"That question, my friend, needs serious study. If my investigations
tell me that these complaints are well founded, I will write to my
friends in Madrid, since we have no deputies to represent us. In the
meantime, believe me, the Government needs a body like the Guardia
Civil, which has unlimited power, in order to make the people respect
its authority and the laws imposed."

"That would be all right, senor, if the Government were at war
with the country; but, for the good of the Government, we ought
not to make the people believe that they are in opposition to the
law. Furthermore, if that were the case, if we preferred force to
prestige, we ought to look well to whom we give this unlimited force
or power, this authority. Such great power in the hands of men, and
ignorant men at that, men full of passion, without moral education,
without tested honor--such a thing is a weapon in the hands of a
maniac in a multitude of unarmed people. I grant and I will agree
with you that the Government needs this weapon, but let it choose
that weapon well; let it choose the most worthy men to bear it."

Elias was speaking with enthusiasm and with fervor. His eyes glistened
and his voice vibrated. Then followed a solemn pause. The banca, no
longer propelled by the paddle, floated tranquilly on the waves. The
moon was shining majestically from a sapphire sky. Some lights were
glimmering on the shore.

"And what more do they ask?" said Ibarra.

"Reforms in the priesthood," responded Elias, in a discouraged and
sad tone of voice. "The unfortunates ask more protection against----"

"Against the religious orders?"

"Against their oppressors, senor."

"Have the Filipinos forgotten what they owe to these orders? Have they
forgotten the immense debt of gratitude they owe to them for having
saved them from error and given them the Faith? What they owe to them
for protection against the civil power? Here is one of the evils which
result from not teaching the history of the country in our schools."

Elias, surprised, could scarcely give credit to what he heard.

"Senor," he replied in a grave voice. "You accuse the people of
ingratitude: permit me, one of those who suffer, to defend the
people. Favors, in order to be recognized as such, must be done by
persons with disinterested motives. Let us consider in a general
way the mission of the orders, of Christian charity, that threadbare
subject. Let us lay history aside. Let us not ask w