Patrik Ouredník - The Opportune Moment, 1855

Dumas took the floor and declared that the reason he and his friends had stood for the presidium was to salvage what could still be salvaged. He said that the journey was nearing its end and that it would be a good idea to clarify some matters before we embarked on the second leg of the voyage. That some of the settlers, as had come to light in recent days, didn’t wish to continue in the journey to Fraternitas and intended to settle in Rio de Janeiro or to depart for Argentina or the United States. And that it would be a good idea to question each of the settlers individually and clarify who stood where. Once we knew who didn’t wish to continue on the journey, we would set aside their supplies and the sum to which they were entitled from the shared treasury. The rest of us, on the other hand, would surrender our private funds and belongings to joint administration before we landed, so that it would be clear whom we could actually count on. He and his friends had drawn up a pledge of honor, which each of us had to sign before setting out on the overland journey. Those who didn’t know how to write could authorize someone else to sign on their behalf. All matters would be decided by public vote without regard to whether or not the question had been placed on the agenda in advance. In the case of a tie, the vote would be decided by lots. All settlers aged thirteen years and above were allowed to vote, the votes of those under thirteen would be cast by their parents or, assuming they could speak, an individual chosen by the young settlers. Further they proposed that participation in meetings from now on be truly obligatory, so that no one could say they didn’t know what we had agreed on. If someone missed a meeting and didn’t have a serious reason (illness), the next day he would get nothing to eat. The second time he would be put in isolation from the collective for twenty-four hours, the third time he would be expelled from the settlement.

Dumas said that assuming we agreed to the proposals, tomorrow he and his friends would put together a new list of settlers and then in the evening they would read the pledge of honor. Anyone not present or not wishing to sign would be crossed off the list. At which point we would proceed to the apportioning of shared property. The following day, meaning the day after tomorrow, we would know finally who was in and who was out and could move ahead with settling more important matters.

He said that if this proposal failed to meet with the agreement of those present, he didn’t know what else he could offer our collective, and this evening he would hand in a resignation on behalf of himself and his friends. And he concluded: Long live the free settlement Fraternitas, long live brotherhood among nations, I thank you all.

Dumas’s speech lasted a long time, since I had to translate everything into Italian, followed by Agottani translating into German. When we were finished, there was a moment of silence and no one said a word. Finally Desmarie spoke up to say that he personally found the Egalitarians’ proposals inspiring, albeit with the proviso that they be valid only until such time as we had reached the settlement, at which point the Regulations proposed by Older Brother would take full effect and any eventual alterations or modifications would have to be consulted with him in advance. With that Decio said that he didn’t wish to get ahead of events, but to consult everything with Older Brother was unrealistic, seeing as he had visited the settlement only once so far, and to write him in Europe and wait for an answer about everything was not really possible. We were the ones who were going to live in the settlement, after all, and we needed to be able to agree among ourselves. To which Dumas said that this discussion was truly premature, the point was to impose some sort of order on the collective now, not in a month from now. Decio declared that he didn’t like the way the food had been handled, that denying people food was undignified. Dumas said that of course it could be discussed, but not for too long, since otherwise, as usual, they wouldn’t get anywhere. Domenico suggested that in that case they be expelled straightaway but first they get something to eat. Argia asked whether a woman having her period would be considered an illness. Dumas said they hadn’t considered it in such detail, but it could be addressed on a case-by-case basis. One of the Germans spoke up to say that his wife suffered periods of madness. Dumas said that he didn’t see what that had to do with it. The German replied he thought that’s what the Italian lady had said. Argia said that she was no lady. Agottani said that the German hadn’t said any such thing, he didn’t say dame , but frau , which just meant any woman in general, but he, Agottani, had translated it as signora . Argia said that just because she was no lady didn’t mean she was just any woman in general. And that she had asked her question on behalf of all the women, including the Germans. Dumas said that he had already answered Argia, and Umberto said that women should stay at home when they had their period, everyone was better off that way, not only them. The German said he hadn’t meant to offend the Italian frau, and Cattina said that was a typical male remark. The German said he didn’t see what was so typically male about it, and Umberto told him not to worry. Cattina said she didn’t mean him, she meant Umberto, and Umberto said, What did I tell you, and laughed out loud. By that time I had stopped translating, so Dumas asked what they were talking about and what was so funny, he could use a laugh himself. I said there had been a misunderstanding which led to a comical outcome. Dumas said, Oh I see, but he looked disgruntled, and Roland Allegret said that once everyone had had their fill of laughing, maybe we could get back to more important matters.

Decio declared that the idea of going around to everyone, refunding money to those who had changed their minds and creating a joint treasury for the rest seemed fine to him, but he was opposed to signing a pledge of honor and especially to sanctions for those who missed a meeting. If someone missed a meeting they lost their vote and that was it. Dumas replied that, unfortunately, experience had shown that when someone missed a meeting it didn’t mean they didn’t still want a say in everything come the next day. And how was Decio supposed to tell the difference between people who had a serious reason for missing a meeting and people who just didn’t feel like it? Giacomo suggested that anyone who missed a meeting, whatever the reason might be, could delegate their vote to someone else. Dumas said in theory that seemed reasonable, but it would cause all sorts of confusion and the question was whether there hadn’t been enough confusion already. He said he thought a little discipline wouldn’t hurt, but on the other hand of course he didn’t want to force anything through without the consent of the majority, and we should move to a vote. Everyone looked around, but it seemed no one much cared to vote. Roland Allegret said that maybe it would be better if we took the Egalitarians’ motions one at a time instead of all at once, and who was in favor of that. Most people raised their hands. With that one of the Slavs stood up and said that he and his companions did not wish to shirk their obligation to vote but they did not understand what was this settlement we were talking about, and could we explain to them what Fraternitas is. He and his companions had suffered the chains of Austria and Hungary and had decided to go to Brazil in search of gold, which they would then send back to their friends who remained, so they could break their chains, and they needed money for revolvers and a free press. He and his companions were in favor of freedom for all nations and opposed to tyranny. People were clapping and shouting Bravo! Bravo! but Dumas looked even more disgruntled than before. One of the Austrians said that he was ashamed to be an Austrian, for his country had brought whole nations under its yoke, including Hungary, but it wouldn’t be long before all people would be free. Umberto said that no one could be blamed for where they were born, and Vito Ferroni said that borders were an invention of capital and the bourgeoisie. Roland Allegret said that he welcomed our Slavic guests, but unfortunately they could not take part in the vote, since that was a right reserved for settlers. But after the meeting he would be glad to explain everything to them, and if they wanted to become settlers, surely no one would have any objection to that. To which Decio said, What ever happened to admitting the Negroes? Roland Allegret said we would deal with that the day after tomorrow, once we clarified the issues that had been raised by his friend Dumas, and the Slavic fellow asked whether there were Negroes in our settlement and why. Decio declared that he had nothing against admitting the Slavs, but the Negroes were here first. Jean Allegret asked whether Decio was sure that the Negroes even wanted to be admitted to the settlement. Haymard said that he had tried to talk with them about it, but the Negroes spoke only English. He asked whether anyone knew English, but no one volunteered. Decio said we could ask the captain to convey our invitation to the Negroes, but Haymard declared that that would be against the captain’s interests, since if nothing else he was still going to need the Negroes to load the ship for the passage back to Europe. Decio said that in that case we should turn to our two American passengers for help, but Haymard said he had tried that, but the Americans only spoke English, just like the Negroes.