Earths Holocaust by Nathanael Hawthorne

http://ibiblio.org/eldritch/nh/holo.html ^ | !854 | Nathaneal Hawthorne

[valiant4thetruth]

ONCE UPON a time--but whether in the time past or time to come, is a matter of little or no moment--this wide world had become so overburthened with an accumulation of worn-out trumpery, that the inhabitants determined to rid themselves of it by a general bonfire. The site fixed upon, at the representation of the Insurance Companies, and as being as central a spot as any other on the globe, was one of the broadest prairies of the West, where no human habitation would be endangered by the flames, and where a vast assemblage of spectators might commodiously admire the show. Having a taste for sights of this kind, and imagining, likewise, that the illumination of the bonfire might reveal some profundity of moral truth, heretofore hidden in mist or darkness, I made it convenient to journey thither and be present.

[valiant4thetruth]

This is a great short story by Hawthorne that I happened upon this week in Russel Kirks book "The Conservative Reader" I believe its adds to the discussion

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

"Now that they have kindled the bonfire, if these nonsensical reformers would fling themselves into it, all would be well enough!" "Be patient," responded a staunch conservative;--"it will come to that in the end. They will first fling us in, and finally themselves."

LOL

Nail, meet the hammer.

[wizr]

Thanks. Emailed it.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Should be a good read for the weekend. Downloaded if for my eBook from Project Gutenberg.