THE MEETING
The Liberals tried to hold a manifestation in protest, but the commissioner and the mayor prohibited it.
The newspaper La Libertad explained what was going on, and was reprimanded.
A meeting was organized at the school; the governor had granted permission.
The school was not lighted, and Cæsar sent a man to the Capital for acetylene lamps, which were put up on the walls, and which made a detestable smell. The reunion took place at nine at night. Cæsar presided, and had San Román, the bookseller, on his right, and Dr. Ortigosa on his left.
Behind them on a bench were some of the members of the Workmen’s Club.
The audience was composed of the poorest people; the rich Liberal element was drawing back; there were day-labourers with blankets around their shoulders and mouths, women in shawls holding children in their arms. Among the audience were the agents provocateurs who doubtless had the intention of making a disturbance; but the Republican bookseller ordered them thrown out of the place, and, despite their resistance, he managed to have it done.
The chief of police, insolent and contemptuous, took his seat at the table with an officer of the Civil Guard in civilian’s, who was there, he said, to take notes.
San Román, the bookseller, gave Cæsar a paper with the names of those who were going to speak. They were many, and Cæsar didn’t know them.
The first to whom he gave the floor, in the order of the list, was a lame boy, who came forward on a crutch, and began to speak.