Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Other Reformers - 1887 (January to June)

  Letters Exchanged Between José Rizal and Other Reformers Between January and June in 1887

028. Evaristo Aguirre, (Cauit), Madrid, 31 January 1887

Hoping Rizal’s chest ailment is not serious – Condemnation of the projected Philippine exposition – Traditional banquet on 31 December not worthily celebrated – Regrets lack of unity among the Filipinos at Madrid.

4 principal, Churruca, Madrid

31 January 1887

My Dear Friend Pepe Rizal,

       Do not be surprised that I have delayed answering your esteemed letter of 10 November.  It was because, not long after having received it, I was told that you had gone to Italy, information that came from Ceferino de León, on account of your chest ailment.  It was only that same night of the 31 when we gathered that I found out that your trip was not certain, but simply an idea or a project of yours.  At any rate, I remained in doubt, as you will understand, whether you have gone on that trip or not, and as a result of this, I postponed writing you until I could find out with certainty where to address my letter.  Even your greeting card for the New Year, which brought me your Berlin address, did not remove my doubt, for it occurred to me that your Jaegerstrasse address did not necessarily mean to that you have not changed your address, but that it was your address when you were in Berlin.  In a word, the kind of travel that you undertake, as recounted by León, the fact that you have not told any one of your projected trip, or your regrettable chest ailment, made me doubt on one hand whether your projected trip had been carried out and on the other if you wanted to keep to yourself these facts, inasmuch as only León knew it.  Now that I know through Lete that you are still in Berlin, I hasten to write you, trusting that informed of what I have already said, you will not be surprised at my prolonged silence.

       Before anything else, now that the news of your chest ailment is confirmed, as Lete has told me, I must let you know my earnest desire that you take care of yourself and that the ailment be not serious, and may I have the pleasure soon to receive news of your complete recovery.

       You don’t have to thank me for my sincere declaration that I would have been pleased to defray the cost of printing your novel [01] were it within my means to do so.  You ought to know why you believed it convenient not to accept your family’s offer to defray the cost of printing it, but I tell you that the reason you adduce for not accepting our offers (for my part they were only wishes for not having anything else to offer) that you did not wish to drag along or embarrass your friends.  There is no reason for this fear as you are not going to state in your work who had paid for its printing.  And it remains to know who is the friend on whom the future smiles who would have the immense pretension or who would demand that his name appear in the book with the title of Maecenas [patron - rly].  I applaud the studies of Sanskrit that you are making as well as of those other works which will furnish you with a wealth of data necessary for writing that other novel with a historical background that you have in mind.

There is no more need of talking, dear friend, of the notorious Philippine exposition.  Let us endure the catastrophe, let us accept fate, let the abyss open and the fields separate well.  Let the chains be broken and let nothing but concentrated gall remain in the hearts that from now on poison life or compel the aggrieved to seek full justice.  May he who still has a shred of shame, who cannot endure his ignominy, nor has courage for vengeance, be destroyed in his impotence.  May those who are always ready to defend their dignity sooner or later decide once and for all and now with greater reason that they have an opportunity to rush to the fulfillment of their mission.  As a casus belli [an event provoking war or used as a pretext for making war - rly], a worthy challenge was certainly preferable to degrading insult, but the country is not an enemy, it is dominated, it is a property, and her rebel children are not the hosts, they are offenders, so that there cannot be a challenge, unless it should come from the ruled.  If through their unity and strength they can resist . . . it is not for you to receive the insult but to endure it.  And after all, what is the exposition but another iniquity among those that formed the uninterrupted chain of domination?  Because you know very well that until now (and perhaps they will ever be so) the systems of colonization followed have been and are depressing, so that the hostility of the colonies is perfectly justified, with much more reason when the colonies, even if the Metropolis is the most benign imaginable, could and ought to declare themselves its enemies, so long as they are dominated, if not under pretext of avenging an offense, exercising the sacred right of peoples (more of a duty than a right) to an independent life; for peoples, like individuals, cannot be held responsible for their acts, they cannot get merit or demerit, they cannot fulfill their mission in life, while they do not act on their own account, according to their attitudes, without shackles that hinder them.  The exposition cannot be helped; it cannot even be modified.  Thus it has been conceived since the beginning by its lucky initiators.  It has been Balaguer’s [02] pet project who, it is said, accepted the portfolio of colonies on condition that it would be held, and his technical advisers (lovers of that country) made him see with all its details that it was the way of making it more complete and brilliant.  Govantes, Del Pan, La Serna, Pozas, are all agreed that the show will be ridiculous, that more than an advantage, the lucky exposition will be a moral and material misfortune for the Philippines, that the exposition will appear rachitic and what is more painful, the children of that country (this cannot be prevented) will come to be the object of the mocking, stupid, and rude curiosity of this truly savage people.  But what remedy?  This is foreseen, but so long as the exposition is not held, nothing more can be said except that the project is pretentious, that according to the programs, it is planned to hold it with all splendor and its true object is the welfare of the Philippines, to make her known to the Metropolis with her best products, her small industries, her simple ways, and other circumstances that may give a complete and true idea of her life and distinctive features.  Who can oppose this, if all this is promised?  What more can be asked?  The circulars are the authorities, to the private corporations, enjoining them to contribute towards the greater splendor of the exposition, without compulsion; the program or exposition of the Royal Commissariat, making protestations of love for the country, of desiring her welfare, prosperity, and progress, offering to hold a grand exposition, regardless of pecuniary sacrifices, and stating besides that it will bring the children of that country, paying for their expenses and treating them well, that they may demonstrate their aptitudes – all these suffice to justify the idea and work of the government and to remove misgiving, pessimism, and fears of those like us, who see them in advance, as unfounded.  “There we shall see”, they would say to us, and above all, “our idea and intention are good”.  The only thing that can be done is to wait and see the exposition and comment on it later.  How can one say that the native Filipinos will be exhibited like beats or savages or work so that they will not be exhibited?  They will tell us that they are not going to be exhibited, that they are going to bring cigar-makers to make cigars, carpenters to build their houses, rowers to row in their bancas, to give an idea of this Filipino fluvial locomotive, soldiers to show their equipment and condition who, under the command of Europeans, are brave, docile, and long-suffering; in one words, they will tell us they are going to be brought not for exhibition.  And what would we say if they replied that they could not prevent us from becoming the object of ridicule or if they told us that we are afraid of the exposition because we are convinced of our ridiculousness?  Nothing, dear friend, what I have said: let the exposition come, let the abyss open that will separate us; what you say: let us take advantage of this event: if every transcendental event has its purpose, this undoubtedly cannot be more proper to awaken in dormant consciences the knowledge of what is done to them and the sentiment of what is owed to them.  And though you are so calm with the conviction that you will be free from all blame, which in time will be laid on the Filipinos who, being here, did not take u p the defense of their Mother Country on this occasion.  Some may envy you; but apart from what I have already said on this point, believe me that it is painful to see that the country that someday will try, and will do well, to throw the blame on some people, should allow itself so easily to be brought here to be an object of ridicule or to pay a sad role in this exposition without even a passive resistance, much less without a protest.  Because that people (sixty or eighty individuals come accompanied by civil guards to guard the women and conducted by that pedantic Mr. Francisco Torrontogui), led the ewes to the slaughterhouse, without any difficulty?  Is there no one among the people over there that thinks like we do, that sees clearly and has initiative?  Is it because we here can do more with protests and articles than they there that have to make accusations?  There is no decent person who attends to his private interests first and afterward to those of the country; but there is no sane man who believes himself owner of the great lever of Archimedes able to move alone a people over whom, it seems, weighs exclusively the entire law of gravity.  It would be another thing if all fulfill their duty, each one doing here as well as there what corresponds to him; the thing would go on and some day the work would be completed.

On the 31^st of December we did not celebrate though we attended the dinner: ten persons, among them I who attended unwillingly indeed.  This has been destroyed; there is neither unity nor are there ideas, nor anything except vain air in the head.  We are some puppets with childish deeds and manly pretensions.  We need blows on the head to bring us back to sanity!  This is what is lacking, friend; I wish nothing else but that every Filipino be a Helot [serf or slave] who, by force of electric discharges that he gets in the . . . he ends up one day cursing his life and dismissing the infernal machines and those who handle them.  As I say: on the 31^st of December I even ate much at home in order to eat at the restaurant; I don’t know why I took part in the dinner; just to satisfy my conscience, not to interrupt a custom.  It was decided to hold it only on the 30^th. (Don’t wonder.)  I could not reply to your request then to reserve a place for you.  I made Julio inform the rest of your request, which was approved without discussion, and it was decided to reserve a place for you at the table; but nothing was done and consequently you owe nothing.  Melchor Veloso was in charge of organizing it.  He gave us a dinner of the style of the year before, though more modest, because the price had been reduced to two duros.  I cannot give you an idea of how dull and funeral was the dinner.  Voices were low; we spoke in whispers in order not to attract attention in the midst of that silence.  At a small table, in another room (the dinner was held at the already know restaurant, Madrid) sat Ruiz with this wife, beside the connecting door, in order to be able to talk with us and to share some dishes from our table, though they were dining at their expense.  Come twelve o’clock, one or two said that there be toasts.  To the rest of us it did not matter a thing.  Galicano rose up, said four things that I don’t care to remember, that echoed as in a void.  Then after a quarter of an hour at least, by main force they asked that Julio speak, who by no means wanted to speak.  He rose up and improvised, praying that the Philippines may become more and more destitute every day so that the mine may explode.  Then the remaining eight spoke one after the other.  I was the last and I said commonplace things that are not worthwhile repeating.  León spoke enough in Greek, and Casal, whom I don’t know if you know well enough, said irrelevant things, asking for schools, deputies, and other things that the country needs, necessities that ought to be expressed because the Mother Country innocently ignores them.  Julio raised his voice more than is necessary and from that moment nothing more was heard, except he and Graciano who discussed lengthily socialism, the monarchy, and the republic.  It is needless to tell you who showed himself champion of the republic and socialism, though I ought to tell you that it caused surprise to see transformed into a monarchist the one who one day said that progress could wrest the crown from the forehead of the Caesars to place it on the forehead of the sovereign people.  At two o’clock the two of us silently went to sleep.  You will understand that there is no one here who understands or directs this colony, which, though it has pretensions, evidently needs a leading string, a nurse, or teacher.  The hour of darkness sounded and we dispersed. I hope that the interval be brief, that after it, the spirit of union and intelligence appear again like the light of the electric light.  Amen.  I don’t doubt that it is pleasant for you to be reunited with fellow countrymen, whoever they may be, without any reservation in heart, in mind, or without being Jesuitical, as you say.  I have enough good faith not to doubt this and God knows that I would like to find all our countrymen to be equally disposed, though it is bad for me to say so (as they say here.)

I don’t know if you are already informed that our countryman, Mr. Cuesta, a very judicious young man, studious and loved by all, though he lied aloof from us (perhaps . . . or without perhaps) who was studying road engineering died of pneumonia.  His schoolmates paid for his modest burial.  We went to see the body; a subscription list was made, some signed, but I don’t know why no collection was made.  I send you the article in Correspondencia of tonight for your satisfaction once you are informed of its content.  I don’t know if that Mr. La Guardia is Dr. Eduardo who was in Manila for a long time and was acting director general of finance or administration.  Let us see if it creeps and if it exerts influence, even though they political trimmers come now.  It is planned to have some countrymen go to see that gentleman to thank him and ask him for favors.

Farewell, friend Pepe, you cannot complain of my apathy, though you may complain of my verbosity.

Keep yourself well and command your most affectionate friend who loves you.

[01] Noli me tángere.

[02] Victor Balaguer, Catalan poet, who served as minister of colonies.  His “pet project” was the holding of a Philippine exposition at Madrid and the establishment of a Philippine Museum.

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029. Evaristo Aguirre, (Cauit), 17 February 1887

He sends Rizal issues of El Liberal in which Quioquiap’s anti-Filipino articles appear – Gracio López Jaena’s reply

17 February 1887

My dear Friend,

            I am waiting for your reply to my last letter.  This letter has no other purpose but to send the enclosed articles published in the issues of El Liberal for the 13^th and 16^th instant.  You will see how unbecoming and unheard-of are the writings of one Quioquiap. [01]  It is not the first time that he has written such things about the Philippines and her people.  But the coward says such tings and he seems do despicable that he ought to be left alone with his own ideas and the feelings he shows.  In fact, it had not occurred to any one in the colony to pay any attention to him and his vulgar invectives.  But in view of his persistence and his increasing impudence, this time it was thought to impugn his diatribes in a dignified manner.  One can hardly explain how they can be published in newspapers that are called “liberal” and which take pride in being so.  Graciano, whose activeness, intelligence, and zeal cannot be denied (though he has defects like any mother’s son), went ahead to write the reply that you will have the pleasure to read.  I say that he went ahead because others also wanted to write but as the colony no longer meets or foregathers or understands one another, nothing was agreed upon.  Consequently everyone acted on his own account and Graciano went ahead and we were all pleasantly surprised at the appearance of his article which I find dignified, serene, concise, lacking in energy, though to someone it does not seem sufficient.  As for me, though Graciano and I no longer get together through the mischief of the colony, I’m very pleased with his article and I prefer it to any other which might turn out either more violent, in which case it would not have been accepted for publication, or it might hardly have the sobriety, fluency, and worthy impartiality that are evident in Graciano’s language.  Graciano’s experience, facility, and talent are manifest in his article.  It was not easy in this case to keep within prudent limits as he had done, a merit that must be recognized.  I, for my part, after calling the villainy of Quioquiap what in reality it deserves, I said in my reply that he should not be confused with the only honorable Spaniards, though he boasts of having the heart of those who fought in Bailen, Lepanto, etc.; that though he may not certainly lack a family name, as a Filipino does, we already could see how honorable he was by the demonstration of his sentiments; that it was not strange that he who crawls in the mire of rude insults should see some standing up and he would not agree without at least seeing those of a different race on their knees, but who are as worthy as any one else and inferior to no one, etc.  In short, the rebuke became personal and therefore less independent and opportune than that of Graciano.  I send you several copies so that you can send them to the Philippines where I believe they ought to know these things so that they may know what to depend on and they may be set aright.

            May you keep in good health and command your very affectionate,

Cauit

_______________

[1] Pseudonym of Pablo Leced, a Spanish writer, notorious for his anti-Filipino writings.

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030. Rizal, Berlin, 5 March 1887

NOTE: In Rizal’s notebook Clinica was found this draft of a letter in French, following a French composition entitled Essai sur Pierre Corneille.  It was dated Berlin, 5, March 1887.  It has no address.

Rizal explains the nature and character of his novel Noli me tángere.

My dear Friend,

            In your last letter you complain about my silence.  You are right; oblivion is the death of friendship. Only I must add that oblivion does not exist for true friendship and I shall give you proof at once.

            For a long time you have wished to read a novel by me.  You said to me that it was necessary to do something serious and not to write any more articles that live and die with the page of a newspaper.  Very well, to your wishes, to your three letters, I reply with my novel – Noli me tángere – of which I send you a copy by post.

            Noli me tángere, words taken from the Gospel of St. Luke. [01] mean “touch me not.”  The book contains, then, things that nobody in our country has spoken of until the present.  They are so delicate that they cannot be touched by anyone.  With reference to myself, I have attempted to do what nobody had wished to do.  I have replied to the calumnies that for so many centuries have heaped upon our country.  I have described the social condition, the life there, our beliefs, our hopes, our desires, our complaints, and our sorrows.  I have unmasked hypocrisy that has impoverished and brutalized us under the cloak of religion.  I have distinguished the true religion from the false, from the superstitious, from that which capitalizes the holy word in order to extract money, in order to make us believe in absurdities of which Catholicism would blush if it would know them.  I have lifted the curtain in order to show what is behind the deceitful and glittering words of our government.  I have told our compatriots our defects, our vices, our culpable and cowardly complacency with the miseries over there. [02] Whenever I have found virtue I have proclaimed it and render homage to it; and I have not wept in speaking about our misfortunes.  Instead, I have laughed, because no one would want to cry with me over the misery of our native land, and laughter is always good to conceal our sorrows.  The incidents I relate are all true and they happened; I can give proofs of them.  My book may have and it has defects from the artistic or aesthetic point of view.  I don’t deny it; but what cannot be questioned is the impartiality of my narration.

            Here is my reply to your three letters.  I hope you will be satisfied and you will not blame me any more for my silence.  I would have a great pleasure to know that you find it to your taste.  I don’t believe that I have fallen in disgrace.  You have always encouraged me with your approval and advice. Stimulate further your friend who respects your opinions and your criticisms.

            I await your letters.  As soon as you have read my book, I hope you will give me your severe judgment.  I don’t feign a studied modesty, but I believe and I assure you that I shall follow your opinion blindly.

[01]    Rizal is mistaken.  The verse is taken from John 20:17 where the resurrected Jesus admonishes that Mary Magdalene not touch him until he has ascended.

[02]    He was writing in Spain: “there” means the Philippines.

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XXX031. Graciano López Jaena, Madrid, 6 March

He deeply appreciates Rizal’s congratulations on his article – Lete, editor of España en Filipinas? -- Criticizes the policy of the new publication – He and Ceferino de León are not on its staff.

Madrid, 6 March 1887

Mr. José Rizal.

My dear Friend Rizal,

            I acknowledge receipt of your esteemed letter of the 1^st instant.  I received very many congratulations on my articles from Filipinos and Spaniards, yours fro being the most spontaneous, I consider the most valuable of all: thanks for your letter.

            Here the manga insic [01] have established a weekly magazine named España en Filipinas whose editorial direction is entrusted to Lete.  Undoubtedly upon hearing this you would exclaim, “Lete, editor of a magazine!”  Well, indeed, friend Rizal, Lete is editor, he who said that he had nothing to do with the Filipino colony, not even in patriotic functions, now edits a publication, organ of the colony.  The political tendencies of the magazine must be polite and very moderate.  Judging the articles that will be published in the first issue that I had the curiosity to read, there is everything in the magazine; but as to colonial policy, a homeopathic dose; for that reason the policy of the magazine is that of complaisance, so that I say to myself that it seems there is truth in what Quioquiap says of “Castilas standing up and Filipinos kneeling down,” considering the political color of this new publication planned for the Filipinos.  When the Castilas challenge us to a fight, we reply with a smile; when they exploit us, we fete them.  I am not connected with that publication, the same with Ceferino de León, because of the manga suyas do not like my radical and revolutionary methods as if Prim [2] without his radicalism, Martos without his Cimbris (?), Castelar [3] and Pi y Margall [4] without their socialism, could have carried out the Revolution of 1868; as if the Americans without their energy could have attained their independence.  Thus, then, Graciano has nothing to do with the publication of España en Filipinas.

[01]  The phrase refers to the Filipinos.

[2]   General Prim, leader of an abortive revolt in 1865 against Queen Isabella II of Spain.

[03]  Emilio Castelar (1832-1899), distinguished Spanish man of letters, and president for a period of the Spanish Republic (1873-1874).

[04]   Francisco Pi y Margall (1821-1871), Spanish statesman, one of the presidents of the Spanish Republic (1873-1974), and friend of the Philippines.

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XX 032. Evaristo Aguirre, (Cauit), Madrid, 10 March 1887

Cautious about the novel – Dr. Pardo de Tavera – La Guardia – Quioquiap – A Filipino newspaper in Madrid – España en Filipinas – Its personnel – Graciano’s opposition –Attempt to sow dissidence among the Filipinos in Spain – All should regard themselves Filipinos, regardless of color.

Madrid, 10 March 1887

Mr. José Rizal

Germany

My dear Friend,

            I have before me your esteemed letter dated 21 February last in which you gave me the pleasant surprise that you are completely occupied with the publication of your awaited novel on which I congratulate you heartily, rejoicing infinitely that you have found a way of printing it without further delay.  You may rest assured that I have kept and will always keep the matter absolutely secret as I am the lone repository of the secret, if, as you assured me, you have communicated it only to me – a proof of friendship that I know how to value and appreciate duly.  To no one, neither to my fiancée nor to friend Paco, to no one absolutely, have I even mentioned your novel.  Its title seems to me attractive, mysterious, tempting, nothing vulgar, in a word, it is enough to excite curiosity.  No one has asked me about your novel, with nobody, as I tell you, have I spoken about it, but should they ask me, I will remember to tell them that it is called Sampagas, [01] as you say and will come out at your pleasure, so that if the future depends upon my keeping the secret, you may count on me.

            I don’t remember, or rather I don’t know, who is that friend Viola that you speak to me about, but I am glad that he finds your work good, as they do too in Barcelona, which confirms hopes.  I don’t know if someone is going home towards the end of March not do I find a surer means of making copies of it reach there than for someone to carry them in his luggage, a trusted person, and even this, for safety, he should carry a recommendation or safe-conduct so that at the customs he would not be blocked.  According to what I understand that is done in those tropical countries, besides previous censorship.  As to the rest, I hold the same opinion that it is desirable that some copies reach there before the work is known here.  Now I remember that le docteur T. H. Pardo de Tavera is leaving for the Philippines from Marseille on the 13^th of this month, but on one hand, it is late now to ask him to take charge of anything, and early perhaps to have the remittance ready if it is true as you say that the printing will not be finished until the middle of this month.  On the other hand, it is doubtful (I doubt it, unless I’m refused) that he will consent to undertake the double mission of importing books and performing the scientific work that the government has entrusted to him, aside from the fact that he is going there. . .  and this by itself is a bundle of devils . . . (missing) and as you see it is not. . . (missing) and besides you are not in favor of embarrassing anybody, because it would be difficult to convince him that, that is not an embarrassment.  In view of what I have heard, he wants to be absolutely free of any embarrassment, for it is said that he decided to spend a couple of quiet years in political trimming and return to Paris and enjoy, study, and write.  Indeed, how a convenient number of copies could be introduced there is a problem that needs to be studied.

            Let us go to another thing.  Enclosed I send you a clipping from La Correspondencia, in which Graciano gives an account of the Filipino’s visit to Mr. La Guardia, just as in another article he announced prematurely a banquet in honor of the same gentlemen which surprised this gentleman and he requested Govantes to convince the colony that it ought to stop the banquet for the time being and not to make much noise; he did not support in the Cortes the bills owing to I know not what though he has said to Lete that he would support them at all cost and even in exchange of hurling furniture into the face of the party; those are his own words.  The bills are well written and I shall have an opportunity to send them to you if they fall again into my hands and I have time to copy them.  And as variety is pleasing, there I send you too another indecent letter of Quioquiap, which has not been answered, nor should it be answered.  I decline to comment because you know by what to abide.  Now comes the best: At last the colony has decided to have its own organ to publish a review, new, moderate, and complaisant, in which the interests of the country are defended, events are clarified, and errors are corrected.  There goes the first number, which could not be bigger for lack of funds. . . it is good, perhaps it may strike you as too good-natured, but thus the work can begin and later hit whatever is at hand.  What matters is that something has been done that there is something to give some. . . beneficial.  I advise you, so that, the truth may be known, that the idea came from Graciano, Albert, Rosario, and Blanco, I believe, but the majority adhered to it, let by Govantes who, as you know, had thought of it when it was attempted to revive that article.  The article Compaña emprendida is by Lete; La Prensa local by Julio; and the rest is all by Govantes.  An article by Roxas and another by a fellow countryman could not be published for lack of space.  On account of the size of the review it was even necessary to lop off some of the published articles to the regret of many, for in the haste, natural to a first trial, the lopping off was done so hastily that it seemed the devil had done it, some “expressive” paragraphs disappeared leaving the review, as I have said, with such little push and vigor that it is almost too weak.  But in short this can be changed; it can be continued in another way; and the worst that may happen is that the work may not take root; and they may not take advantage of the present good disposition of the colony.  I shall copy later the eliminated paragraphs, indicating where they should be so that you may have a complete idea of how the thing should be and how it turned out.  At the outset, you were counted as a charter member and stockholder, giving according to your ability: some contributed monthly 5 duros [the silver peso of Spain – RLY], others 3, another 2, and another one duro.  But it has seemed desirable and so it was agreed upon not to ask countrymen who are out of the capital or the old ones until the first number could be sent to them with a circular invitation.  Pardon me that for not having written you beforehand nor taken part in the work of organizing the staff of the review, etc., you have not been informed about it until now.  I believe that you will soon be invited officially to take moral and material part in the support of the review.  Because Govantes cold not accept it, at a meeting, they decided to entrust its editorial direction to Lete and its management to Llorente and naturally all those who wish to write are editors, especially assigned being Govantes for political news, Julio for the local press, Casal for foreign news, Roxas for the scientific section, La Serna for the literary section and I know not what, and yours truly for court news, etc. etc.  All can write editorials, though this task falls on Lete, so that there shall not lack any.  You will read in the magazine the terms of publication and subscription.  In view of the moderate tendencies of the organ, the older men have been encouraged to share its expenses with us and to do what they can.  That is the attitude of Cañas, Pozas, Regidor, etc. and the “strangers” on their part also praise the effort and augur good luck for the review.  May God will it so!  Who knows what it can give in time, if all will unite and avoid clashes and internal, puerile differences?  Because this is our ill-luck, and if in a given moment it seems that we are all united and agreed, later it turns out that everyone wants to impose his personal opinion and no one wants to sacrifice on the altar of harmony and the common good neither one iota of his personal ideas, and what is most dismal, not his views and egoistic convenience, thus causing dissidence and the failure of every work or generous intention, which cannot fail to be so at bottom.  Everyone looks at every enterprise that we undertake for the Philippines from a special and even contradictory point of view. . . Nothing of what I tell you will surprise you who know us all and have lived among us, and much less when you learn what is going on when the review is hardly born.  You will be surprised that Graciano, so ready, is not a member of the editorial staff.  Well, Graciano, himself, upon knowing the opinion of everyone that the review ought not to show tendencies of severe and open opposition to any of the existing institutions but rather will conduct a calm and peaceful campaign, but tenacious and continuous Graciano himself, I say, recognized that he could not direct the review inasmuch as his name is already well known and looked upon with suspicion, and furthermore he recognized that the policy adopted for the review was convenient if it was to live and to be received by everyone without prejudice.  But Graciano did not limit himself to this.  He obstinately (contradicting us as you can understand, but we shall always miss his valuable cooperation) declared that he could not take part in our enterprise because in no way does he want to sacrifice either his ideas or his language that could not be changed.  All efforts to convince him to give in a little were futile.  He was asked not to take up politics (in order not to do violence to his convictions), he was offered the section of the Philippine press, of the gazette, of the literary section, of the scientific section, but in vain, he withdrew from us decidedly.  We even told him that he could collaborate in any other way except writing political articles, which could be published in the magazine El Resumen that has opened to us its columns through a kind of subsidy consisting of our subscriptions to it and those we get from the Philippines.  All in vain.  But this is not the worst.  I realize that I have been completely deceived in the opinion I have formed of Graciano.  I never believed him a model worthy to be imitated in the colony.  I knew his reprehensible defects. . . .  What cannot be forgiven, what I could never have believed, were it not evident to me, as it is evident to me, what will pain you as it pains the majority, is that Graciano has such despicable sentiments that he is ready to impose himself upon everybody, even doing all the harm he can do to us (including the Philippines), sacrificing everything on the altar of his most extraordinary pride and irritating self-love.  Enraged, it is evident (for he gives no reason at all, nor has anything occurred except what I have already said on the question of the review), on seeing that the publication of a magazine (that he proposed) was being realized without his cooperation (that he himself declined to give, against our wishes, but which he perhaps thought was of absolute necessity in order that the magazine would prosper), on seeing that he was mistaken in the belief that the magazine could not be published without him, he has declared on it war to the death.  He said that it will be an affront to the Philippines, that he wants to kill it, and that he will kill it, that only three or four write for it, who do not know how to write because he had to direct us to Julio, Lete, and even me (I have not written anything yet), and that he verified and corrected our writings.  But that is nothing in comparison with the unspeakable means he uses to sow discord, to set one against another, in short, to create divisions, for he does not stop at trifles, and he does not consider whether those means are the vilest and the most cowardly that can be imagined, as they have been until now.  He has joined Roxas. . . though pretending to be in agreement with us, like Graciano, he does not say that he is our enemy and he has deceived poor León and through these two as instruments, he sows suspicion, spreads tales and gossip among the rest (Jugo, Albert, etc.) whom he discourages all he can everyday.  He plays the role of. . . who throws a stone and hides his hand.  León wrote an article on judicial matters that was sent to the press after his language had been duly corrected.  As soon as Govantes found it out, who thought that León should be given a work that would be easy for him, with great tact and with the excuse that I too have a violent language when dealing with Philippine questions, said that it seemed to him better that León should take charge of abstracting the Philippine press and that I should take charge of the court reports.  Thus it was decided peacefully; but Graciano later put in León’s head and made him see, I believe, that he had suffered such a rebuff and that his article would become the object of such ridicule that he wrote to Julio asking him to return to him his article because he did not want it to be the target of impudent criticisms of those who consider themselves literary men, whose patriotism and good fellowship were not capable of correcting charitably the errors that they might find in it.  The style of the letter was unmistakably Graciano’s and we no longer doubt that he inspired it and even drafted it.  Julio, disturbed, asked León for explanations, telling him that his article was corrected and even sent to the press, and requesting him to tell him who had ridiculed it unashamedly.  León did not want to give an explanation, Julio challenged him, and friends were appointed to attend to the matter.  León appointed two Spaniards – a colonel and another gentleman.  León or his sponsors gave satisfactory explanation, saying the letter wanted to say that León’s article might stray and fall into the hands of strangers who might ridicule it, but it did not intend directly or indirectly to offend Julio.  The record was drafted by those gentlemen and already approved, when they were making a clean copy of it – I went out for a moment to write a letter – Graciano come along and rewrote the record, and change it in his own handwriting, leaving it thus: “Mr. Llorente having been mistaken as to the meaning of the letter of such a date, in stating it in writing as I do, is the best explanation that that letter contained nothing offensive to the said gentleman.”  This is more or less what Graciano’s amendment stated that I saw and criticized (though Graciano denied having meddled in anything.  I scratched it out so that the whole record had to be rewritten which made León’s witnesses ridiculous.  They said that they did not think that Graciano would amend the copy but simply to put it in better form as it was done very briefly.  Graciano still made Roxas write a letter to Lete asking him to call a meeting to adopt some definitive resolutions concerning the review but with the sane intention, as it was afterward learned, of removing Lete from the editorial direction and throw out some bile at the meeting.  The meeting was not held, because Govantes opposed it and with his prestige convinced the majority.  This was after they had met I know not how many times and adopted resolutions and elected Lete editorial director by secret ballot no less and refused to accept the resignation that Lete presented afterwards.  What certain passions like envy, misunderstood pride, and mutual distrust can do!  Thus, there is no way by which we can ever understand one another or for anything that is worthwhile to prosper.  I don’t understand this: Do these countrymen fear that the rest besides them, may not be inspired by the ideals that everyone ought to pursue, that they may have twisted intentions or they lack patriotism, and that since they may lack ability in some matter, they may also lack the eagerness to succeed?  Since it is certain that united we can do something good, can they not think of some convenient means to avoid any blunder in an enterprise without an attempt upon our union, without creating divisions that ruin or impede every understanding, every work?  Or shall we never learn to do a worthwhile thing except to throw one against the other, distrust one another, or believe himself better than the others?  Everybody considers himself capable of directing and commanding, but no one knows how to follow or no one wants to follow and this is not the saddest thing, but that, not content with not following or discontented for not being in command, they neither allow others to follow nor to command, as if they can command everybody in everything or as if following were exclusively the service duty or function only suitable for a flock of animals and not also of free and noble cooperation of worthy persons in every honorable undertaking.  Thus I can speak with so much more ease, as I have the least to do with the question of the review.  I did not want to attend any of the organization meetings, distrusting that anything beneficial could be done.  I warned them that I did not want any position on the staff of the review and I even expressed my wish not to be an official editor but only a collaborator when and if it was possible for me; but finally, compelled by the fear that my passive conduct might be construed as dissidence, at the request of Govantes, I accepted the court section.  But now that I see that an unworthy and cowardly war has been declared against the idea, now I want to show in a practical way that I will exert every possible effort so that it would not die, and now I intend to attend every meeting that is held and combat there every attempt against its realization.  Graciano and Roxas have joined together despite having been formerly deeply divided and having hurt each other. . . .  For such purpose and respecting each other mutually, the two divided ones united, working until they succeeded to bring back Roxas to the good graces of Yorac.  But Yorac left; Roxas and Graciano ate at Julio’s house, and new rivalries arose, and Graciano goes to Julio to confide the following: “Don’t trust Roxas; he has hurt Sanciangco.  ‘Beware to those who do not want to treat me; Sanciangco already knows me.’”  Upon knowing this, Roxas asserts that only Graciano can say such a thing; but it suits him for the present to make common cause with him and he has joined him.  How are you, friend?  Is it true that in the colony though small, there is everything as in a drugstore?  Now we don’t miss anything in it: and the Philippines who needs everything can get from it a depurative [cleansing agent] as well as poison, according to the case.  I see that by telling you these things, I am prolonging my letter too much; but it has to be thus to expound the details and at the same time unbosoming myself without leaving anything inside the body.

            Going back to the review, I repeat that it has been well received, it seems.  Julio says that important subscriptions are coming in.  We are anxiously awaiting the impression it makes in the Philippines.  In the colony, with the exception of Graciano, Roxas, and perhaps León and Jugo, all are very much encouraged and satisfied with the idea, though at the beginning there were divergent opinions.  For my part, I applaud the review with all my strength, but I don’t want the succeeding issues to suffer from debility, from the notable passivity evident in the first number, which can even be prejudicial to us. . . ridiculous, or we can fall into disrepute should they call us political trimmers, since they do not suspect the same meekness that is observed, seeing in it the skin of sheep that covers a wolf, which can also happen.  But the Spaniards seem to regard the magazine favorably, they congratulate us and they wish us well.  Five or six papers that we have read answered our greetings and wish us prosperity, and one that I know until now, which is El Pabellón Nacional has immediately exchanged an issue with ours.  Thus goes the thing.  Now I am going to copy the most important paragraphs which have been dropped from Lete’s article with the corresponding sign on the places where they were interpolated.

     And there is no law that authorizes to legislate through royal decrees; nor does the Spanish legislative branch, the King with the Cortes, have more limited jurisdiction than the Monarchy, within which is the Philippines, because the representatives in the Cortes do not represent the districts that elect them but the whole nation, because laws, whether general or special, can only emanate from the parliament.  And it is already time as well as wise to study the cause or peculiar reasons why they are attracted to those regions in order to try to substitute for them other more forceful ones to direct that human current toward the very fertile Philippine soil where the individual can devote himself to the cultivation of an immense variety of products.  As this point is of supreme interest, inasmuch as the agricultural progress of a people indicates the measure of their culture and moral height, in the economic order this immigration at the same time signifies work, intelligence, production, and in the political order, ideas, institutions, ideas that proclaim the prestige of the Metropolis, according to Duval’s assertion, it being well understood that whatever pecuniary sacrifices are devoted to such a patriotic undertaking will be insignificant in comparison with the results that they will produce in the economic sphere and even more insignificant still compared with the sacrifices that some day the oversight of this forecast may cause in men and money. . . . This fact is so undeniable that it can be rightly asserted that, if at the beginning of this century in certain regions of America, there had existed a Spanish colony, today so large, those peoples would still be living under the protection of the flag that presided over their entrance into the concert of civilized nations, and undoubtedly to that valuable element would be due that the Spanish flag still waves in Cuba and in the Morro Castle. (I do not want to omit, for being impartial, these insistent paragraphs on immigration, that it would not have occurred to me to speak about on account of my inability to reconcile my economic convictions with my political ones, and much less to sacrifice these to those.  But, I repeat, that for being impartial and so that you may know what he had written, I copy them.  I am glad that, if not all, some paragraphs at least have been omitted on this subject.  I am inclined to think that in insisting on them Lete wanted more to comply with them to follow known currents and schools of thought, to display economic and political knowledge in a word, to give a patriotic flavor to the article and a conservative tint to the tendencies, rather than the mixed meaning of a profession of faith that in the midst of everything I do not know if that creed can come in.)

     … The only thing that can be denied by those who are blinded by personal and egoistic interest and do not understand the danger of supporting the present state of things is the idea perhaps of continuing to enjoy the sole right of hoarding the lesser or greater aliquot part [in mathematics: a part of a number which leaves no remainder {7 is an aliquot part of 21} - rly] of the resources that the Indio devotes to vanity, superstition, or in obedience to the tributary laws in force in that country. . . . And though we recognize truly that the opposition of many to the representation of the Philippines in the Cortes is unconscious, we cannot help but consider such opposition as impolitic and even criminal.  To deny representation to the many millions of Spaniards overseas, when here we rebel in order to get it, there being parties that sanction among its principles means condemned by the law; and deny it also when those methods are not used because there is still no danger that they would resort to them with considerable strength, is to follow a policy that for its imprudence deserves a discouraging name; and if we do not reflect on it, it is because our fighting character does not give importance to the contingency of a more or less future strife and our attention is drawn most to any that we learn from thinking peoples and let us not abandon to chance the solution of problems that, not because we shun to discuss them, they need not be posed in obedience to historical laws, and when their solution becomes pressing they are then in the worst condition.  The lessons of the past ought to illumine the future and no government can boast of knowing the contingencies that the future holds, or still less if in those general conflagrations that periodically destroy the world, it will not have to repent for its lack of foresight.  And inasmuch as colonies are an integral part of what is called nation, one cannot understand why there must exist differences between homogenous parts; and without going beyond the limits of principles and abiding only by those of equity, neither can it be conceived why the rights and duties of the ruled should not be identical with those of the rest of the citizens.

     These are the paragraphs that, for the minuteness of the review, were suppressed in Lete’s article.

     I began this endless letter four days ago, my good friend, but thinking of writing you long and diffusely, I started writing in very short and interrupted moments and with the going and coming of one place to another.  I still find myself almost in the middle of the letter, which did not turn out badly for me, for I have just received your esteemed letter of the 12^th, and I can and I want to answer it right here.  But I am going to tell you beforehand that the second issue of our storied review has come out.  I am also sending it to you so that you may read the articles of La Serna (foreign news review), of Govantes (political chronicle), of Lete (editorial), of Roxas (one entitled Historia general y juicio crítico de las ciencias y artes en Filipinas, and do not know why it appears without the title, inasmuch as it appears with his byline, which he wishes all his articles to carry), of Antonio (letter that I do not know from whom), of Julio (local press), of Jugo (a request); news I don’t know from whom, and an eleventh hour reply of Lete to a stupid article in La Epoca of the 13^th that I am enclosing and which according to whom they say, is written by the noted Recur.  After what an organ so respectable and distinguished here as La Epoca (though conservative) says; when the governors general of the Philippines and the board of authorities, using their extraordinary powers, do not implement the orders of the government of the nation; when the treacherous and vile weapon of the word filibusterismo is wielded so mercilessly and boldly without stopping even to use calumny in order to coerce the government and mislead and predispose public opinion against the simple introduction of the Penal Code; when all this is seen, I say, it can already be inferred when and how the constitution, representation in Cortes, in short, the matter of individual rights, at the conservative La Epoca says, will be brought to us.

     This is life everlasting, friend, and one must e convinced that in the life of all peoples no other law exists or has ever existed except the law of force which always imposes itself and ends up by convincing.

Force then is what is needed-- much force.

     Let us go to your last letter.  So they have written you that the colony is divided into “genuine Filipinos and aristocrats”?  That we no longer consider ourselves Filipinos but Indios, or Mestizos, or Castilas?  I already imagined it!  I can swear to you that I have expressed my fears, that almost I have assured the species that inasmuch as you still communicate with us some unworthy countryman would not fail to write you in an effort to infuse in your mind fears, suspicions and misgivings in order to predispose you against the publication of our review, and what is worst, against certain persons (for here we are all well-known and even with vague hints each one can be identified).

The letter you have received is another trick (to sow dissension that is blamed on others) of a despicable being whose only prestige before this consisted of aptitudes and efforts used in favor of the cause that we all defend, but he has been completely discredited, having revealed treacherous sentiments in assailing the unity and good harmony of all by resorting to the most infamous means.  What they have written you is a falsehood, a coarse calumny.  There is no division here whatsoever, unless it be on the part of two or three who believe themselves the genuine Filipinos and who obstinately and against the efforts fail in the most cowardly and cringing manner.

     After reading my letter you will know by what to abide; for now and always my guide has been, is, and will be impartiality and frankness; and then your conscience will dictate to you the conduct that you ought to adopt and what you ought to do with the letter and its author and inspirer.  All of us, I believe, are convinced that we do not have, nor must we bear, any other name except that of Filipinos, which is the name of our common Mother.  Who makes classifications; who establishes differences?  If I knew who is doing such a thing, I would try to convince him, or I would call him stupid.  For my part, I don’t have to prove with words, because my work demonstrates it sufficiently and has demonstrated it always, which is my manner of being.  You know me well and you know my opinion, manifested more than once, and my attitude towards the matter is open to all.  As you deplore not having in your veins all the blood that could serve as a common bond, I deplore and I have always said so that mine could serve as a reason for not being counted among the genuine Filipinos.  Among no one else but them, I ought and I wish to be counted, so that all that part or quantity that may confuse me with the un-genuine Filipinos hurts and mortifies me.  I have always preached union and I have practiced it myself so that I am in a position to challenge anyone to prove that I have inclined more toward one side than to the other, and though it does not seem to me right to speak of certain things that may be taken as foolish bragging, it seems to me that this occasion is proper to say candidly that never have unworthy appreciation, differences, and distinctions prevented me from acting equally toward all nor did they restrain me in the least in helping Graciano when I found him in need, in visiting and being concerned about Villaluz when he got sick, in defending Figueroa and turning against Graciano when a question arose involving Yorac, in assisting Ventura also, and in accepting from you yourself pecuniary and other favors when I needed them, in short, in regarding all equally and giving them equal attention and consideration, feeling satisfied in seeing myself wherever my countrymen are and enjoying being able to stay with them in a foreign land.  “We are not of this country.”  Further I will tell you: I have more satisfaction in seeing a brown countryman and I am more attracted toward him than when I see another countryman who is not like him, because the other one reminds me instantly of our common origin while the other does not bear so manifestly the stamp of our blessed cradle.  With the same candor I tell you that I cannot avoid certain mortification when, finding myself in public among fellow countrymen or in any other public function in which they can stare at us, I observe that they can take me for an intruder among them for not showing the trait or the most visible and peculiar physiognomy of the land, the national color.

     Already an editor of El Resumen noted that the name of the magazine marked the separation of the Philippines from Spain and he thought that could very well be called simply Filipinas.  I thought so also and I even proposed that it be called Revista Hispano-Filipina, since its purpose is to unite both nationalities, but the thing was already agreed upon at the meeting they held and though my proposal was known before the first number was printed, it did not seem to offer any advantage or did it respond better than the proposed title to the tendencies and purpose of the publication.  As to the rest, I ought to tell you that though I am not aware that it has been expressly agreed upon, it seems that at least for the present the review should not appear as genuinely and purely Filipino either in its tendencies or in its editing but rather it should have the appearance of any magazine here that is devoted especially to. . . .  There must be in the mind of all that no attempt should be made to place the Spanish idea against the Filipino idea or to give reason to suspicious persons to see or believe to see the Filipino idea against eh Spanish idea.  España en Filipinas after all, as it sounds, seems that its primordial and laudable meaning should be taken as indicating “the policy of Spain in the Philippines as it is and how it should be.”

     Until the next, dear friend.  This time I have said enough and perhaps even too much.  I shall be glad if I… will keep your novel a secret as I do.

Yours,

[1] Local name for Jasminum sambae Alt.

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033. Graciano López Jaena, Madrid, 16 March 1887

Why they deny us representation in the Cortes – Opposition of the friars – Nothing can be expected from the Spanish government – The mestizas are responsible for lack of union – Criticism of España en Filipinas – We will follow you to glory or to the abyss.

24-3^rd Hortaleza, Madrid, 16 March 1887

My dear Rizal,

            I reply to your letter of the 12^th congratulating myself that you and Viola are united in spirit and in truth.  The reason why the government does not want us to have representation in the Cortes is that the friars have intimidated it.  In proof of that, Sagasta, Balaguer, and Moret have called Deputy La Guardia, who has initiated it, telling him that they would expel him from the majority if he continued supporting the three bills he has introduced in the Cortes in favor of the Philippines.  Sagasta threatened Cañamaque also of expulsion if he carried out his plan to interpellate (to formally challenge or bring into political question) on Mindanao.  The government has begged and requested Labra to desist from interpellating on the general policy of the Philippines.

So that nothing can be expected from the government.  Let us undertake our own regeneration and our progress.

As to what you say about the union of the Filipinos, you know very well that you and I have been constantly preaching and supporting it and nevertheless, you will remember the chastisement the Esquivels give you.  No, no, we the genuine or pure Indios are not the ones who forment disunity but the mestizos who, behind our back, hold meetings and conventicles [illegal assemblies - rly] without giving us a participation in their conspiracies, which certainly are not for lofty ends – like the common welfare, the interest of the Philippines – but egoistic and mean.  Lete, Govantes, and the Esquivels did not attend the banquet of 31 December and Lete had the boldness to say he had nothing to do with the Filipino colony and now he is in charge of a publication.  As to Llorente, being young and immature, they toss him about from one extreme to the other.

I believe that upon the receipt of this you must have already read the two issues of the magazine, España en Filipinas.  Do they not seem to you insipid?  The foreign review is especially unreadable; the political chronicle is violently pro-government; and the local press written by Llorente is the most innocent and inoffensive.  In truth I expected more from Llorente, who seemed to me a promising youth, but I was mistaken.  Is it not true that the magazine is most candid that it neither pricks nor cuts?  Everything in it is childish and it has no vigor that every publication that fights for great ideals should have.  Does it not seem to you that far from being either moderate or prudent, it is rather languisero? [01]

If I separated from the editorial staff and refrained from collaborating with it, it is not for being red, for I know very well that one cannot be red in discussing overseas interests in magazines that are published in the country of our master and oppressor, as one wishes, but moderate and prudent, keeping all the gall inside; but not so much, so deferent and pro-government, as the two issues that you must have before you by now prove.

I in your place, instead of returning directly to the Philippines, would pass by Japan and China to attend to the matter that I told you about in my previous letter.

From day to day I am becoming convinced that our countrymen, the mestizos, far from working for the common welfare, follow the policy of their predecessors, the Azcárragas.  I am very glad that they have brought about the division and not us.

I, like you, submit to the leader that you wish to find and I believe that no one but you can be it, with the assurance that all the genuine suyas (Filipinos) will follow you blindfolded, whether to glory or to the abyss.

Apolonio Rivera has completely recovered, is robust, and already talks a great deal and is ready to fight for our prosperity.  His mind has been opened to the great ideals of liberty and progress of the Philippines.  He sends you an embrace and a thousand regards.  He does. . . in order to eliminate quinine and they are doing him well.  He is atrocious, he is with us, and he never forgets you. 

My regard to friend Viola and answer me.

Graciano

Greetings in advance on your saint’s day; Rivera also felicitates you; I wish you to spend it happily.

_____________

[01] A Tagalog slang term meaning literally “greaser,” one who endeavors favor by attention and flattery.

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034.  Evaristo Aguirre, Madrid, 1 April 1887

He regrets López Jaena’s hurry in informing Rizal of dissension among the Filipinos – López Jaena resents he was not chosen editor of the publication España en Filipinas – He is glad Rizal is pleased with the review.

Madrid, 1 April 1887

My dear Friend,

I have before me your esteemed letter dated the 21 March.  I congratulate myself for having dispelled through my preceding extensive letter your preoccupation and grief over the most saddening dissension you believed existed in the colony at Madrid due to races and color of the epidermis [= skin - rly].  No! Fortunately, my fiend, and in asserting that you had been painfully surprised at the bad faith of some of the dissidents, far from wishing to accuse you of levity, far from ignoring that you even had reason to believe such preposterous charges as those, not only for the seriousness of the misfortune that they denounced (that the heart is inclined to fear and expect) but because I am aware that you learned about the affair only through Graciano and Rojas as you confirm, and who went ahead to inform you with the haste of one who wants to give a surprise, the first impression, which is the most effective, far, I say, from that, I only regret having seen my suspicions confirmed.

For the rest, you yourself confess having felt a great weight in the heart on account of that unexpected news.  On the other hand I ought to tell you (and I believe that the others will agree with me) that having a tranquil conscience with regard to the unity and good understanding among all countrymen, never did I think of hurrying to make everyone see the truth of the happenings on the matter, all the more because, although I suspected those who had acted so badly toward the colony here.  I could not convince myself, until I had seen it done, that the wicked intention of such fellows would reach the extreme that it did.  I cannot help but regret (and I am sincere) the vexation and its consequences of the. . . the first news of the life of the magazine. . . had known that it was born at the expense of a grave and transcendental division among the Filipinos.  At Paris nobody has yet replied to Julio’s invitation.  Who knows why?  But truth will always triumph.

I appreciate the good opinion that you have of me.  I do not say I have influence; but if I have any, I use it on those who at last show themselves to be a little reasonable.  You already know how Graciano has acted on this occasion and how we have acted toward him, even begging him.  I am the first to regret that the majority or rather the colony does not count with his strength, capacity, and aptitudes; but what can you expect from one who had ended by saying that all displeasure and soreness consisted of not having been appointed editor of the magazine, inasmuch as neither Regidor nor Govantes nor La Serna had been appointed (because they did not want to) whom he says he considers sincerely and modestly to have precedence over him for that position?  Rights, privileges!. . . . Yes, that Graciano has rendered very good services and has talent and is active, but. . . why go on?  It is painful to go down to trifles.  Let him justify himself that when. . . he sacrifices and despises every personal interest and designs on the altar of patriotism and comradeship, and of compatriotism, etc.  Well, and the patriotism, compatriotism, and comradeship of R. . .?  Perhaps Sanciango can give you information on it.  He has already gone to Manila.  So. . . They wrote you that there was a schism and that the mestizos were to blame for it?  What a word in the mouth or from the pen of the genuine Filipinos and hurl it in the face when they preach against divisions!  How progressive we are!  That there should exist among us political unity, if. . . not personal friendship; that though we may hate one another personally, we should defend united the common cause; that we have too many enemies outside; why should there be also within the bosom of the colony.  Who does not know this by heart?  Such advantages cannot be concealed from the talent of the very same G. . . but they do not suit him or L. . . to hear with the rest the perusal of your letter by Julio.  After it had been read, all said. . . to move on to the beer saloon (where G. . . and L. . . had gone as if saying, “that is not for us,” that those were the ones who seem to ignore what friend R. . . says about the disadvantages of internal strife.  The perusal of your letter, as it was natural, pleased everybody.  Besides the reader, Melecio, Rosario, Albert, Rivera, and I were there and all your paragraphs were received with signs of assent as we looked at one another as if questioning ourselves when we learned that it delighted you to see the name of Julio in the magazine which assured that though that organ of ours might even be weak, it could not be treacherous.  That there was one in the young colony that can assume its political direction is undoubted.  No one has the capacity for so great a post, and I doubt if there or among the older element exists that Moses, considering the education that the country has received and receives.  In case the country knows or understands politics a little more than its mere name, it will be passive or patient politics.  We wait for our leader who will emerge if that is fate, full of such prestige that all will follow him unquestioningly.  In the meantime and for the very reason that he has not emerged, let no one undertake to lead, but instead altogether adopt an attitude or policy and follow it.  There are divergences, there is no understanding, the gathering is dissolved, and there is no common course, and everyone follows his own path.

I am glad that the review pleases you more each time from the third issue; the editorial, the Philippine press, pardons, and the 20. . . of Govantes and the undeveloped countries, of La Serna, aside from the write-up interview by the proper and modest D’Ayot.  Praise to Thee, God!  I am very glad that your novel is finished.  Let us see when we shall have the pleasure of relishing it.  I pray God that it may decide your fate to your taste inasmuch as it depends upon it.  Of course La Serna is a precious acquisition for the review because he is very worthy. Del Pan is already in Manila.

The León-Julio case is deplorable from every point of view; and it is very regrettable, my friend, and I deplore it, that our countrymen allowed the matter to reach the extreme that it did.  This cannot be indirect because it cannot be direct for which reason I ought to tell you, so that you may be well acquainted with the case and you may not entertain illusions that recognizing that you have settled and can settle amicably analogous personal affairs and more serious than this insignificant one. I assure you that not even God could have settled this for the simple reason; 1^st, that there was a third party of perverse intention; and in the 2^nd place neither Julio nor I wanted any other settlement except the stick that Julio was already to wield as a warning to the dissidents.  What was regrettable was . . . Castellanos that León appointed as his representative prevented the thing.  I had instructions not to give in for anything.  Farewell, dear friend, may you keep in good health, and may you recover spiritual peace, commanding always your very affectionate,

Cauit

I send you a copy of La Guardia’s bills and a clipping about the Penal Code, which they say, is by Manuel Regidor.

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035.  Antonio Regidor, Europe, 3 May 1887

Regidor [01] comments on the Noli – Who does not know “Fr. Damaso”? – Comments on “Capitan Tiago, Old Tasio, Fr. Salvi, the ‘good chap’ Don Primitivo, the ‘learned’ Fr. Sibyla and Maria Clara” – Critic of the first order – What the Filipinos lack are union, energy, decision and constancy.

Europe, 3 May 1887

Mr. José Rizal

26 Jagerstrasse

Berlin

My very distinguished Friend and Countryman:

In my recent trip to Paris I heard about a book that you have just published.  Remembering the story of the Pagong [turtle - rly], the decoration of that pair of little jars made by you, and the bust of The Friar on his Return, which Paterno has, I immediately got a copy.  Afterwards I found at home a copy that you have so kindly inscribed to me for which I’m grateful.  I began reading it with the eagerness and interest that the works of our countrymen inspire me.  After reading your first lines.  I was convinced that it is a superior book.  Today I have finished reading your most interesting book, and I must tell you candidly that I have not read a more truthful or more graphic description of our much slandered and chastised society.  Who does not know “Fr. Dámaso”?  Ah, I have met him; and though in your brilliant characterization in your novel he wears the habit of the dirty Franciscan, always rude, always tyrannical, and invariably corrupt, I have met him and studied him in real life in the Philippines.  Sometimes he wears the white habit of the Augustinian, other times that of the Franciscan, as you describe him, and other times the tunic of the Recollect and with bare feet, pretending to be wise.  When I think of one of these characters in your precious novel, I’m reminded on one hand of happenings, rather of those sacrilegious orgies that began with a sumptuous banquet and ended with the imprisonment and exile of a Civil Governor of Manila who tried to put a stop to these excesses; and on the other, of a speech, a sermon, more exactly, a philippic [= diatribe -  rly] delivered by a humble servant of the Lord in a certain church in Manila on the occasion of the conferring of the doctor’s degree, which is held there with pompous solemnity.

Your “Capitán Tiago” is inimitable. Combining the traits of two or three of our countrymen, who cannot recognize the men impersonated by this hapless fellow, worthy cousin of “Ate Isabel”?  I have met them; I tried in vain to bring them to reason; and if I was not lucky in this, at least I have succeeded in making them employ their wealth in aiding bright young men who now prove that the mind of the natives of the Philippines is not as dull as Barrantes [2 has alleged.

“Old Tasio” reminds me of two or three illustrious countrymen of ours, who had fallen during the night [03].  Among them was the well-known apostate and Quaker Francisco Rodriguez, not to mention the others whom you and I know and who we should not name yet even if our charitable and pious Filipinos call them chiflado [04] or lucó-lucó. [04]

“Father Salvi” is the most genuine personification of the much extolled Philippine missionary, [05] the anti-canonical parish priest, the redeeming plant (sic) brought there and supported with so much care by Peninsular patriotism and who in the end, as in Mexico and other places in America, will bear his legitimate fruits – a tempest.  I have known some one resembling your character who, not long ago received the Holy Miter as a reward for his virtues!!!

How many of those who pretend to know our country will affirm that the noble and unlucky “Elías” is only an imaginary creature? Stupid! If they only had some contact with the natives and if these had only been allowed to un-bosom themselves to their detractors and assassins, I’m sure that they would not say such nonsense.  You and I know the typical Filipinos – by which I mean the native, creole, and half-breed – because together we have thought, endured, and suffered with them.

The good lad “Don Primitivo” and the wise “Fr. Sibyla” truly portray the old students of Santo Tomás, San José, and San Juan de Letrán who are loaded with “I distinguish” [06] and Latin jargon which are useless to the mind as well as in life.  I enjoyed those fellows.  They took me back to those times that passed away not so long ago and at which I used to laugh.  How many childhood friends of mine who are infatuated with that shallow erudition are still living!

If all these characters portray perfectly social life in the Archipelago, what can I say about “Ibarra” whose life and misfortunes are similar to mine and my humble history?  I don’t know if some one will dare question the absolute reality of this victim of despotism and colonial corruption; but if such a thing should happen, I can point out to him historical facts that will be published in a modest pamphlet entitled A Page of Spanish Colonial History that can annihilate the detractors. If he is pure idealization, the greater is the merit of the author, for he must be a great artist, indeed, who can reproduce on one canvas the typical and salient lines of three or four different faces and succeeds to make the beholder recognize with every change of light the exact likeness of a dear friend who died on the scaffold, in prison, in exile, or in disgrace.  You expose in a marvelous manner the defects and virtues of our idolized countrywomen, of those “rare roses” about whom an island poet, who is not a Filipino, said rightly: ………. Ninguna pude hallar/ Mas bella que las rosas Filipinas, Mujeres que en su labio suspirante/ Lo que es palabra en oras, es cantar.” [07]

“María Clara”, the sublime personification of pure love, parental respect, gratitude, and sacrifice is neither new nor improbable.  Unhappy victims of religious-colonial lust, they are expiatory martyrs who, with slight variations, are named like your character, sometimes Lucía of Imus, Anita of Binondo, Isabel of Pagsanghan, etc.  One can write a drama about the life of any of them.

The fanaticism of the Hermanas Terceras [08] makes your admirable picture complete.

If we go from the characters to your political, philosophical, and social observations, your book depicts some, not all, of the great evils that afflict the country.  You expose the bare and obvious ills that demand the most urgent remedy.  In doing this in moderate language, skillfully narrating common-place stories and anecdotes, now employing irony, then sarcasm, you succeed in holding up the deed to ridicule, drawing from your reader a cry of indignation against and contempt for that nefarious system.

I felicitate you on your triumph.  You are still a child and you already produce a red bullet against that social organism.  Good. Forward!  If the Quixote immortalizes its author because it exposes to the world the ailments of Spain, your Noli me tángere will bring you an equal glory.  With your modesty and your veracious and able appraisal you have dealt a mortal blow to that old tree full of blemishes and decay.  Every Filipino patriot will read your book with avidity and upon discovering in every line a veracious idea and in every word a fitting advice, he will be inspired and he will regard your book as the masterpiece of a Filipino and the proof that those who thought us incapable of producing great intellects are mistaken or are lying.  And I add: We have a critic of the first order, as we have painters of the first stature, vigorous intellects in the judiciary, and very distinguished generals in the army.  What else do we lack?  What you indicate between the lines in your well-thought out book: Unity, energy, determination, and constancy.

As I note the trend of our youth and the gigantic step which you have just made, I’ll not repeat any more with the Cuban poet: Sin patria y sin amores, / Sólo veo ante me llanto y Dolores. [09]

Nor will I say with the hero of your precious novel: “I die without seeing the dawn shine over my Native Land.”

No.  I, who is going down the ladder, worn out by the sufferings of nostalgia, congratulate you very cordially on your magnificent work and I urge you to continue your noble and patriotic labor, encouraging with your example others whom we should always remind of the last will of the luckless Elías:  “Study!!!”

Your devoted friend and admirer,

[The Exile Antonio Regidor]

_____________

[01]  Antonio Ma. Regidor y Jurado (1845 - 28 December 1910) was born in Manila.  A lawyer he obtained the degree of Doctor of Civil Law from the University of Santo Tomás.  Arrested as a result of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 he was banished together with several other Filipino patriots.  Eventually he established his residence at London where he practiced law. He favored establishing close commercial relations between the two countries.  A republican in political sympathies, he contributed articles to Manila and Madrid newspapers.  He opposed American occupation of the Philippines, but afterwards he favored commercial relations between the United States and the Philippines.  His views on the question are expounded in his work entitled Commercial Progress in the Philippine Islands (1905).  Returning to Manila in 1907 he founded a bilingual newspaper – La Asamblea Filipina-Kapulungang Bayan.  After the inauguration of the Philippine Assembly he went back to Europe and he died at Nice, France, on 28 December 1910.  A street in Manila is named in his memory.

[02]   Vicente Barrantes, a Spaniard who led high positions in the Philippine Government and member of the Reales Academias de la Lenga y de la Historia, wrote “with the greatest audacity” on diverse Philippine subjects as the Tagalog theater, linguistics, education, and others.  In Spain he was considered a scholar but in the Philippines his name will forever be extracted on account of his bad intentions and hostility toward Filipinos.

[03]  “Muero sin ver la aurora brillar sobre mi patria. . . .! vostros, quie la habeis de ver, saludadla. . . . no os olvideis de los que han caido durante la noche!” (I die without seeing the dawn shine over my native land. . . .! you who will see it salute it. . . .  do not forget those who fell during the night!) – uttered by the dying Elías in Rizal’s Noli me tángere (Berlin, 1887, p. 349).

[04]  Snob, screwball.

[05]   In the original Spanish, Misionero Filipino, for at that time “Filipino” was applied to Spaniards in the Philippines and “Indio” to the natives, unlike now (written 1961) when “Indio” is no longer used and “Filipino” means a native of the Philippines.

[06]  “Distingo” is often used in scholastic argumentation.

[07]  Literal translation: “……… none could I find/ More fair than Philippine beauties/ Girls on whose sighing lips are melodies/ What to others are words.”

[08]  A sodality, or a devotional and charitable lay association in the Roman Catholic Church.

[09]  Without love, without a country.  Only tears and woes I see before me.

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036.  Evaristo Aguirre, Madrid, 15 May 1887

A post card written in Chabacano, the pidgin Spanish used in some parts of the Philippines

Madrid, 15 May 1887

Mr. José Rizal

71-111 Jagerstrasse, Berlin

Dear Ché, [01]

            You are too much!  You are curious!  I thought you were already with our people in Manila. . . .  Is it not?  I bade you farewell the other day; now you are still there! . . . .  God! I already received four copies of your book; I have already sold three, one to Mr. Teban, another to Mr. Dandoy, [02] and another is with me.

            Your compatriots are already here.  Lintic! [03] It will be good if lightning strikes these Castilas!  . . .!  I was going to write you tomorrow long and in detail.  Now, the 15^th is the feast of San Isidro [04] and all these. . . . fastidious Spaniards.  We demand to be treated well.  Because they are not satisfied with our countrymen they treat them ill.  Perhaps it would be better to be hard on them!

            Farewell; I’m going ahead.

Cauit

_______________

[01]  A pet name for José.

[02]  Eduardo de Lete.

[03]  A Tagalog imprecation literally meaning “lightning”.

[04]  Rizal wrote an essay on the “Feast of San Isidro” describing its celebration by the Madrilenians.  An English version is published in volume III of the Centennial Edition of Rizal’s works.

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037. José M. Cecilio, Manila, 23 May

Rizal’s Noli me tángere received with enthusiasm – Highly praised – Comparable to Cervantes’  Don Quijote de la Mancha – Tomás del Rosario is ready to defend it, if it is attacked – He suggests a way of introducing it into the Philippines – Manuel Rodriguez Arias, owner of Agencial Editorial at Manila, would be a good distributor – Encourages Rizal to continue writing – Asks Rizal to explain the use of the “K” in Tagalog.

9 Malinta, Binondo, Manila

23 May 1887

Mr. José Rizal

Vienna, Austria

My distinguished Tocayo and dearest Friend,

            I have your two letters that I have the pleasure to answer.  The wife of Hermógenes received the eight copies of your novel because he is in Bulacán.

            I had to see Arcadio to get those copies that are now distributed among friendly persons who will give what they can for them.  Don’t worry about their payment.

            Tomás, who has the same surname as Arcadio (del Rosario), and I have found your work of the first order.  It has all the qualities of a social novel, very brilliant description and style, forceful dialogue and without exaggeration, magnificent literature; in a word, according to Tomás, it is a Filipino Quijote for he compares it with the Quijote of our immortal poet Cervantes.  This friend is ready to defend the work in case they attack it here.

            His advice as to the best way of bringing your finished work is for a bookseller of that country to write to Mr. Manuel Rodriguez Arias, owner of the Agencia Editorial, Carriedo Street, Sta. Cruz, telling him that, knowing he was engaged in the sale of books, he sends him so many copies of the book, charging for them the commission he believes reasonable.  This gentleman knows the ins and outs of the customs, so that through him the copies can reach the buyers without going through the censorship.

            It must be handled that way so that the book may reach its objective.

            All those friends as well as I give you our most extraordinary congratulations on your work.

            It should be called prudence that cautiousness which did not affect you but us who are defenseless.  But do not be discouraged.  Produce more, for it will find an enthusiastic reception here.

            Your brother has received four copies and the registered letter that I sent him.

            Explain to me the “k” in Tagalog.

            I have no sweetheart, Namesake, and therefore I can’t tell you when I shall get married.

            Arcadio says for you not to worry about marriage, for if you wish, he will marry you off to one of his cousins, a daughter of Don Andrés.

            Tell the truth about the fate of Ceferino de León who, they say here, died in a duel with his. . . .

            I am glad that you are cured of hemoptysis (the spitting or coughing up of blood); it is good to be a physician.

            Do you earn there with your profession?

            Regards from my father and brother and receive those of your very affectionate friend and servant,

Chengoy

P.S.

            In compliance with your request in one of your letters, I appeared at the Gran Bretaña fifteen days after having received it and as he was not there, I got nothing.  I don’t know until when that friend will be in the town of Santa María, Bulacan.

            It would be convenient for you to use a pseudonym so that when we write you a letter, they will not be scandalized.

            Candeng had an abortion.

            Don Antonio’s family remains in Dagupan.

            M . . . remains single, but it seems that she will soon marry Casimiro Bertoluci, alférez [01] of No. 3 of the Philippine Army.

______________

[01] An official of the rank of second lieutenant.

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038. Evaristo Aguirre, Madrid, 3 June 1887

Aguirre addresses Rizal with is pseudonym in a post card and signs it “Cauit”, the name of his natal town in Cauit Province.

Madrid, 3 June 1887

Mr. José Rizal

General Delivery

Geneva

Dear Laong Laan,

            Today I received your card of the 31^st of May.  Yesterday I wrote Basilea o Balé from whom please ask for my letter and a bundle of newspapers, general delivery.  In that letter I tell you about your novel.  What a happy tour of those countries you are making!  Enjoy yourself!

            I’ll take care of giving your address to our friends.

Very affectionately yours,

Cauit

P.S.

Did you receive lately another postal cared of mine in carihan [01] language?

______________

            [01] Literary meaning: “cheap public eating place.”  He refers to his card written in Chabacano (Letter No. 36, ante.)

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039. Enrique Rogers, Barcelona, [1887?]

Rogers, of Spanish parentage, is impressed by the Noli – The few who have read it are enthusiastic.

Barcelona, [May or June 1887?]

Mr. José Rizal

My dear Friend,

            Today I received your letter of yesterday and I hasten to answer it to put you at ease with regard to your books.  With the enclosed letter of Canon, the favor you ask me is granted.

            I take charge of what you tell me about the “Titular” and I appreciate your good wishes, born of your goodwill.  May this never diminish, may it be free of disappointment, and never may cruel misanthropy [= cynicism] knock at the doors of your heart.

            As to what may happen to me, I trust in causa causarum and I say that the celebrated Spurgeon: “All for the best.”  As to the rest, if for reasons of high politics…

            I have not been able to finish reading your book; I am at the middle.  Were I to relate to you the admirable impressions I got during its perusal, I would have to fill several sheets.  It is enough to tell you that it has awakened great enthusiasm among the few who have understood it.

            Appreciating in my name and in that of my family, who is sending you its greetings, your kind offers, we wish you a happy trip and a pleasant reception in the beloved home country.

Your very affectionate friend and countryman,

Enrique Rogers

_____________

NOTE: According to the editor of the Epistolario Rizalino, the original of this letter was badly damaged.

A friend of Rizal, Enrique Rogers y Marli died at Barcelona, 25 December 1889.

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040. Evaristo Aguirre (Cauit), Madrid, 15 May and 3 June

Aguirre has sold four copies of Noli me tángere – Application filed at the Ministry of Formento at Madrid for a permit to import the Noli – Critical appreciation of the Noli – The review of Cauit’s articles in España en Filipinas.

Madrid, between 15 and 3 June 1887

My dear Friend,

            I suppose that, although you are at present in Geneva, according to what Julio tells me, you must have received my postal card in which I acknowledged receipt of four copies of your precious novel and I notified you that three of these were already sold.  Maginoo [01] P. A. Paterno bought the fourth copy.

            Julio [02] must have already written you about the work being done at the Ministry of Fomento (Development) for the prompt release of the application for the importation of the box of books.  Now they require the presentation of one or two copies, though at the beginning they said that it was only necessary to give a bibliographical note of the frontispiece.  The important thing is that they attend to the matter quickly and well.  For this purpose, resort has been made to recommendations, as is the practice here.

            I have read it and I am enchanted by it.  I congratulate you then heartily and I am with those who think that it is the first work of its kind and for that reason the only one that has been written about that country that reflects best and comprises most of the phases and special conditions of the physiognomy and life of Evaristo Aguirre, a Spaniard born of Cauit (Kawit), Cavite, was identified with the Filipino reformists and that people.  On its propriety and local color I say nothing, because hardly can any other work surpass it.  Though with one perusal alone it is not possible to make a fitting criticism of the book nor is it convenient to rush it.  I shall tell you what is my first impression so that you may know it and as a first impression, it is subject to rectification if after reading it more calmly, I shall find my appreciation of the moment unfounded.  Let us lay aside that neither am I competent nor am I an authority and take into account that, more than expressing an opinion (a task superior to my ability), I speak only of my impressions, and what I only beg you is that you should not look for pure ingenuity in me.

            General impression.  The first chapters are excellent and superior to the rest, where the initial vigor is noted and in last where you throw the rest. [03] Sobriety, smoothness, interest, animation, intention, fidelity, and effectiveness – all these I find there.  I shall not make special criticism of such masterly chapters as “La reunion,” with photographic characters and typical conversations of Fr. Dámaso, Fr. Sibyla, Laruja, the lieutenant, and the new arrival; the entertaining supper; “hereje y Filibustero,” with its eloquent truth; the magnificent and fantastic chapter V; the poetic chapter VII; the inimitable chapter VIII; all the most interesting and pitiful story of Sisa and her children whose chapter “Basilo” made me shed tears to the point that I could not precede with its perusal for at least five minutes; the “Pesca,” the “Gallera,” “La voz de los perseguidos,” and many more chapters with the last notable ones, “La catátrofe,” “Vae victis,” and the following “La noche Buena,” the valuable gem “El maldito,” the superior and very original “La caza en el lago,” and the non plus “La loca y su hijo,” and “La muerte de Elías.”  This one, Fr. Salvi, and the philosopher are characters drawn by a masterly hand.  The development of the novel is very rapid.  Ibarra arrives, he tries to establish a school, and he dies or disappears without giving the reader time to follow him and María Clara with interest, as it is natural, they being very important personages of the novel, while Sisa and her children are of secondary importance.  In various parts the language is somewhat careless, somewhat tiresome in other parts, like the quarrels of the alféres and his paramour, a very full of p… and rep… The sermon of Fr. Dámaso is a little exaggerated; the great diligence of the General in favor of Ibarra is a little improbable; and our people are too savage when they discuss whether pibustero is worse than betelapora and to spit on the host, including Capitán Tiago who discusses lengthily with his wife which Christ or Virgin should be preferred and to whom a candle should be lighted in case of trouble.  There is an abuse of pinching among the young ladies, and through the Ejems which are neither lacking, your smiling face shines at the sight of a pair of winning cards, as I have seen you playing tresiete.  It is seen that even at the expense of fiction, what you have endeavored to do is to discover that cancer of those wounds that corrode and spoil the society of curates, civil guards, etc., for which reason I have baptized your book with the name Brief or Declaration of Grievances, in my legal language.  In short, I reiterate to you my most sincere and cordial congratulations and I inform you that my aspirations would be satisfied, that I would be very much contented and proud, to be able to do a work that resembles or approaches your book, though this is not a praise commensurate with the indisputable merit of your work.  I sincerely believe that I am not capable of such a great undertaking and for that reason perhaps I find your novel far above my ability, which is not privileged.  And before we go on to talk about another thing, I consider it timely to ask you if you wish your novel to be presented or exhibited in the Philippine Exposition.  It is good to know this in case this should seem to you desirable.  However, while the Ministry o Fomento (Development) has not issued the permit for the importation of the book, it is possible (I don’t know) that it cannot be exhibited.

            The review [04] is pulling through and playing its role.  In the Philippines, it was not badly received, at least publicly by the press thee, though it is true that this is attributed to the zeal of Mr. Canga Arguells.  Here especially the Royal Commissariat and the Executive Committee of the Exposition notice it by the Minister of Colonies, and.

            The Exposition moves very slowly and through our review and the enclosed clippings, you will know what is said about it and the vicissitudes it is going through.  Though here we keep secret the names of those who write in the magazine, I do not see why I should not let you know, at least with regard to myself.  Know then that I have written little, and I do not know if you have noticed it.  Now I remember the little articles: “No hay derecho contra derecho”  (There is no right against right), “Los derechos individuales” (Individual Rights), “Entendámonos” (Let us understand one another), “Ahí están” (There they are), “Dos palabras” (Two Words), “Nuestros hermanos en el Retiro” (Our brothers in the Retiro), (05) and some news reports, like that about the program of the Iberian youth, the second La Corte lecture, that of Canga Arguelles, Philippine Section at the firm of Battle and unfortunately the little sonnet to the Jolo woman Basalia.  I say unfortunately because I want to confide in you a great sorrow that for some days has made me chest-fallen and only with time I hope it will abandon me.  I alone will know this, besides Govantes and Lete, but because of the cursed fourth verse that escaped me imprudently, without the intention of saying what my enemies, like Alvarez Cuerra, Virgil, Recur, etc. are bent up putting in it, we are in danger (no one in the colony is aware of it) that such hard work may fail, that the review may die, because Govantes wants to withdraw in view of the attacks (until now in private) to those who hate us.  No newspaper has attached us, we have not been told anything in public, but Govantes is annoyed and discouraged.  What do you think of it?  You who know me will understand how worried I am, how dismayed I am in considering myself the cause of a damage to our interests, for a bagatelle, for having called the Resumen a son of a bitch, which made the Filipinos at the Retiro the object of jokes in bad taste.  Do not reprimand me, do not worry me more than I am already, for I am sufficiently punished by my grief, and I am convinced that my love for the cause, my love for the country, my love for the review, my scruples of being moderate, did not prevent me from letting slip imprudently a phrase that gives our enemies an occasion to attack our common work and delight in our defeat.  As it is a matter of winning back Govantes, we do not want to alarm the colony with the news of the disaster that would threaten us if they attack us or if he withdraws.  Hence the colony is not informed of this, for if not, if the review unfortunately dies, I would ask everyone for forgiveness for the damage I have done, through my imprudence, though not intentional.  I shall not be so easily consoled because of my harmful cooperation.  The majority has neither noticed the wretched verse nor understood it as true that had not the Jolo man been a Spaniard and hence this foreigner. . . but the enemies whom we are moving away from Spain, considering her a foreigner, that through the wound we have revealed ourselves.  Until now no organ of the press has echoed the perversity of those enemies, but I am furious, I am letting some more days to go by, to find out if the death knell of the review has sounded, if they attack us, if public opinion goes against us, in one word, to find out whether we can continue or not.  Govantes opined yesterday that the review has died, that it could not have any more prestige among this people, that my stupidity has no remedy, and that the publication has to pay for it.  If the phrase or intention is explained, if the matter is reopened, it will be stirred and will create more scandal, and because, at any rate, the publication pays for the mistake of the authors of articles be they editorial or literary, signed or unsigned, and more so in our special case and among enemies of the kind we have.  An order has been given not to sell any more copies or to send to the Philippines that issue; but will that be of any use?  Will not these camagones (06) here try to discredit us there?  It must be noted that no one of our own, except Govantes, neither any one of those here who know and treat us, with the exception of the three or four already cited, has noticed the matter or given it importance of any kind.  At any rate I am grieved.  I told Lete to try to settle the matter in any way, that as for me he can adopt any remedy that is most effective, and in the future it would be convenient to exercise greater precaution in the acceptance of articles, and in view of the prejudice against us, they should be subjected to the censorship of the most conservative, Govantes, for example; for, however moderate we may turn out to be, never perhaps would we transgress for being innocent but reserving always the right of the offended party.  And when I consider that the review, though of limited range, has not been badly received over there, and that here it has been admired and noticed and accepted and everyday more in demand.  I tell you that I am truly burdened by my unpardonable carelessness and stupid indiscretion because now it seems to me unbelievable, it seems to me irrational, not to have noticed the impropriety of that verse.  Finally, I am going to conclude this letter, because if I go on, I would never finish regretting the danger in which I have put the review and I hope God will let it pass without causing harm and bring calm behind it.  I like to convince myself that my sorrow and the fear for the life of the review, inasmuch as it has not harmed us yet publicly, increase the proportions of a purely personal conflict.  May it be so!

            The articles Ahí están (There They Are”) and Nuestros hermanos en el Retiro (“Our Brothers in the Retiro”) were very effective.  Pozas was that stupid one who proposed to take away from the Jolo men and the Igorots their weapons; and consequently for the allusion to the “kicks,” Ortuoste had to give explanations to the Comisaria.

            Farewell, dear friend,

Very affectionately yours,

Cauit

_____________

[01]  A Tagalog term meaning “nobleman.”

[02]  Julio Llorente would become a lawyer and hold high government posts in the Philippine government.

[03]   The sum staked at a card game.

[04]   España en Filipinas.

[05]  A beautiful park in Madrid.

[06]   Or Kamagong, a Philippine hardwood color.  The term as here used applies to the Filipinos.

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041. Rizal, Geneva, 13 June 1887 To Fernando Canon

Rizal lauds Canon’s literary ability – Concerning the sale of Noli me tángere.

Geneva, 13 June 1887

[Mr. Fernando Canon]

My Dear Classmate, [01]

Between us two there can ever be inequality or disparity in manner of thinking.  You know I was your great admirer in those times when you deigned to write.  I don’t know what devils deprived you of inkstand and pen, for you could have done more than I, because you have more feeling, more taste, and more imagination than I.  My only advantage over you, according to Father Sánchez, was the naturalness of my verses; in the rest I was below you.

In proof of my approval of all that you have done for me, all you did, and all you disposed, I give you authority to do everything that seems to you good, to dispose of everything as you deem convenient, etc. etc., I give you absolute power, except in the price that must not go below 5 pesetas, for that is the price for which I sold it in Madrid and for which others were sold.  However, I give you power to change it if you believe it necessary.

I thank you for the bound book that you presented me.  Please put a dedication inside and pack it together with the books that Mr. Barrera will give you to be sent to Mr. Joseph Rizal, passenger on board the Yang-tse, Messageries Maritimes, Marseille, I’m leaving on the 3^rd.

You have a commission of 10% of the sale of the books.  You have a right to give complimentary copies that you wish.  And in proof of my appreciation (royal style), I decorate you and give you my caricature, begging you to accept it as a remembrance of your friend and classmate whose greatest glory would consist of being admired by one like you.

Your friend,

Rizal

The agent of the Messageries Maritimes at Barcelona is Ripoll and Company.  I will pay the freight.

_____________

[01] Fernando Canon was Rizal’s classmate at the Ateneo Municipal, Manila.  He graduated in Spain as an electrical engineer.  He became a notable guitar player and a general in the Philippine Revolutionary Army.

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042. Evaristo Aguirre, Madrid, 14 June 1887

He is glad Rizal and Viola approve of his article – Separation of Govantes from the revised España en Filipinas – New subscribers – among them the Chinese Legation – López  Jaena now collaborates – Filipinos on the Board of directors of the Sociedad de Geografía Comercial – His criticism of Noli me tángere – He encourages Rizal to write more books – Maginoo, title of nobility belongs to the Paterno family.

Madrid, 14 June 1887

Dear Friend,

I had the pleasure to receive your two letters dated 6^th and 7^th instant.  You cannot imagine my satisfaction to know that you and compatriot Viola are on my side on the Govantes’ dissidence.  You have lifted from my mind the burden of thinking that unintentionally I have given ground to be dubbed imprudent at least, attempting upon the Review and therefore against the sacred interests that it represents and defend.  But I understand that there are things that ought to be said and done, at any price, because there is nothing to be gained in certain situations by remaining passive.  This is not asserting that had I written with the intention that has been attributed to the fourth verse of the blessed sonnet, if I had thought a moment of the effect it could produce and has produced in some minds – almost all of them our enemies – I would not have tried to say things in another way, considering that there was no impartiality, there was no dispassionateness in judging our most insignificant questions.  Because, after all, who will dare to deny an historical truth, who will deny that a Jolo man is not a Spaniard who resists the foreign yoke?  This is undeniable, though it may vex some people, because there is no dispassionateness, because there is antipathy, as “the son of a lion is a lion” vexed some people taking it perhaps as a threat or a daring pretension of a wretched dolt or little mouse.  But, even with these and other reflections that I made, I was not contented in view of the disagreement among us, though it must be observed that Govantes did not disagree with the idea, as it is natural, but with regard to the Review, which according to him could no longer do anything that will be listened to.  At the meeting we held to discuss the matter, our compatriots who had inevitably applauded the sonnet and agreed with it, in view of the harm that Govantes’ separation would do to the publication, were discouraged, and some like Luna, in the midst of his dismay, could not help utter this disconsolate exclamation: “Me cago en Títiro!” . . . to which I, afflicted and humble and steeped in great sorrow, had no more strength but assent saying: “You are right, it deserves to be a stool”, which inevitably I thought tenaciously of the “Accursed” in the precious novel; but not it is different, I am already more consoled.  It was decided to continue the Review with the hope of obtaining funds to cover the deficit in the budget created by the withdrawal of Govantes and his uncle Azcárraga, whose quotas amounted to 7 duros, 5 of the first and 2 of the second.  This is just a bite in importance!  I don’t know how we shall get along in the future.  As to the rest, not only has nay subscriber withdrawn, but some spontaneous subscriptions do not fail to come, like those of Messrs. De Battle (Mr. José and Mr. Evaristo), one Aranda, and just now, the Chinese Legation that has come directly to the office asking to be listed as subscribers.  I believe that the Chinese, who paid in advance a year’s subscription, did so because in its last number the Review took up the question of Chinese immigration into the Philippines.  I accept gratefully your congratulations on my poor articles.  What has satisfied me most, what has flattered me, is that they have produced their effect, though it was nothing more than to mortify those who have acted so badly toward us.  After calling Serafín Cano tabo (01) who is the author of the letter to which I refer in my article Nuestros hermanos en el Retrio, he has closed himself up, in profound and prudent silence, limiting himself to the withdrawal of his subscription to our Review and … the famous Correro de España.  Beginning with No. 13 I am going to take charge of the mail “From the Archipelago”, and I will see about inserting chips, as it is usually said, and go showing the teeth little by little and giving some little bite in passing.  Graciano now collaborates with us; thank God this triumph has been achieved.  Lete (who is Dandoy) is very hard-working and shines in the management, for, besides his other superior qualities, he has the boldness, freshness, and un-prepossession to thrust himself everywhere as well as the arrogance that so well becomes persons performing the work that he is doing.  He is very proud of and satisfied with his office even… Thus we can be contented with him in the assurance that we have found one who is suitable for the position.  He seeks and furnishes good public relations for the Review, having lately placed the Review in very good esteem of the society Geografía Commerical which has honored him as well as Govantes, Paterno, Graciano, with membership on its board of directors and shows sympathy for our Review whose program it has copied.  It would be a pity if the Review should die of inanition (exhaustion)!  I have not taken up again our brothers in the Retrio because Lete, who goes there, does not give me data.  But we are going to say something more later on.  Four more Jolo men have arrived… may God not will that they meet the fate of the Jolo women so that I may not again compose another hapless sonnet.  I have not met Julio I know nothing about the matter of introducing your books into the Philippines.  I was the one who bought one of the four copies you sent, as I believe, I have told you in my last letter or in the first post card in which I told you about our countrymen of the Retiro.  For my part, I have already thanked you for the copy you dedicated to me.  We are no going to exhibit the book at the exposition because this contemptible people would undoubtedly not like it.  Truly it is deplorable that for lack of money you have been compelled to mutilate your interesting novel. What a pity!  With what pain, with what dismay, you must have undertaken the destruction of your own work!  I am glad that you have seen nothing more than my impartial friendship in my praises as well as in my little “buts” in speaking about your book.  I did not want to indicate any more, my friend, that the language of the Guardia Civil and his paramour or the ignorance of our rural folks, etc. steps out of the natural, no: in saying that that language was loaded with p . . . and rep . . . I wished to indicated a defect from the point of view of the aesthetic effect on the reader as you know that the h.de p.y. refocilamientos of El Quixote has been respected in the printing of the Quixote.  In stating that our rural folks appear too savage, I simply deplored that even if it is the truth, you have brought out the ignorance of those in the lowest social scale.  I want to say that without failing to be truthful or natural, you could present our rural folks who are presentable, those who are not too savage, as many are, inasmuch as on the other hand the plot of the novel did not demand the exhibition of that absolute ignorance that is a much-used weapon against us.  This, aside from appearing to be impartial . . . . But all this is a matter of detail.  You write books always; you will not lack suggestions and counsel whenever you ask me for them and they are necessary. I pray that you may go ahead on the road already taken with new works for the honor and benefit of the mother country and yourself. I am going to end this letter because it is already late to drop it in the mail.  At this moment I have the pleasure to receive the photograph that you dedicate to me, which I esteem and appreciate very much.  Day after tomorrow Lete has promised to take my picture and in that way, inasmuch as I’m short of money as usual, I shall be able to return your kindness as I wish, with another remembrance of my image.

The “Maguinoo” [02] says that the maguinoo is a high Filipino title of nobility that belongs to his family.  On the body of his carriage, on the harness of his horses, on the blanket, on cards, and other things, is painted, engraved in silver, embroidered, and lithographed, a shield like this: (Sketch)

A sun of the size of a Japanese half-franc and above it a casque (helmet) surmounted with a ducal or royal crown which has a bird above it and below the strings of the casque are tied with two machetes.  This is called showing off and also to appear stupid.  The colony thus shines to many people.  Fortunately the “Maguinoo” is alone in such sublime extravagances.

Farewell, dear,

Yours lovingly,

Cauit

___________

[01]  Tabo is an empty coconut shell used for conveying water.

[02]  “Maguinoo” refers to Pedro A Paterno.

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043 Eduardo de Lete, Madrid, 20 June 1887

Advantages of having Lete in the Exposition – The magazine España en Filipinas has no money – Lete explains announcement of Noli me tángere – His comments on the Noli.

Madrid, 20 June 1887

Dear Pepe,

       I received your letter with real sorrow and I say sorrow because it is a farewell letter and, believe me, I would have liked to see you here again.  I comply with your request to give your farewell greetings to our friends and I thank you for the picture.  I send you mine which is certainly pretty bad and I am sorry that the time is so short that I cannot send you yours in crayon, as you asked me.  I promise to send them to you to Manila by the mail-boat leaving before your departure.

       I congratulate myself heartily that you have succeeded to drive away your sadness.  I deplore your thinness.

       And very sincerely I appreciate your good wishes for me.  Much glory, perhaps and without perhaps, I may not have.  My encouragements are few, though not my good intentions.  The best glory for me is that which I may win in working for our country.  The inconstancy, incivility, and susceptibility of the fools cost me a good many displeasures; we are many censuring and giving lessons and few working.  Graciano went so far as to accuse me of trying to establish casts and distinctions; what should we do with him?

       In exchange for his infamous accusations I have made concessions.  Unless he does not care whether we are friendly with him or not, like Rojas, or he who. . . Enough of puerilities (childishness).

       I don’t know if you received with the prospectuses from the Exposition (01) some pictures in crayon that I was sending you.  Neither do I know if you received my card on your saint’s day.

       You told me in one of your previous letters that the Motherland would reward me for being inside the Exposition, for having accepted a position in it.  I believed I could do more good for our Motherland by being in the Exposition.  Let the personal articles in El Liberal and the articles published in España en Filipinas, based on data furnished by me, speak if I have not; let the article on the kicks of Ortuoste, whose barbarity I answered publicly, speak if I have not; let the Igorots and other people whom I have taught not to lift up their hats or kiss the hand of anyone and who I believe will go home feeling and thinking as I do, speak if I have not.  For their sakes I am dubbed filibustero (02) in Spain and pointed at with the finger and driven to the extreme of quarreling with the very same Ortiga (03) who confessed to me frankly that he did not ask for such men and that the sending of ignorant, unintelligent laborers or artisans was the work of the authorities in Manila.  I publish an article in this issue.  How could have I done anything like this if I were not inside?  How could we have avoided such mishaps, since the harm was already done?  No one could have watched over them.  Being inside the premises and isolated they would have been the object of all kinds of abuse by the people . . . even by persons with common sense and education.  By saying that the Igorots would have followed me wherever I told them to go, I have said everything, and I have justified myself.  If this is treason to the Motherland, let God come and see it.

       Within the limited space of a letter I cannot tell you everything I want.  I should like to give a moment of my life to speak with you a few hours about all that had occurred in the colony (04) and the Exposition during your absence; but it cannot be and in truth I deplore it.

And will think better of our country as we do.

To what is due your hasty departure?  Can you not confide it to me?

I believe that you cannot complain about my writings considering the temper of the magazine. (05) Tell me your opinion, above all on my article “Recuedos y Esperanzas” (“Remembrances and Hopes”), which certainly did not please Evaristo.  And I hope that from Manila you will not fail to write me recounting to me everything about political life in our country, that you will not fail to send me some news as well as serious articles for publication in the magazine.  Bear in mind that we are few and poor in writing.  Likewise I have no doubt that there (Philippines) you will look for someone who understand economic and governmental matters, for here we have none.  The only one who did was Govantes, who committed the stupidity of withdrawing, our grave deficit being our inability to lay aside personal preferences for the sake of the common endeavor.  My own discouragement is not little in view of the lack of abnegation and civic courage.

Likewise here almost nobody pays punctuality, so that if you do not send us money, I don’t know what is going to happen to the magazine; and I mean money of your friends and the people who are lovers of the progress of the Philippines, for I believe this is the mission of everyone.

With regard to the good luck and money that you wish me, I will tell you that they do not depend upon me.

Due to my articles on the Chinese – with whom I don’t know if you will agree – the Chinese Embassy has subscribed to the magazine by letter.

I am now in correspondence with Blumentritt, who is certainly a gentleman I admire.  Moreover, he is extremely amiable.

He is a very good friend of Antonio Luna, Vivencio del Rosario, fellows who are most clever and vary valuable.

The Tagalog girls who came on the Tabacalera (06) steamship are good-looking and educated.  They honor us; I want to say that they will know how to repel an assault or an offense.

I don’t understand why our countrymen at Barcelona do not subscribe to the magazine, nor even want to receive it.  The Paternos have withdrawn their subsidy without giving reason for it.

Oh, patriotism!

Certainly I have learned through a third person that Don Pedro (07) has said that he looks like a Filipino, it is not by choice but because of his color that he cannot erase . . . !

In speaking to me about the magazine you call it in two letters already, La Valiente (The Courageous).  Do you say it ironically?  Be frank.

Concerning your friendly complaint against me, I tell you that it is unfair, for I wrote the item to inform the public about the appearance of the book (08); and as you asked me for a serious and critical review, I postponed by criticism until after I had read it carefully.  I did not dare express further any opinion, except at random, considering my incompetence.  Moreover . . . that should be dispassionate and sincere.

Never was there an attempt to do you harm, so much less when your work pleased all who had read it.  When I published the item, I had not yet read it, as I had just received it, and I only wanted to say this, which perhaps I expressed badly.  I would discuss the book when I should have “time to examine it carefully” (I believe I said that), for how could I discuss a book that I have not even begun to leaf through?  In the meantime, we give you our most sincere . . . .

The courteous item, as you say, did not man that we did not intend to take up the book, for the opinion on it that appeared in the magazine belies such an erroneous belief.  The author (09) of the item had not yet read the book through . . . though I called it “social cancer,” these words being taken by deduction from a perusal of the prologue.

Friend Pepe: Don’t’ complain against me.  It will be a real pleasure for me to review your book in which I shall pour all my love and humble knowledge, unless Julio insists on doing it.  You are right; I will not only prevent anyone from hurting you, but I will defend you as if you were myself should some newspaper try to do it.

You do well to clear me for the acceptance of D’Ayot’s bombastic article, but I am satisfied that I did not write it . . . .

With respect to your novel I have not read it all.  The magazine and the examinations on Natural Law have robbed me of much time.  In it you show yourself to be a good observe and a better painter.  The description of a feast and the characters of the curates and Tiago turns out to be faithful.  I was exceedingly pleased by the cruel delirium that you describe of which Ibarra was a victim at his house after he heard the story of his father.  The contrasts are very effective.  I repeat that I can tell you nothing.  I like its theme and the local flavor.  The . . . I find until now somewhat careless perhaps for the haste, and the military man swears too such.   When I say this, I am such a prattler, just imagine.

In some points you turn out to be tendentious; in others, no.  Another scene I remember at this moment between a mother and her son at the cemetery is described with a masterly hand.  That of the chicken’s neck at the supper is superb.  There is moreover some unnecessary details like the evil . . . the breeze that blew Sinang’s hair.  To what is due the impression that you make at the end of page 28, saying “We . . .? (10)

The idyll (rural scene) that you describe between the lovers on the riverbank when the children were bathing making wreaths does not seem to me very realistic.  You have allowed yourself to be carried away certainly by your poetic imagination.

I will talk about it more carefully in another letter.  To me its eminently political, social, and patriotic tendency and objective are truly interesting.

I conclude, friend Pepe, because I have no more time.

Friend Luna sends you his picture.  Evaristo, as he has not yet one ready, will send you his by mail to Calamba.

Casal is calling today a meeting for the purpose of holding a banquet, using as a pretext the opening of the Exposition, to express to the press our attitude.  I hope he will not get angry for we are not in favor of his idea.

I criticized what he said about the Tagalog writing being like the Arabic but in spite of it, he did not change it.

That of the Pasig being a white phantom was signed by D’Ayot so that he alone is responsible for it.

Farewell; have a good trip and believe me that you leave here a true friend and countryman who sends you a fraternal embrace.

Eduardo Lete

_______________

[01]   Exposicíon General de las Islas Filipinas held at Madrid in 1887.

[02]   A term the colonial Spaniards applied to a Filipino who was critical of the colonial government and in favor of better government or political and social reforms.

[03]   Pablo Ortiga y Rey, a Spaniard who held the post of counselor of the Philippines in Spain.  The Filipinos at Madrid frequented his house.

[04]   The “colonial” Filipinos residing in Spain.

[05]   España en Filipinas.

[06]   “Tabacalera” is the popular name of the Spanish tobacco company, Compaña General de Tabacos de Filipinas.

[07]   Pedro A. Paterno (1857-1911), Filipino writer and politician, who belonged to a wealthy Manila family.

[08]   Rizal’s Noli me tángere that came out in 1887.

[09]   Julio Llorente.

[10]   “Nosotros desearamos que la terrible imagen sacudiese una vez su sagrada cabellera a los ojos de estras personas devotas, y les puesiese el pie sobre la langua o la cabeza.” (We would like the terrible image [of the Virgin] to shake once her sacred tresses in the presence of these devout persons and put her foot on their tongue or head.)

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044.  José M. Cecilio, Manila, 21 June

Advises Rizal to stay abroad until better times – His brother regrets having asked him to come home – Send thousands of copies of Noli to the Philippines – Continue writing, but abroad – His friends will do all they can to spread his ideas.

9 Manila, Binondo, Manila

21 June 1887

Mr. José Rizal

Geneva

Dearest Friend,

            A week ago your mother, sister Trining, and brother-in-law Silvestre who invited all of us to the forthcoming feast of your picturesque town honored me with a visit.

            I am sorry not to be able to attend that feast because my life as an employee and much work prevent me, to my regret, from going on a spree.

            I have convinced your esteemed family of the necessity and absolute convenience that you remain there longer, at least a year more, until we can find out the effect that your book will produce.  We hope you will send here thousands of copies through the way I mentioned to you in my previous letters.  According to your aforesaid brother-in-law, your brother is repenting for having written you to come.  For this reason, I beg you to remain there until a better occasion for you.  Your whole family agrees with this opinion, which is that of all who esteem you.  This is the principal object of this letter, which I hope you will receive on time; for according to your mother, you will come next November.

            When you receive this, I suppose the letter of Arias, the reputable bookseller of this capital, sent you a month ago, must have already reached your hands.  I also wrote the bookseller about your work.  This is the style of Russian novels, according to F. R.

            According to your dear family, you have another work.  I suppose it will be of the first order like the one you have published.  Continue producing books in that style and I believe that we shall attain what the Quijote did, but there, without coming to this country.

            By this mail you will receive a lyric composition in Tagalog.  Please be kind enough to criticize its substance and style, inasmuch as you are a professor of our language or dialect.  Is it a dialect or language?  Your reply is awaited.

            I repeat, don’t come, because we shall lose everything good of your brilliant career.  Send enough copies to diffuse your idea, etc.  We shall do everything possible to make your work known, but you must remain there.  All who have read it are enthusiastic.  I’ll write you later when you ought to come to say for a few months as you plan, according to your mother.  This must be, in my poor opinion, in the company of the first magistrate of these Islands; but this must be very late when the whole Archipelago shall come to know who you are and your objective is attained.

            My address is the same in my other letter.  Consider well the lyrical Tagalog composition.  I don’t know our dialect well and I cannot criticize it.  F. R. has seen it but neither is he competent because he knows only Spanish, the national language.

            If I move to another house, I will let you know opportunely; for the present I am in the same house.

            Know that your very affectionate friend esteems you,

Chengoy.

P.S.

            Adopt for my use a pseudonym; because many know you and it is possible my letters may not reach you.  You take care of inventing the best pseudonym so that you will not be known when one writes you.

            I have sent you two letters before this, dealing with your book and the way to send copies in large numbers.  Arias is the good means, who accepts, provided he is helped in its sale.