The Fall of a Nation (1916)

• 51%
• 1916
• Drama
• Thomas F. Dixon Jr.
• Lorraine Huling
• Percy Standing
• Arthur Shirley

After a prologue exemplifying the foreign immigrants' debt of gratitude to the Union, the play proper opens with the scenes of political conflict preceding the great conspiracy. Vassar's National Defense Bill is defeated in Congress. Virginia Holland, though admiring his pluck, spurns his principles and encourages Waldron, the professed friend of Peace. Practically without warning the storm breaks over New York when 20,000 aliens of European military training rise at Waldron's signal, capture the National Guard armories overnight, and train the big guns on New York's unarmed citizenry. A wild exodus ensues to Long Island where an American army is hastily raised. But while this is taking place the powerful fleet of the Confederation of Northern Europe has met and defeated the Atlantic squadron. The convoyed Imperial army, 150,000 strong effects a landing and in a three-day battle routs the Americans utterly. Waldron puts on regal uniform and is hailed viceroy of the "Provinces of North America." The well populated part of the country is captured by the foreign legions. Vassar is a fugitive in the west, and Waldron sends forth Virginia on the mission of enrolling her American sisters in the "Woman's Imperial Legion of Honor." The final scenes of the play show that Virginia does what Joan of Arc has done. Professing to fulfill the viceroy's mission, she organizes a gigantic counter-plot to free the enslaved Union. Allied with John Vassar, General Hood and the other American leaders, she atones for her former folly by risking life and honor for the cause of Freedom. Here are shown scenes like the Sicilian Vespers where an entire population rises to exterminate foreign usurpers. Conspicuous in the dreadful yet glorious day are the Daughters of Jael, an oath-bound band of women patriots.