by José Rizal
CHAPTER XXXI
THE HIGH OFFICIAL
L'Espagne et sa, vertu, l'Espagne et sa grandeur Tout s'en va!--Victor Hugo
The newspapers of Manila were so engrossed in accounts of a notoriousmurder committed in Europe, in panegyrics and puffs for variouspreachers in the city, in the constantly increasing success of theFrench operetta, that they could scarcely devote space to the crimesperpetrated in the provinces by a band of tulisanes headed by a fierceand terrible leader who was called _Matanglawin._ [68] Only when theobject of the attack was a convento or a Spaniard there then appearedlong articles giving frightful details and asking for martial law,energetic measures, and so on. So it was that they could take no noticeof what had occurred in the town of Tiani, nor was there the slightesthint or allusion to it. In private circles something was whispered,but so confused, so vague, and so little consistent, that not eventhe name of the victim was known, while those who showed the greatestinterest forgot it quickly, trusting that the affair had been settledin some way with the wronged family. The only one who knew anythingcertain was Padre Camorra, who had to leave the town, to be transferredto another or to remain for some time in the convento in Manila.
"Poor Padre Camorra!" exclaimed Ben-Zayb in a fit of generosity. "Hewas so jolly and had such a good heart!"
It was true that the students had recovered their liberty, thanks tothe exertions of their relatives, who did not hesitate at expense,gifts, or any sacrifice whatsoever. The first to see himself free, aswas to be expected, was Makaraig, and the last Isagani, because PadreFlorentine did not reach Manila until a week after the events. Somany acts of clemency secured for the General the title of clementand merciful, which Ben-Zayb hastened to add to his long list ofadjectives.
The only one who did not obtain his liberty was Basilio, since he wasalso accused of having in his possession prohibited books. We don'tknow whether this referred to his text-book on legal medicine or tothe pamphlets that were found, dealing with the Philippines, or bothtogether--the fact is that it was said that prohibited literaturewas being secretly sold, and upon the unfortunate boy fell all theweight of the rod of justice.
It was reported that his Excellency had been thus advised: "It'snecessary that there be some one, so that the prestige of authoritymay be sustained and that it may not be said that we made a great fussover nothing. Authority before everything. It's necessary that someone be made an example of. Let there be just one, one who, accordingto Padre Irene, was the servant of Capitan Tiago--there'll be no oneto enter a complaint--"
"Servant and student?" asked his Excellency. "That fellow, then! Letit be he!"
"Your Excellency will pardon me," observed the high official, whohappened to be present, "but I've been told that this boy is a medicalstudent and his teachers speak well of him. If he remains a prisonerhe'll lose a year, and as this year he finishes--"
The high official's interference in behalf of Basilio, insteadof helping, harmed him. For some time there had been between thisofficial and his Excellency strained relations and bad feelings,augmented by frequent clashes.
"Yes? So much the greater reason that he should be kept prisoner;a year longer in his studies, instead of injuring him, will do good,not only to himself but to all who afterwards fall into his hands. Onedoesn't become a bad physician by extensive practise. So much themore reason that he should remain! Soon the filibustering reformerswill say that we are not looking out for the country!" concluded hisExcellency with a sarcastic laugh.
The high official realized that he had made a false move and tookBasilio's case to heart. "But it seems to me that this young man isthe most innocent of all," he rejoined rather timidly.
"Books have been seized in his possession," observed the secretary.
"Yes, works on medicine and pamphlets written by Peninsulars, withthe leaves uncut, and besides, what does that signify? Moreover,this young man was not present at the banquet in the _pansiteria_,he hasn't mixed up in anything. As I've said, he's the most innocent--"
"So much the better!" exclaimed his Excellency jocosely. "In thatway the punishment will prove more salutary and exemplary, since itinspires greater terror. To govern is to act in this way, my dearsir, as it is often expedient to sacrifice the welfare of one to thewelfare of many. But I'm doing more--from the welfare of one willresult the welfare of all, the principle of endangered authority ispreserved, prestige is respected and maintained. By this act of mineI'm correcting my own and other people's faults."
The high official restrained himself with an effort and, disregardingthe allusion, decided to take another tack. "But doesn't yourExcellency fear the--responsibility?"
"What have I to fear?" rejoined the General impatiently. "Haven'tI discretionary powers? Can't I do what I please for the bettergovernment of these islands? What have I to fear? Can somemenial perhaps arraign me before the tribunals and exact from meresponsibility? Even though he had the means, he would have to consultthe Ministry first, and the Minister--"
He waved his hand and burst out into laughter.
"The Minister who appointed me, the devil knows where he is, andhe will feel honored in being able to welcome me when I return. Thepresent one, I don't even think of him, and the devil take him too! Theone that relieves him will find himself in so many difficulties withhis new duties that he won't be able to fool with trifles. I, my dearsir, have nothing over me but my conscience, I act according to myconscience, and my conscience is satisfied, so I don't care a strawfor the opinions of this one and that. My conscience, my dear sir,my conscience!"
"Yes, General, but the country--"
"Tut, tut, tut, tut! The country--what have I to do Avith thecountry? Have I perhaps contracted any obligations to it? Do I owemy office to it? Was it the country that elected me?"
A brief pause ensued, during which the high official stood with bowedhead. Then, as if reaching a decision, he raised it to stare fixedlyat the General. Pale and trembling, he said with repressed energy:"That doesn't matter, General, that doesn't matter at all! YourExcellency has not been chosen by the Filipino people, but by Spain,all the more reason why you should treat the Filipinos well so thatthey may not be able to reproach Spain. The greater reason, General,the greater reason! Your Excellency, by coming here, has contractedthe obligation to govern justly, to seek the welfare--"
"Am I not doing it?" interrupted his Excellency in exasperation,taking a step forward. "Haven't I told you that I am getting from thegood of one the good of all? Are you now going to give me lessons? Ifyou don't understand my actions, how am I to blame? Do I compel youto share my responsibility?"
"Certainly not," replied the high official, drawing himself upproudly. "Your Excellency does not compel me, your Excellency cannotcompel me, _me,_ to share _your_ responsibility. I understand mine inquite another way, and because I have it, I'm going to speak--I've heldmy peace a long time. Oh, your Excellency needn't make those gestures,because the fact that I've come here in this or that capacity doesn'tmean that I have given up my rights, that I have been reduced to thepart of a slave, without voice or dignity.
"I don't want Spain to lose this beautiful empire, these eightmillions of patient and submissive subjects, who live on hopes anddelusions, but neither do I wish to soil my hands in their barbarousexploitation. I don't wish it ever to be said that, the slave-tradeabolished, Spain has continued to cloak it with her banner andperfect it under a wealth of specious institutions. No, to be greatSpain does not have to be a tyrant, Spain is sufficient unto herself,Spain was greater when she had only her own territory, wrested fromthe clutches of the Moor. I too am a Spaniard, but before being aSpaniard I am a man, and before Spain and above Spain is her honor,the lofty principles of morality, the eternal principles of immutablejustice! Ah, you are surprised that I think thus, because you have noidea of the grandeur of the Spanish name, no, you haven't any idea ofit, you identify it with persons and interests. To you the Spaniard maybe a pirate, he may be a murderer, a hypocrite, a cheat, anything,
just so he keep what he has--but to me the Spaniard should loseeverything, empire, power, wealth, everything, before his honor! Ah,my dear sir, we protest when we read that might is placed before right,yet we applaud when in practise we see might play the hypocrite innot only perverting right but even in using it as a tool in order togain control. For the very reason that I love Spain, I'm speaking now,and I defy your frown!
"I don't wish that the coming ages accuse Spain of being the stepmotherof the nations, the vampire of races, the tyrant of small islands,since it would be a horrible mockery of the noble principles of ourancient kings. How are we carrying out their sacred legacy? Theypromised to these islands protection and justice, and we are playingwith the lives and liberties of the inhabitants; they promisedcivilization, and^we are curtailing it, fearful that they may aspireto a nobler existence; they promised them light, and we cover theireyes that they may not witness our orgies; they promised to teach themvirtue and we are encouraging their vice. Instead of peace, wealth,and justice, confusion reigns, commerce languishes, and skepticismis fostered among the masses.
"Let us put ourselves in the place of the Filipinos and ask ourselveswhat we would do in their place. Ah, in your silence I read theirright to rebel, and if matters do not mend they will rebel some day,and justice will be on their side, with them will go the sympathyof all honest men, of every patriot in the world! When a people isdenied light, home, liberty, and justice--things that are essentialto life, and therefore man's patrimony--that people has the right totreat him who so despoils it as we would the robber who intercepts uson the highway. There are no distinctions, there are no exceptions,nothing but a fact, a right, an aggression, and every honest man whodoes not place himself on the side of the wronged makes himself anaccomplice and stains his conscience.
"True, I am not a soldier, and the years are cooling the little firein my blood, but just as I would risk being torn to pieces to defendthe integrity of Spain against any foreign invader or against anunjustified disloyalty in her provinces, so I also assure you that Iwould place myself beside the oppressed Filipinos, because I wouldprefer to fall in the cause of the outraged rights of humanity totriumphing with the selfish interests of a nation, even when thatnation be called as it is called--Spain!"
"Do you know when the mail-boat leaves?" inquired his Excellencycoldly, when the high official had finished speaking.
The latter stared at him fixedly, then dropped his head and silentlyleft the palace.
Outside he found his carriage awaiting him. "Some day when you declareyourselves independent," he said somewhat abstractedly to the nativelackey who opened the carriage-door for him, "remember that therewere not lacking in Spain hearts that beat for you and struggled foryour rights!"
"Where, sir?" asked the lackey, who had understood nothing of thisand was inquiring whither they should go.
Two hours later the high official handed in his resignation andannounced his intention of returning to Spain by the next mail-steamer.
