The Price He Paid — page 42: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PLAIN TALK. 33 selves to half measures, which adjusted temporary difficulties, but left the deeper discord strong and abiding as ever. At length Raven was appointed head of the administration, and city and province soon became aware that a firmer grasp was on the reins. The new governor went to work with an energy, and at the same time, with a-reckless dis- regard of such persons and interests as stood in’ his way, which raised a perfect storm against him. Appeals, protests, expostulations, and complaints flowed in to headquarters in an unceasing stream, but the ministry knew too well the value of their representative not to lend him full support. Another so placed might have recoiled before the unbounded unpopularity which his proceedings brought on him, have given way, vanquished by tne difficulties and vexations inherent to the situation—Raven | re- mained athis post. He wasaman whoin every circumstance of life sought, rather than avoided, a contest, and the innate despotism of his nature here found ample room for its development. He troubled himself little with considerations as whether the measures he judged necessary were strictly within legal bounds, and met all the accusations freely hurled at him, all the charges of absolutism anda violent abuse of power, with the one steady reply: “My orders will be carried out!” In this way he at length succeeded in reducing the rebellious elements to submission. Both city and province came to see that it was impossible for them to carry on the war against this man, who adopted as the rule and regulation of his conduct, not their rights, but his own might. The times were not propitious for open resistance. A period of severe reaction had set in, and any active sedition would certainly have been nipped in the bud; so the party of opposition sub- mitted, reluctantly, indeed, and with an ill-grace, but still submitted; and the governor, who had so brilliantly accomplished his task, was loaded with honors. Years had passed since then. People had grown accustomed to the despotic regime under which they lived, and had learned to regard the baron with gs) (E(0) EOmichoo