Part 33 (2/2)

”It confuses me, Elias, to hear you talk so. I would believe that you were right if I did not have my own convictions. But note this point--and do not be offended, for I do not include you--I look upon you as an exception--consider who those are who ask for this reform. Almost all are criminals or people who are in the way of becoming such.”

”Criminals or future criminals; but why are they so? Because their peace has been disturbed, their happiness taken away from them, their dearest affections wounded, and, after asking protection from Justice, they have been convinced that they can secure it only by their own hands, by their own efforts. But you are mistaken, senor, if you believe that only criminals ask for it. Go from town to town, from house to house. Listen to the secret sighings of the family and you will be convinced that the evils which the Guardia Civil causes are equal to if not greater than those which it corrects. Would you conclude then that all the citizens are criminals? Then, why defend them from the others? Why not destroy them?”

”There is some flaw in your reasoning which escapes me now. In Spain, the Mother Country, this body lends and has lent very useful services.”

”I do not doubt it. Perhaps there it is better organized; the personnel more select. Perhaps, too, Spain needs such a body, but the Philippines do not. Our customs, our mode of living, which are always cited when any one wants to deny us a right, are totally forgotten when some one wants to impose something on us. And tell me, senor, why have not other nations adopted this inst.i.tution, other nations which resemble Spain more than do the Philippines? Is it due to the efforts of such an inst.i.tution that other nations have fewer robberies of the railways, fewer riots, fewer a.s.sa.s.sinations, and less hand-to-hand fighting in their great capitals?”

Ibarra bowed his head in meditation. Afterward he raised it and replied:

”That question, my friend, needs serious study. If my investigations tell me that these complaints are well founded, I will write to my friends in Madrid, since we have no deputies to represent us. In the meantime, believe me, the Government needs a body like the Guardia Civil, which has unlimited power, in order to make the people respect its authority and the laws imposed.”

”That would be all right, senor, if the Government were at war with the country; but, for the good of the Government, we ought not to make the people believe that they are in opposition to the law. Furthermore, if that were the case, if we preferred force to prestige, we ought to look well to whom we give this unlimited force or power, this authority. Such great power in the hands of men, and ignorant men at that, men full of pa.s.sion, without moral education, without tested honor--such a thing is a weapon in the hands of a maniac in a mult.i.tude of unarmed people. I grant and I will agree with you that the Government needs this weapon, but let it choose that weapon well; let it choose the most worthy men to bear it.”

Elias was speaking with enthusiasm and with fervor. His eyes glistened and his voice vibrated. Then followed a solemn pause. The banca, no longer propelled by the paddle, floated tranquilly on the waves. The moon was s.h.i.+ning majestically from a sapphire sky. Some lights were glimmering on the sh.o.r.e.

”And what more do they ask?” said Ibarra.

”Reforms in the priesthood,” responded Elias, in a discouraged and sad tone of voice. ”The unfortunates ask more protection against----”

”Against the religious orders?”

”Against their oppressors, senor.”

”Have the Filipinos forgotten what they owe to these orders? Have they forgotten the immense debt of grat.i.tude they owe to them for having saved them from error and given them the Faith? What they owe to them for protection against the civil power? Here is one of the evils which result from not teaching the history of the country in our schools.”

Elias, surprised, could scarcely give credit to what he heard.

”Senor,” he replied in a grave voice. ”You accuse the people of ingrat.i.tude: permit me, one of those who suffer, to defend the people. Favors, in order to be recognized as such, must be done by persons with disinterested motives. Let us consider in a general way the mission of the orders, of Christian charity, that threadbare subject. Let us lay history aside. Let us not ask what Spain did with the Jews, who gave all Europe a Book, a religion and a G.o.d! Let us not ask what Spain has done with the Arabic people who gave her culture, who were tolerant in religion and who reawakened in her a pure national love, fallen into lethargy and almost destroyed by the domination of Romans and Goths. Let us omit all that. Do you say that these orders have given us the Faith and have saved us from error? Do you call those outward ceremonies, faith? Do you call that commerce in straps and scapularies religion? Do you call those miracles and stories which we hear every day truth? Is that the law of Jesus Christ? To teach such a faith as this it was not at all necessary that a G.o.d should allow himself to be crucified. Superst.i.tion existed long before the friars came here; it was only necessary to perfect it and to raise the price of the traffic. Will you tell me that although our religion of to-day is imperfect, it is better than that which we had before? I will agree with you in that and grant it; but we have purchased it at too high a price if we have had to renounce our nationality and independence for it; when for it, we have given to the priests our best towns, our fields, and still give them our little savings in order to buy religious objects. A foreign industry has been introduced among us; we pay well for it, and are in peace. If you speak of the protection they have afforded us against the civil governors of the provinces, I would reply that through them we fall under the power of these governors. However, I recognize that a true Faith, and a true love for humanity guided the first missionaries who came to our sh.o.r.es. I recognize the debt of grat.i.tude which is due those n.o.ble hearts. I know that in those days Spain abounded in heroes of all kinds, as well in religion as in politics, as well in civil life as in military. But because the forefathers were virtuous, should we consent to the abuses practiced by their degenerate descendants? Because a great good has been done for us, are we guilty if we prevent ourselves from being harmed? The country does not ask for abolition of the priesthood; it only asks for reforms which new circ.u.mstances and new needs require.”

”I love our country as you love it, Elias. I understand to some extent what you desire. I have heard with attention what you have said; yet, despite all of that, my friend, I believe we are looking upon it with a little prejudice. Here, less than in other things, I see the necessity of reforms.”

”Can it be possible, senor,” said Elias, discouraged and stretching out his hands. ”Do you not see the necessity of reforms, you whose family----”

”Ah! I forget myself and I forget my own injuries for the sake of the security of the Philippines, for the sake of the interests of Spain,” interrupted Ibarra eagerly. ”To preserve the Philippines it is necessary that the friars continue as they are, and in union with Spain lies the welfare of our country.”

Ibarra had ceased speaking, but Elias continued to listen. His face was sad, his eyes had lost their brilliancy.

”The missionaries conquered the country, it is true,” he said. ”Do you think that Spain will be able to keep the Philippines through the instrumentality of the friars?”

”Yes, only through the friars. This is the belief held by all who have written on the Philippines.”

”Oh!” exclaimed Elias, discouraged and throwing his paddle into the bottom of the banca. ”I did not think that you had so poor a conception of the Government and of the country.”

Ibarra replied: ”I love our country, not only because it is the duty of all men to love the country to which they owe their being, not only because my father taught me so; but also because my mother was a native, an Indian, and because all my most beautiful memories live in these islands. I love it too, because I owe it my happiness and will continue to do so.”

”And I, I love it because I owe to it my misfortunes,” said Elias.

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