The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XX 98
houses--"
The youths interrupted him by rising, thinking that he had gone crazy. The elders were arguing heatedly.
"And, finally, that we may not neglect the pleasures of the soul--"
The murmurs and cries which arose all over the hall drowned his voice out completely, and tumult reigned.
"No!" yelled an irreconcilable conservative. "I don't want him to flatter himself over having run the whole
fiesta, no! Let me speak! Let me speak!"
"Don Filipo has deceived us," cried the liberals. "We'll vote against his plan. He has gone over to the old men.
We'll vote against him!"
The gobernadorcillo, more overwhelmed than ever, did nothing to restore order, but rather was waiting for
them to restore it themselves.
The captain of the cuadrilleros begged to be heard and was granted permission to speak, but he did not open
his mouth and sat down again confused and ashamed.
By good fortune, Capitan Valentin, the most moderate of all the conservatives, arose and said: "We cannot
agree to what the teniente-mayor has proposed, as it appears to be exaggerated. So many bombs and so many
nights of theatrical performances can only be desired by a young man, such as he is, who can spend night after
night sitting up and listening to so many explosions without becoming deaf. I have consulted the opinion of
the sensible persons here and all of them unanimously disapprove Don Filipo's plan. Is it not so, gentlemen?"
"Yes, yes!" cried the youths and elders with one voice. The youths were delighted to hear an old man speak
so.
"What are we going to do with four hermanos mayores?" went on the old man. "What is the meaning of those
chickens, capons, and roast pigs, thrown into the lake? 'Humbug!' our neighbors would say. And afterwards
we should have to fast for six months! What have we to do with Sylla and the Romans? Have they ever
invited us to any of their festivities, I wonder? I, at least, have never received any invitation from them, and
you can all see that I'm an old man!"
"The Romans live in Rome, where the Pope is," Capitan Basilio prompted him in a low voice. "Now I
understand!" exclaimed the old man calmly.
"They would make of their festivals watch-meetings, and the Pope would order them to throw their food into
the sea so that they might commit no sin. But, in spite of all that, your plan is inadmissible, impossible, a
piece of foolishness!"
Being so stoutly opposed, Don Filipo had to withdraw his proposal. Now that their chief rival had been
defeated, even the worst of the irreconcilable insurgents looked on with calmness while a young cabeza de
barangay asked for the floor.
"I beg that you excuse the boldness of one so young as I am in daring to speak before so many persons
respected for their age and prudence and judgment in affairs, but since the eloquent orator, Capitan Basilio,
has requested every one to express his opinion, let the authoritative words spoken by him excuse my
insignificance."
The conservatives nodded their heads with satisfaction, remarking to one another: "This young man talks