare advance a step.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, but Aslaksen seems to me thoroughly well-intentioned.
HOVSTAD.
There is one thing I value more than good intentions, and that is an attitude of manly self-reliance.
DR. STOCKMANN.
There I am quite with you.
HOVSTAD.
So I am going to seize this opportunity, and try whether I can’t for once put a little grit into their good intentions. The worship of authority must be rooted up in this town. This gross, inexcusable blunder of the waterworks must be brought home clearly to every voter.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Very well. If you think it’s for the good of the community, so be it; but not till I have spoken to my brother.
HOVSTAD.
At all events, I shall be writing my leader in the meantime. And if the Burgomaster won’t take the matter up——
DR. STOCKMANN.
But how can you conceive his refusing?
HOVSTAD.
Oh, it’s not inconceivable. And then——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Well then, I promise you—; look here—in that case you may print my paper—put it in just as it is.
HOVSTAD.
May I? Is that a promise?
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Handing him the manuscript._] There it is; take it with you. You may as well read it in any case; you can return it to me afterwards.
HOVSTAD.
Very good; I shall do so. And now, good-bye, Doctor.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Good-bye, good-bye. You’ll see it will all go smoothly, Mr. Hovstad—as smoothly as possible.
HOVSTAD.
H'm—we shall see.
[_Bows and goes out through the hall._
*/
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Going to the dining-room door and looking in._] Katrina! Hallo! are you back, Petra?
PETRA.
[_Entering._] Yes, I've just got back from school.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Entering._] Hasn’t he been here yet?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Peter? No; but I have been having a long talk with Hovstad. He’s quite enthusiastic about my discovery. It turns out to be of much wider import than I thought at first. So he has placed his paper at my disposal, if I should require it.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Do you think you will?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Not I! But at the same time, one cannot but be proud to know that the enlightened, independent press is on one’s side. And what do you think? I have had a visit from the Chairman of the House-owners' Association too.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Really? What did he want?
DR. STOCKMANN.
To assure me of his support. They will all stand by me at a pinch. Katrina, do you know what I have behind me?
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Behind you? No. What have you behind you?
DR. STOCKMANN.
The compact majority!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Oh! Is that good for you, Thomas?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, indeed; I should think it _was_ good. [_Rubbing his hands as he walks up and down._] Great God! what a delight it is to feel oneself in such brotherly unison with one’s fellow townsmen?
PETRA.
And to do so much that’s good and useful, father!
DR. STOCKMANN.
And all for one’s native town, too!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
There’s the bell.
DR. STOCKMANN.
That must be he. [_Knock at the door._] Come in!
_Enter BURGOMASTER STOCKMANN from the hall._
BURGOMASTER.
Good morning.
DR. STOCKMANN.
I'm glad to see you, Peter.
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Good morning, brother-in-law. How are you?
BURGOMASTER.
Oh, thanks, so-so. [_To the DOCTOR._] Yesterday evening, after office hours, I received from you a dissertation upon the state of the water at the Baths.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes. Have you read it?
BURGOMASTER.
I have.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And what do you think of the affair?
BURGOMASTER.
H'm— _With a sidelong glance._
MRS. STOCKMANN.
Come, Petra.
[_She and PETRA go into the room on the left._
BURGOMASTER.
[_After a pause._] Was it necessary to make all these investigations behind my back?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, till I was absolutely certain, I——
BURGOMASTER.
And are you absolutely certain now?
DR. STOCKMANN.
My paper must surely have convinced you of that.
BURGOMASTER.
Is it your intention to submit this statement to the Board of Directors, as a sort of official document?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Of course. Something must be done in the matter, and that promptly.
BURGOMASTER.
As usual, you use very strong expressions in your statement. Amongst other things, you say that what we offer our visitors is a slow poison.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Why, Peter, what else can it be called? Only think—poisoned water both internally and externally! And that to poor invalids who come to us in all confidence, and pay us handsomely to cure them!
BURGOMASTER.
And then you announce as your conclusion that we must build a sewer to carry off the alleged impurities from the Mill Dale, and must re-lay all the water-pipes.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes. Can you suggest any other plan?—I know of none.
BURGOMASTER.
I found a pretext for looking in at the town engineer’s this morning, and—in a half-jesting way—I mentioned these alterations as things we might possibly have to consider, at some future time.
DR. STOCKMANN.
At some future time!
BURGOMASTER.
Of course he smiled at what he thought my extravagance. Have you taken the trouble to think what your proposed alterations would cost? From what the engineer said, I gathered that the expenses would probably mount up to several hundred thousand crowns.
DR. STOCKMANN.
So much as that?
BURGOMASTER.
Yes. But that is not the worst. The work would take at least two years.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Two years! Do you mean to say two whole years?
BURGOMASTER.
At least. And what are we to do with the Baths in the meanwhile? Are we to close them? We should have no alternative. Do you think any one would come here, if it got abroad that the water was pestilential?
DR. STOCKMANN.
But, Peter, that’s precisely what it is.
BURGOMASTER.
And all this now, just now, when the Baths are doing so well! Neighbouring towns, too, are not without their claims to rank as health-resorts. Do you think they would not at once set to work to divert the full stream of visitors to themselves? Undoubtedly they would; and we should be left stranded. We should probably have to give up the whole costly undertaking; and so you would have ruined your native town.
DR. STOCKMANN.
I—ruined——!
BURGOMASTER.
It is only through the Baths that the town has any future worth speaking of. You surely know that as well as I do.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Then what do you think should be done?
BURGOMASTER.
I have not succeeded in convincing myself that the condition of the water at the Baths is as serious as your statement represents.
DR. STOCKMANN.
I tell you it’s if anything worse—or will be in the summer, when the hot weather sets in.
BURGOMASTER.
I repeat that I believe you exaggerate greatly. A competent physician should know what measures to take—he should be able to obviate deleterious influences, and to counteract them in case they should make themselves unmistakably felt.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Indeed—? And then—?
BURGOMASTER.
The existing water-works are, once for all, a fact, and must naturally be treated as such. But when the time comes, the Directors will probably not be indisposed to consider whether it may not be possible, without unreasonable pecuniary sacrifices, to introduce certain improvements.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And do you imagine I could ever be a party to such dishonesty?
BURGOMASTER.
Dishonesty?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, it would be dishonesty—a fraud, a lie, an absolute crime against the public, against society as a whole!
BURGOMASTER.
I have not, as I before remarked, been able to convince myself that there is really any such imminent danger.
DR. STOCKMANN.
You have! You must have! I know that my demonstration is absolutely clear and convincing. And you understand it perfectly, Peter, only you won’t admit it. It was you who insisted that both the Bath-buildings and the water-works should be placed where they now are; and it’s _that_—it’s that damned blunder that you won’t confess. Pshaw! Do you think I don’t see through you?
BURGOMASTER.
And even it were so? If I do watch over my reputation with a certain anxiety, I do it for the good of the town. Without moral authority I cannot guide and direct affairs in the way I consider most conducive to the general welfare. Therefore—and on various other grounds—it is of great moment to me that your statement should not be submitted to the Board of Directors. It must be kept back, for the good of the community. Later on I will bring up the matter for discussion, and we will do the best we can, quietly; but not a word, not a whisper, of this unfortunate business must come to the public ears.
DR. STOCKMANN.
But it can’t be prevented now, my dear Peter.
BURGOMASTER.
It must and shall be prevented.
DR. STOCKMANN.
It can’t be, I tell you; far too many people know about it already.
BURGOMASTER.
Know about it! Who? Surely not those fellows on the _People’s Messenger_——?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Oh yes; they know. The liberal, independent press will take good care that you do your duty.
BURGOMASTER.
[_After a short pause._] You are an amazingly reckless man, Thomas. Have not you reflected what the consequences of this may be to yourself?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Consequences?—Consequences to me?
BURGOMASTER.
Yes—to you and yours.
DR. STOCKMANN.
What the devil do you mean?
BURGOMASTER.
I believe I have always shown myself ready and willing to lend you a helping hand.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, you have, and I thank you for it.
BURGOMASTER.
I ask for no thanks. Indeed, I was in some measure forced to act as I did—for my own sake. I always hoped I should be able to keep you a little in check, if I helped to improve your pecuniary position.
DR. STOCKMANN.
What! So it was only for your own sake——!
BURGOMASTER.
In a measure, I say. It is painful for a man in an official position, when his nearest relative goes and compromises himself time after time.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And you think I do that?
BURGOMASTER.
Yes, unfortunately, you do, without knowing it. Yours is a turbulent, unruly, rebellious spirit. And then you have an unhappy propensity for rushing into print upon every possible and impossible occasion. You no sooner hit upon an idea than you must needs write a newspaper article or a whole pamphlet about it.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Isn’t it a citizen’s duty, when he has conceived a new idea, to communicate it to the public!
BURGOMASTER.
Oh, the public has no need for new ideas. The public gets on best with the good old recognised ideas it has already.
DR. STOCKMANN.
You say that right out!
BURGOMASTER.
Yes, I must speak frankly to you for once. Hitherto I have tried to avoid it, for I know how irritable you are; but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception how much you injure yourself by your officiousness. You complain of the authorities, ay, of the Government itself—you cry them down and maintain that you have been slighted, persecuted. But what else can you expect, with your impossible disposition?
DR. STOCKMANN.
Oh, indeed! So I am impossible, am I?
BURGOMASTER.
Yes, Thomas, you are an impossible man to work with. I know that from experience. You have no consideration for any one or any thing; you seem quite to forget that you have me to thank for your position as medical officer of the Baths——
DR. STOCKMANN.
It was mine by right! Mine, and no one else’s! I was the first to discover the town’s capabilities as a watering-place; I saw them, and, at that time, I alone. For years I fought single-handed for this idea of mine; I wrote and wrote——
BURGOMASTER.
No doubt; but then the right time had not come. Of course, in that out-of-the-world corner, you could not judge of that. As soon as the propitious moment arrived, I—and others—took the matter in hand——
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, and you went and bungled the whole of my glorious plan. Oh, we see now what a set of wiseacres you were!
BURGOMASTER.
All _I_ can see is that you are again seeking an outlet for your pugnacity. You want to make an onslaught on your superiors—that is an old habit of yours. You cannot endure any authority over you; you look askance at any one who holds a higher post than your own; you regard him as a personal enemy—and then you care nothing what kind of weapon you use against him. But now I have shown you how much is at stake for the town, and consequently for me too. And therefore I warn you, Thomas, that I am inexorable in the demand I am about to make of you!
DR. STOCKMANN.
What demand?
BURGOMASTER.
As you have not had the sense to refrain from chattering to outsiders about this delicate business, which should have been kept an official secret, of course it cannot now be hushed up. All sorts of rumours will get abroad, and evil-disposed persons will invent all sorts of additions to them. It will therefore be necessary for you publicly to contradict these rumours.
DR. STOCKMANN.
I! How? I don’t understand you?
BURGOMASTER.
We expect that, after further investigation, you will come to the conclusion that the affair is not nearly so serious or pressing as you had at first imagined.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Aha! So you expect that?
BURGOMASTER.
Furthermore, we expect you to express your confidence that the Board of Directors will thoroughly and conscientiously carry out all measures for the remedying of any possible defects.
DR. STOCKMANN.
Yes, but that you’ll never be able to do, so long as you go on tinkering and patching. I tell you that, Peter; and it’s my deepest, sincerest conviction——
BURGOMASTER.
As an official, you have no right to hold any individual conviction.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Starting._] No right to——?
BURGOMASTER.
As an official, I say. In your private capacity, of course, it is another matter. But as a subordinate official of the Baths, you have no right to express any conviction at issue with that of your superiors.
DR. STOCKMANN.
This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, have no right to——!
BURGOMASTER.
The matter in question is not a purely scientific one; it is a complex affair; it has both a technical and an economic side.
DR. STOCKMANN.
What the devil do I care what it is! I will be free to speak my mind upon any subject under the sun!
BURGOMASTER.
As you please—so long as it does not concern the Baths. With them we forbid you to meddle.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Shouts._] You forbid——! You! A set of——
BURGOMASTER.
_I_ forbid it—_I_, your chief; and when I issue an order, you have simply to obey.
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Controlling himself._] Upon my word, Peter, if you weren’t my brother——
PETRA.
[_Tears open the door._] Father, you shan’t submit to this!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
[_Following her._] Petra, Petra!
BURGOMASTER.
Ah! So we have been listening!
MRS. STOCKMANN.
The partition is so thin, we couldn’t help——
PETRA.
I stood and listened on purpose.
BURGOMASTER.
Well, on the whole, I am not sorry——
DR. STOCKMANN.
[_Coming nearer to him._] You spoke to me of forbidding and obeying——
BURGOMASTER.
You have forced me to adopt that tone.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And am I to give myself the lie, in a public declaration?
BURGOMASTER.
We consider it absolutely necessary that you should issue a statement in the terms indicated.
DR. STOCKMANN.
And if I do not obey?
BURGOMASTER.