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 XLIX 227<br />
weapon in the hands of a madman in a defenseless multitude. I concede and wish to believe with you that the<br />
government needs this weapon, but then let it choose this weapon carefully, let it select the most worthy<br />
instruments, and since it prefers to take upon itself authority, rather than have the people grant it, at least let it<br />
be seen that it knows how to exercise it."<br />
Elias spoke passionately, enthusiastically, in vibrating tones; his eyes flashed. A solemn pause followed. <strong>The</strong><br />
banka, unimpelled <strong>by</strong> the paddle, seemed to stand still on the water. <strong>The</strong> moon shone majestically in a<br />
sapphire sky and a few lights glimmered on the distant shore.<br />
"What more do they ask for?" inquired Ibarra.<br />
"Reform in the priesthood," answered Elias in a sad and discouraged tone. "<strong>The</strong>se unfortunates ask for more<br />
protection against--"<br />
"Against the religious orders?"<br />
"Against their oppressors, sir."<br />
"Has the Philippines forgotten what she owes to those orders? Has she forgotten the immense debt of gratitude<br />
that is due from her to those who snatched her from error to give her the true faith, to those who have<br />
protected her against the tyrannical acts of the civil power? This is the evil result of not knowing the history of<br />
our native land!"<br />
<strong>The</strong> surprised Elias could hardly credit what he heard. "Sir," he replied in a grave tone, "you accuse these<br />
people of ingratitude; let me, one of the people who suffer, defend them. Favors rendered, in order to have any<br />
claims to recognition, must be disinterested. Let us pass over its missionary work, the much-invoked Christian<br />
charity; let us brush history aside and not ask what Spain has done with the Jewish people, who gave all<br />
Europe a Book, a Religion, and a God; what she has done with the Arabic people, who gave her culture, who<br />
were tolerant with her religious beliefs, and who awoke her lethargic national spirit, so nearly destroyed<br />
during the Roman and Gothic dominations. You say that she snatched us from error and gave us the true faith:<br />
do you call faith these outward forms, do you call religion this traffic in girdles and scapularies, truth these<br />
miracles and wonderful tales that we hear daily? Is this the law of Jesus Christ? For this it was hardly<br />
necessary that a God should allow Himself to be crucified or that we should be obliged to show eternal<br />
gratitude. Superstition existed long before--it was only necessary to systematize it and raise the price of its<br />
merchandise!<br />
"You will tell me that however imperfect our religion may be at present, it is preferable to what we had<br />
before. I believe that, too, and would agree with you in saying so, but the cost is too great, since for it we have<br />
given up our nationality, our independence. For it we have given over to its priests our best towns, our fields,<br />
and still give up our savings <strong>by</strong> the purchase of religious objects. An article of foreign manufacture has been<br />
introduced among us, we have paid well for it, and we are even.<br />
"If you mean the protection that they afforded us against the encomenderos, [132] I might answer that through<br />
them we fell under the power of the encomenderos. But no, I realize that a true faith and a sincere love for<br />
humanity guided the first missionaries to our shores; I realize the debt of gratitude we owe to those noble<br />
hearts; I know that at that time Spain abounded in heroes of all kinds, in religious as well as in political<br />
affairs, in civil and in military life. But because the forefathers were virtuous, should we consent to the abuses<br />
of their degenerate descendants? Because they have rendered us great service, should we be to blame for<br />
preventing them from doing us wrong? <strong>The</strong> country does not ask for their expulsion but only for reforms<br />
required <strong>by</strong> the changed circumstances and new needs."<br />
"I love our native land as well as you can, Elias; I understand something of what it desires, and I have listened