Letters of J.Rizal to F.Blumentritt

Years 1888 to 1889

23 June 1888 London

Paciano Rizal is Philosopher Tasio - the only man, according to the lieutenant of the civil guard –

General Salamanca asks for the punishment of Filipino reformists - The Spanish Senate is indifferent - "We pay taxes, we shed our blood for Spain, and when we raise a petition, punishment is our reward!" –

The simile of the old cocotte - "Fight for truth : Raise us or knock us down!" - Fame for the defense of the weak –

The Filipinos have lost faith in Spain – The second edition of the Noli.

“My friend Taviel de Andrade said that he (Paciano Mercado) was the only man in the Philippines - the young Philosopher Tasio. When I think of him, though an Indio, more generous and noble than all the present-day Spaniards put together. ”

“General Salamanca gave proofs of military valor when he asked for the punishment of those Filipinos who, with due respect, submitted their petitions to the Government. The whole Senate did not find a word of excuse for the Filipinos, no compassion. We pay our taxes, we shed our blood for the glory of Spain, tolerating her ignorance, and when we dare to express our desires, then they cry for an "exemplary punishment for us". And we are not slaves and it was the Government that encouraged this petition of the Filipinos and certainly it had provoked it!”

“With all our ignorance and savagery, we are more noble than the Senate, the Government, and all the Spaniards put together. We have defended the Spaniards against all their adversaries and we still defend them. We offer them hospitality. And even though my brother knows the hatred and sufferings of the people, nevertheless he has defended the Spaniards against the vengeance of some gravely wronged compatriots.”

“You say that you are fighting for me and my fellow countrymen. I thank you for it. But I beg you not to fight for me and my countrymen but for truth, because, after all, my countrymen and I will soon perish, and you ought to work for the imperishable.… Forget that you are my friend, because I would be very sorry if you would suffer anything for our cause. I believe that it is already late; the majority of the Filipinos have lost already the hope they have pinned on Spain! Now we await our fate from God and from ourselves, but never any more from any Government!”

“I am planning to make the second edition of Noli not very different from the first. It seems to me that literary creations suffer much when alterations are made in them, for the public will ask "In which is the author sincere, in the first or in the second edition?" If I should make changes, I am afraid they may be very bitter and sour. I shall only correct typographical errors and shall correct the erroneous citation of Shakespeare in place of that of Schiller. Let the first flower of my youth walk about with all its errors and defects and let it be a proof that formerly I believed in the government and in its good will! ”

14 November 1888 London The books Bauernspiegel seem to portray the life of the Filipinos with

regard to courtesy. . Rizal declines the offer to manage a periodical. Vidal y Soler asks for

Spanish and European immigrants giving them landed property. But not for Orientals.

What are colonies for? Rizal does not agree with the explanation of reason of state. No one ought to go to the neighbor's house and subordinate the interests of the neighbor to his own interests. "We came here," the Spaniards said to our forefathers, "to be your friends; recognize our king and pay him a small tribute and we are going to defend you against your enemies."

“I have read them (Bauernspigel books) with great interest and I believe I have found in their various passages a description of the life of the Filipinos especially in reference to courtesy.”

“After much thinking and reflection I gave up the idea of being director. I got 50 votes in fact, or rather 60 against 5 who voted for Lete. But I saw that the sympathizers of Lete were very jealous and as Lete, my former friend, has not behaved well towards me when my articles appeared in España en Filipinas, I withdrew. No one, neither Lete nor his friends, could say that Rizal has accepted the management of the periodical for vengeance in order to be able to hurt and eclipse Lete. However, if I knew that I was the only capable Filipino, I would not mind what people might say. But there are many there, thank God, who are more worthy than I. On account of my withdrawal, they will probably elect Llorente, as they do not like Lete. In this case, as Llorente is also my friend, I will see to it that you are appointed representative of the Philippines.”

“I cannot accept your kind explanation of reason of state. I suppose that the welfare of the country ought to be suppressed in the interest of the state as you say. That reason can be alleged only when the country forms an integral part of the state and if the happiness or the misfortune of the whole is the happiness or misfortune of each part, when the country is within the nation.”

“This is not the case of the Philippines. The Philippines is not Spain; she only belongs to Spain. The happiness of Spain is not the happiness of the Philippines but indeed her misfortune. Here it is not a question of interests of state but only of Spanish rule. Spain already existed and was more powerful before acquiring the Philippines. This our sovereignty is only a name. They want to sacrifice our welfare to Spanish pride, and pardon me for not being in accord with this.”

“Moreover, a country should have colonies only when she has too many people and too much culture at home, and then she should pledge herself to promote the happiness and welfare of her colonies.”

“No one ought to go to the neighbor's house and subordinate the welfare of the neighbor to his own interests. This would be an outrage; it would be the reign of force. If a colonizing nation cannot make her colonies happy, she ought to abandon them or give them their liberty. No one has a right to make others unfortunate!“

“We have not called the Spaniards. They came and said to our forefathers: ‘We came here to be your friends; we shall help one another; recognize our king and pay him a small tribute, and we are going to defend you against your enemies.’ In those times there was no talk of taking away our lands. The friars talked about heaven and promised us all kinds of wealth. To certain natives they did not mention the tribute but only friendship and trade, and now you want us to give up the welfare of the Philippines for a high-sounding name!”

“I cannot understand why a colored peasant ought not to be a landowner like a European; their work makes them equal. I shall understand reasons of state only when the Philippines can enjoy the same rights of sovereignty as Spain. Then her interests can be trampled upon in the interest of the State but not under the mere name of Spanish rule.”

14 January 1889 London

Association Internationale des Philippinistes To hold a congress during the Exposition at Paris Rizal asks Blumentritt for advice and suggestions to improve it. Awaiting the Exequatur- Mac Havelaar's book.

“We have formed an Associatio Internationale des Philippinistes of which you should be the president. Don't say no before having read the whole thing. I enclose with this a copy of the project so that you can analyze it and express your important points of view.”

Association Internationale des Philippinistes

I

The object of this Association is to study the Philippines from the

historic and scientific point of view.

In order to attain this objective the Association shall

lst, Convoke international congresses;

2nd Open public contests on subjects that are in accord with the

objective of the Association;

3rd Work for the establishment of a library and museum of Philippine

objects.

II

This Association shall be composed of charter members and all those whom the Board

of Directors may admit.

The latter shall be either ordinary or honorary members.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of a president, a vice president, two

counselors, and a secretary.

In case of resignation or death of any member, his successor shall be elected by the

other members of the Board.

In the absence of the President, the senior or the oldest counselor shall perform his

functions.

The ordinary members shall pay an annual fee of ten francs.

All correspondence, letters, reports, etc. shall be addressed to the Secretary of the

Association.

Board of Directors of the

International Association of Philippinists (Candidates)

President: Prof. F. Blumentritt (Austrian)

Vice President: Mr. Edm. Plauchut (French)

Counselors:

Dr. Ant. Regidor (Spanish)

Dr. Reinhold Rost (German)

Secretary: Dr. J. Rizal (Filipino)

Messrs. Edm. Plauchut, Ant. Regidor, and J. Rizal have already accepted

their nomination for vice president, counselor, and secretary respectively.

“We are planning to hold a congress at Paris during the Exposition. You will receive money for the trip and stay in Paris.… Write me your observations and advice so that we may be able to improve the Association. We should like to invite all scholars who are interested in Philippine affairs.”