The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XX 96
These two young men saluted each of the groups without joining either. A few moments later the
gobernadorcillo, the very same individual whom we saw yesterday carrying a bundle of candles, entered with
a look of disgust on his face. Upon his entrance the murmurs ceased, every one sat down, and silence was
gradually established, as he took his seat under the picture of the King, coughed four or five times, rubbed his
hand over his face and head, rested his elbows on the table, then withdrew them, coughed once more, and then
the whole thing over again.
"Gentlemen," he at last began in an unsteady voice, "I have been so bold as to call you together here for this
meeting--ahem! Ahem! We have to celebrate the fiesta of our patron saint, San Diego, on the twelfth of this
month--ahem!--today is the second--ahem! Ahem!" At this point a slow, dry cough cut off his speech.
A man of proud bearing, apparently about forty years of age, then arose from the bench of the elders. He was
the rich Capitan Basilio, the direct contrast of Don Rafael, Ibarra's father. He was a man who maintained that
after the death of St. Thomas Aquinas the world had made no more progress, and that since St. John Lateran
had left it, humanity had been retrograding.
"Gentlemen, allow me to speak a few words about such an interesting matter," he began. "I speak first even
though there are others here present who have more right to do so than I have, but I speak first because in
these matters it seems to me that by speaking first one does not take the first place--no more than that by
speaking last does one become the least. Besides, the things that I have to say are of such importance that they
should not be put off or last spoken of, and accordingly I wish to speak first in order to give them due weight.
So you will allow me to speak first in this meeting where I see so many notable persons, such as the present
señor capitan, the former capitan; my distinguished friend, Don Valentin, a former capitan; the friend of my
infancy, Don Julio; our celebrated captain of cuadrilleros, Don Melchor; and many other personages, whom,
for the sake of brevity, I must omit to enumerate--all of whom you see present here. I beg of you that I may be
allowed a few words before any one else speaks. Have I the good fortune to see my humble request granted by
the meeting?"
Here the orator with a faint smile inclined his head respectfully. "Go on, you have our undivided attention!"
said the notables alluded to and some others who considered Capitan Basilio a great orator. The elders
coughed in a satisfied way and rubbed their hands. After wiping the perspiration from his brow with a silk
handkerchief, he then proceeded:
"Now that you have been so kind and complaisant with my humble self as to grant me the use of a few words
before any one else of those here present, I shall take advantage of this permission, so generously granted, and
shall talk. In imagination I fancy myself in the midst of the august Roman senate, senatus populusque
romanus, as was said in those happy days which, unfortunately for humanity, will nevermore return. I propose
to the Patres Conscripti, as the learned Cicero would say if he were in my place, I propose, in view of the
short time left, and time is money as Solomon said, that concerning this important matter each one set forth
his opinion clearly, briefly, and simply."
Satisfied with himself and flattered by the attention in the hall, the orator took his seat, not without first
casting a glance of superiority toward Ibarra, who was seated in a corner, and a significant look at his friends
as if to say, "Aha! Haven't I spoken well?" His friends reflected both of these expressions by staring at the
youths as though to make them die of envy.
"Now any one may speak who wishes that--ahem!" began the gobernadorcillo, but a repetition of the cough
and sighs cut short the phrase.
To judge from the silence, no one wished to consider himself called upon as one of the Conscript Fathers,
since no one rose. Then Don Filipo seized the opportunity and rose to speak. The conservatives winked and
made significant signs to each other.