Page "Miguel de Unamuno" Paragraph 50

Unamuno, who was presiding over the meeting, rose up slowly and addressed the crowd: " You are waiting for my words.

You know me well, and know I cannot remain silent for long.

Sometimes, to remain silent is to lie, since silence can be interpreted as assent.

I want to comment on the so-called speech of Professor Maldonado, who is with us here.

I will ignore the personal offence to the Basques and Catalonians.

I myself, as you know, was born in Bilbao.

The Bishop ," Unamuno gestured to the Archbishop of Salamanca, " whether you like it or not, is Catalan, born in Barcelona.

But now I have heard this insensible and necrophilous oath, "¡ Viva la Muerte!

", and I, having spent my life writing paradoxes that have provoked the ire of those who do not understand what I have written, and being an expert in this matter, find this ridiculous paradox repellent.

General Millán-Astray is a cripple.

There is no need for us to say this with whispered tones.

He is war cripple.

So was Cervantes.

But unfortunately, Spain today has too many cripples.

And, if God does not help us, soon it will have very many more.

It torments me to think that General Millán-Astray could dictate the norms of the psychology of the masses.

A cripple, who lacks the spiritual greatness of Cervantes, hopes to find relief by adding to the number of cripples around him.