always as well, Doctor, to have the majority with you. . . . And so I think it wouldn't be amiss if we made some sort of a demonstration. . . . Of course with great moderation, Doctor. I am always in favor of moderation; for moderation is a citizen's first virtue—at least those are my sentiments."
Truly, Dr. Stockmann is an idealist; else he would not place so much faith in the staff of the People's Messenger, who love the people so well that they constantly feed them with high-sounding phrases of democratic principles and of the noble function of the press, while they pilfer their pockets.
That is expressed in Hovstad's own words, when Petra,
the daughter of Dr. Stockmann, returns a sentimental novel
she was to translate for the People's Messenger: "This
can't possibly go into the Messenger," she tells Hovstad;
"it is in direct contradiction to your own opinion."
Hovstad. Well, but for the sake of the cause—
Petra. You don't understand me yet. It is
all about a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people here on earth, and turns all things to their advantage at last, and all the bad people are punished.
Hovstad. Yes, but that's very fine. It's
the very thing the public like.
Petra. And would you supply the public with
such stuff? Why, you don't believe one word of it yourself.
