When Father Hernandez, the best known priest in the city, cried: “Jesus
and Mary protect us from evil,” Marriet Motuble arose from her
conspicuous position in the box she occupied with the President, and
cried: “Carry that scorpion, the Rev. J. T. Note, out. I know him of
old. He tried to convert the ‘Plunger’ to his faith, to get some of his
ill-gotten gains, no doubt. He was a missionary then, practicing his
arts of conversion in Chihuahua. It is upon him the wrath of the gods
should fall. And that priest, Father Hernandez,” she continued, as her
body swayed back and forth, convulsed with laughter. “That priest, that
priest, he was a voluptuous lout. Oh, the hangers-on he had. Clangity
clang, clang, clang, every fifteen minutes went the bells in the towers
of his ancient church, to call the peons to prayer—to get their
_centavos_. Oh, you viper, you scorpion, get out of here!”
“Hush!”—came out the clear, distinct voice of the Governor.
Marriet Motuble sank quietly into her seat, at the sound of his voice.
Julio Murillo stepped on the stage, and in a quiet, reassuring voice
said: “Eternal Truth, the Sublime Law of Right, will be asserted. The
voice of my mother, Señora Suzzan Carriles, of Colima, cries out for a
resurrection. Through her desire for a new life, for a knowledge of
truth, yonder priest, whom I pity from the bottom of my soul, will see
the folly of his ways, and will desire also to live the life of
spiritual purity.”
A pitiful cry, “Oh, Joseph, oh, Mary, spare me, spare me!” rang out, as
the priest fell forward.
He was carried out amidst the cries: “Impostor,” “Give him ‘Memory
Fluid,’” on one side, and “Our kind priest is persecuted,” on another.
“Spare him, ye blessed Virgin Mary!”
“Jesus y Maria, Jesus y Maria!” cried Don Francisco R. Cantu y Falomir.
“This is the beginning of the war about to be waged. The sanctified
Catholic Church will win. These blasphemous scientific impostors will
meet their just reward. I knew it would come through the means of the
fake ‘Memory Fluid.’ It is necessary for a vast amount of evil to be
thrust upon man at one moment before he is brought to his senses; before
a much needed revolution takes place.”
The keynote to his thoughts was struck when he said the word
“revolution,” as it acted like wild-fire upon the wrought-up assembly.
Progressive women and men arose, and their cries of: “Down with the
revolutionists! Down with the progeny who opposed the noble Diaz!”
“Drag the scorpion out and cut his wind off,” cried Marriet Motuble.
The President of the United States arose, and with hands outstretched
toward the Governor, sent forth a silent appeal. This was the first
exhibition of fear noticed during the entire commotion.
The Governor understood the mute appeal of the head of the nation,
arose, and with a proud toss of his handsome head, spoke in a clear,
high voice: “Captain, let the soldiers enter, and take the disturbers of
peace away!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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