Paris
The magnificent Defense of Blumentritt translated by Rizal — If our sufferings had not been well known, it was because we did not have one Las Casas — Proofs of the maltreatment of the Indios are found in the works of de los Ríos, Gaspar de San Agustín, etc. — All the Quioquiaps are not worth even one-half of Blumentritt — Withdraw from the fight!
* * *
18 Rue de Rochechouart, Paris
10 April 1889
Dear Friend,
I did not wish to answer your kind letters that I have received some time ago until I have finished the translation of your magnificent Defense. Today I am sending it to you so that you can see it again. In some parts, the translation is free, but in general it is strictly faithful to the original. I could not understand well two or three words like Gauner (rascal, thief), etc., for I have no dictionary.
I wrote two annotations to the work. We too have suffered greatly from many cruelties and if they are not so well known as those suffered by the American Indians, it is because we did not have a Las Casas. I read of the proofs of the bad treatment inflicted on the Indios in the works of Fernando de los Ríos Coronel,[1] Gaspar de San Agustín, Argensola, and others; for, as Gaspar de San Agustin says, the Indios had been maltreated and enslaved and often sold and hanged, etc., by the friars. The good thing about the friars was that they defended us against the Spaniards, because the Indios did not want to become Christians anymore upon seeing that they were badly treated. They were certainly the protectors, but if they were so for purely the love of their fellowmen or for another reason, that is already another question. But they could not prevent the Philippines from being depopulated. “ . . . the native Indios are dying because of the bad treatment,” as it is said in the letter of Philip II. The friars are proud of this protection of theirs; but if they had not done it, Christianity would have disappeared from the Philippines.
Your article against Quioquiap has pleased me and my countrymen who live here. But I believe that it is too good for a Quioquiap and he does not deserve it. If my friend Felipe del Pan[2] is not mistaken, Quioquiap[3] is the brother of ex-governor Feced y Temprado, author of Manual del Gobernadorcillo. The writings of Quioquiap are bombastic, good to dazzle the ignorant, as he uses resounding words, which at bottom mean nothing. At times he writes foolishness.
I believe that you ought to rest so that your nerves would not suffer. I already told you that the political arena is too hot; you can catch fever in it. There is still time for you to withdraw from the campaign. Your loss would be very great for the world and especially for the Philippines. It is better for you to keep quiet as before and take care of your health, because all the Quioquiaps of Spain will not produce one-half of a Blumentritt. What I do is the following: I do not fight seriously with such persons, for I need my nerves and my intelligence for better causes. From the fight only filth could be gathered and perhaps something worse. I shall not use my time and my life to attack the prejudices of Quioquiap and his kind, for that is useless labor. I am convinced that they are neither so stupid nor so blind, but they are what you call writers of good or bad faith . . . . I work and I trust! The author of Noli me tángere has now become somewhat pessimistic!
The Spanish painters played a bad trick on Friend Luna. He wanted to exhibit his best paintings at the Exposition.[4] The Senate granted him permission. He was ready to defray the freight and all the expenses, etc., but the committee of Spanish artists did not allow him to exhibit for reasons without any basis, because they do not like to. Well now, was I right or not? And you, were you not right also? Luna has always been Hispanophile. He never wanted to paint anything against the Spaniards. His paintings, Spain and the Philippines shows the Philippines on the road to the temple of glory, led by Spain. Now he is doubtful; he does not know what to think or what to say.
Here we believe that all this is nothing more than envy and jealousy between artists.
Greetings.
José Rizal
**13 April 1889. 45 Rue de Maubeuge, Paris.
Letter of Rizal to the Spanish Overseas Minister, Madrid.
Original in Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid. Seccion de Ultramar, legajo 2253, expediente 55. Not in EpRiz and JRNCC. Transcription and translation first published by Fr. John Schumacher as “Due Process and the Rule of Law: Three Unpublished Letters of Rizal.” Philippine Studies Vol. 25, no. 2 (1977), p.248-250. Microfilm copy available in the Ateneo de Manila University Rizal Library Reel 350.
03-385 [Reformists]
[1] Father Fernando de los Ríos Coronel, procurator, in a letter to the king, said that Sultan Zaide of Ternarte, Prince Tagulima, and the principales Kachiles, notwithstanding the safe-conduct issued to them by Governor Bravo de Acuña, were subjected to maltreatment and imprisoned in the time of Juan de Silva, lodging them in “a room that was having to live by begging. All became sick and died. In order to insure the possession of Ternate, they got hold of the royal family through fraud.” See Dr. Antonio de Morga, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas , Rizal Edition, 1890, note 1, p. 247.
[2] Felipe del Pan, pro-Filipino, director of La Oceanía Española , father of Mr. Rafael del Pan, who was appointed delegate by the Revolutionary Government to ask the U.S. Congress for the recognition of the Philippine Republic. Later, he was appointed member of the Code Committee.
[3] Pablo Feced, Spanish journalist, detractor of Filipinos and things Philippine.
[4] This included his masterpiece La Batalla de Lepanto , commissioned by the Spanish Senate, and was hung at the Senate H all.