The banquet in honour of Padilla was given at the Café del Comercio.
All the important persons of the town, many of whom had been Cæsar’s
adherents the day before, had gathered to feast the victor. The majority
gorged enthusiastically, the chief of police distinguishing himself by
his hearty applause. A fat lawyer presided, a greasy person with a black
beard, a typical coarse, dirty, tricky Moor. Next to him sat a small
attorney, pock-marked, pale of face. By dessert one no longer heard
anything but cries of “Hurrah for Padilla!” among the smoke of the big
cigars they were all smoking.
Then the lawyer with the black beard arose and began to orate.
He spoke slowly and with great solemnity.
“This meeting shows,” he said in a strong and sonorous voice, “your
enthusiasm and your loyalty for the good cause. Never, never will
we permit outsiders devoid of religion and patriotism to upset the
existence of our beloved city.” (Applause.) “We will defend our
venerated traditions by all the means in our power; we will not permit
the hydra of anarchy to rise up in Castro; and if it should arise
to attack our holy principles, we shall crush it under our heels.”
(Applause.) “When men turn their backs on God, when they preach the
relaxation of discipline, and licentiousness, when they are not willing
to acknowledge any authority, divine or human, then it is time for
decent men to form a bulwark with their breasts, for the defence of
their traditions. We are, before all else, Catholics and Spaniards; and
we will not consent to having Anarchists, Masons, sacrilegious persons
get the mastery of this sacred soil, and wipe out its memories, and spot
the most holy rights of our mother, the Church.” (Ovation.)
“Hurrah for Jesus Christ and His Immaculate Church!” shouted a priest, a
bit upset by his wine, in a raucous voice.
Next, the fat, greasy lawyer paraded all the glories of Spain, with
their appropriate adjectives: the Cid, Columbus, Isabella the Catholic,
the Great Captain, Hernán Cortés.... Then a couple of dozen orators
spoke, and the meeting ended very late at night.