h he granted to
these unhappy people has proved that in these mountains the hearts
of men still beat, and only await pardon. Terrorism is useful only
when the people are enslaved, when the mountains have no caverns,
when the governing power can station a sentry behind every tree, and
when the slave has in his body nothing but a stomach. But when the
desperado who fights for his life feels the strong arm of that power,
then his heart beats and his being fills with passion. Can terrorism
put out the fire which----"

"It confuses me, Elias, to hear you talk so. I would believe that
you were right if I did not have my own convictions. But note this
point--and do not be offended, for I do not include you--I look
upon you as an exception--consider who those are who ask for this
reform. Almost all are criminals or people who are in the way of
becoming such."

"Criminals or future criminals; but why are they so? Because their
peace has been disturbed, their happiness taken away from them,
their dearest affections wounded, and, after asking protection from
Justice, they have been convinced that they can secure it only by
their own hands, by their own efforts. But you are mistaken, senor,
if you believe that only criminals ask for it. Go from town to town,
from house to house. Listen to the secret sighings of the family and
you will be convinced that the evils which the Guardia Civil causes
are equal to if not greater than those which it corrects. Would you
conclude then that all the citizens are criminals? Then, why defend
them from the others? Why not destroy them?"

"There is some flaw in your reasoning which escapes me now. In Spain,
the Mother Country, this body lends and has lent very useful services."

"I do not doubt it. Perhaps there it is better organized; the personnel
more select. Perhaps, too, Spain needs such a body, but the Philippines
do not. Our customs, our mode of living, which are always cited when
any one wants to deny us a right, are totally forgotten when some
one wants to impose something on us. And tell me, senor, why have not
other nations adopted this institution, other nations which resemble
Spain more than do the Philippines? Is it due to the efforts of such an
institution that other nations have fewer robberies of the railways,
fewer riots, fewer assassinations, and less hand-to-hand fighting in
their great capitals?"

Ibarra bowed his head in meditation. Afterward he raised it and
replied: