The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER XLV 209<br />
"I respect your sorrow," said Elias, "and I understand your desire for revenge. I, too, am like you, and yet from<br />
fear of injuring the innocent I prefer to forget my misfortunes."<br />
"You can forget because you are young and because you haven't lost a son, your last hope! But I assure you<br />
that I shall injure no innocent one. Do you see this wound? Rather than kill a poor cuadrillero, who was doing<br />
his duty, I let him inflict it."<br />
"But look," urged Elias, after a moment's silence, "look what a frightful catastrophe you are going to bring<br />
down upon our unfortunate people. If you accomplish your revenge <strong>by</strong> your own hand, your enemies will<br />
make terrible reprisals, not against you, not against those who are armed, but against the peaceful, who as<br />
usual will be accused--and then the eases of injustice!"<br />
"Let the people learn to defend themselves, let each one defend himself!"<br />
"You know that that is impossible. Sir, I knew you in other days when you were happy; then you gave me<br />
good advice, will you now permit me--"<br />
<strong>The</strong> old man folded his arms in an attitude of attention. "Sir," continued Elias, weighing his words well, "I<br />
have had the good fortune to render a service to a young man who is rich, generous, noble, and who desires<br />
the welfare of his country. <strong>The</strong>y say that this young man has friends in Madrid--I don't know myself--but I can<br />
assure you that he is a friend of the Captain-General's. What do you say that we make him the bearer of the<br />
people's complaints, if we interest him in the cause of the unhappy?"<br />
<strong>The</strong> old man shook his head. "You say that he is rich? <strong>The</strong> rich think only of increasing their wealth, pride and<br />
show blind them, and as they are generally safe, above all when they have powerful friends, none of them<br />
troubles himself about the woes of the unfortunate. I know all, because I was rich!"<br />
"But the man of whom I speak is not like the others. He is a son who has been insulted over the memory of his<br />
father, and a young man who, as he is soon to have a family, thinks of the future, of a happy future for his<br />
children."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>n he is a man who is going to be happy--our cause is not for happy men."<br />
"But it is for men who have feelings!"<br />
"Perhaps!" replied the old man, seating himself. "Suppose that he agrees to carry our cry even to the<br />
Captain-General, suppose that he finds in the Cortes [126] delegates who will plead for us; do you think that<br />
we shall get justice?"<br />
"Let us try it before we resort to violent measure," answered Elias. "You must be surprised that I, another<br />
unfortunate, young and strong, should propose to you, old and weak, peaceful measures, but it's because I've<br />
seen as much misery caused <strong>by</strong> us as <strong>by</strong> the tyrants. <strong>The</strong> defenseless are the ones who pay."<br />
"And if we accomplish nothing?"<br />
"Something we shall accomplish, believe me, for all those who are in power are not unjust. But if we<br />
accomplish nothing, if they disregard our entreaties, if man has become deaf to the cry of sorrow from his<br />
kind, then I will put myself under your orders!"<br />
<strong>The</strong> old man embraced the youth enthusiastically. "I accept your proposition, Elias. I know that you will keep<br />
your word. You will come to me, and I shall help you to revenge your ancestors, you will help me to revenge<br />
my sons, my sons that were like you!"