Part 35 (1/2)

”From the moment when the friars hide themselves behind the government, the students have to turn to it.”

This statement was true and there appeared no means of ignoring it.

”I'm not the government and I can't answer for its acts. What do the students wish us to do for them within the limits by which we are confined?”

”Not to oppose the emanc.i.p.ation of education but to favor it.”

The Dominican shook his head. ”Without stating my own opinion, that is asking us to commit suicide,” he said.

”On the contrary, it is asking you for room to pa.s.s in order not to trample upon and crush you.”

”Ahem!” coughed Padre Fernandez, stopping and remaining thoughtful. ”Begin by asking something that does not cost so much, something that any one of us can grant without abatement of dignity or privilege, for if we can reach an understanding and dwell in peace, why this hatred, why this distrust?”

”Then let's get down to details.”

”Yes, because if we disturb the foundation, we'll bring down the whole edifice.”

”Then let's get down to details, let's leave the region of abstract principles,” rejoined Isagani with a smile, ”and _also without stating my own opinion,_”--the youth accented these words--”the students would desist from their att.i.tude and soften certain asperities if the professors would try to treat them better than they have up to the present. That is in their hands.”

”What?” demanded the Dominican. ”Have the students any complaint to make about my conduct?”

”Padre, we agreed from the start not to talk of yourself or of myself, we're speaking generally. The students, besides getting no great benefit out of the years spent in the cla.s.ses, often leave there remnants of their dignity, if not the whole of it.”

Padre Fernandez again bit his lip. ”No one forces them to study--the fields are uncultivated,” he observed dryly.

”Yes, there is something that impels them to study,” replied Isagani in the same tone, looking the Dominican full in the face. ”Besides the duty of every one to seek his own perfection, there is the desire innate in man to cultivate his intellect, a desire the more powerful here in that it is repressed. He who gives his gold and his life to the State has the right to require of it opporttmity better to get that gold and better to care for his life. Yes, Padre, there is something that impels them, and that something is the government itself. It is you yourselves who pitilessly ridicule the uncultured Indian and deny him his rights, on the ground that he is ignorant. You strip him and then scoff at his nakedness.”

Padre Fernandez did not reply, but continued to pace about feverishly, as though very much agitated.

”You say that the fields are not cultivated,” resumed Isagani in a changed tone, after a brief pause. ”Let's not enter upon an a.n.a.lysis of the reason for this, because we should get far away. But you, Padre Fernandez, you, a teacher, you, a learned man, do you wish a people of peons and laborers? In your opinion, is the laborer the perfect state at which man may arrive in his development? Or is it that you wish knowledge for yourself and labor for the rest?”

”No, I want knowledge for him who deserves it, for him who knows how to use it,” was the reply. ”When the students demonstrate that they love it, when young men of conviction appear, young men who know how to maintain their dignity and make it respected, then there will be knowledge, then there will be considerate professors! If there are now professors who resort to abuse, it is because there are pupils who submit to it.”

”When there are professors, there will be students!”

”Begin by reforming yourselves, you who have need of change, and we will follow.”

”Yes,” said Isagani with a bitter laugh, ”let us begin it, because the difficulty is on our side. Well you know what is expected of a pupil who stands before a professor--you yourself, with all your love of justice, with all your kind sentiments, have been restraining yourself by a great effort while I have been telling you bitter truths, you yourself, Padre Fernandez! What good has been secured by him among us who has tried to inculcate other ideas? What evils have not fallen upon you because you have tried to be just and perform your duty?”

”Senor Isagani,” said the Dominican, extending his hand, ”although it may seem that nothing practical has resulted from this conversation, yet something has been gained. I'll talk to my brethren about what you have told me and I hope that something can be done. Only I fear that they won't believe in your existence.”

”I fear the same,” returned Isagani, shaking the Dominican's hand. ”I fear that my friends will not believe in your existence, as you have revealed yourself to me today.” [57]

Considering the interview at an end, the young man took his leave.

Padre Fernandez opened the door and followed him with his gaze until he disappeared around a corner in the corridor. For some time he listened to the retreating footsteps, then went back into his cell and waited for the youth to appear in the street.