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 stances, with the ministry and with the people. On the other hand, suppose that the reactionaries drive him out because he shows leanings toward liberalism. Then the great body of the people will be on his side. They will acclaim him as the champion of popular rights, and the government—the government is in a very critical situation. A crisis will have to be met by making concessions to the liberal elements, and these will have no alternative but to support Don Santiago, to promote him perhaps to a governorship of the first class. That is clear; it is politics. It is necessary to look up, to peer into the far horizons, to cultivate largeness of view and grandeur of soul, and not to fall into the error of believing that to be most important which lies directly under our eyes. Don't you see?

. No, I don't. I don't see anything at all. It may be, since you say so. If there should be a crisis

. Make no mistake. There will be one.

. What makes you think so?

. The country is disturbed. There are disorders in the provinces. It will soon be necessary to suspend the constitutional guarantees, and for suppressing liberties, you know, there is no government like a liberal one. It inspires greater confidence. Besides, it is fall. There are two seasons in the year which are especially dangerous to any government—the summer when it begins to grow warm, and when the cold weather comes on again in the fall, with the consequent changes of clothes. Thousands of families in the opposition anxious to take baths in the summer, and other thousands uncertain when to change to their heavy underwear in the fall, together these constitute an incalculable force which needs only the slightest pretext in order to overthrow any government. Believe me, if he is to preserve himself, Don Santiago must make overtures to liberalism