12 September 1882

Salazar, Trozo, Manila

Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog, reports to Rizal the censorship of his article El amor patrio – High praise for his literary work – Moran thinks Diarion Tagalog cannot live long on account of the indifference of the Filipinos – he will send regularly issues of it to Rizal – He requests Rizal to send him articles and news digests and appoints him staff writer.

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4 Salazar, Trozo, Manila

12 September 1882

Mr. José Rizal Mercado

Esteemed Friend,

When we published your article El Amor Patrio, the terrible cholera morbus has begun to claim thousands of victims in this capital city. In these last days it has slackened its fatal effects, due undoubtedly to the energetic measures that our most worthy governor general, the Marquis of Estella,[1] has taken to combat it and to the atmospheric change observed lately on account of continuous squalls and rains that we are having.

Your article was published whole in one single issue (of 20 August last) so that it would not lose its interest. The censor of this periodical has boldly added the distinctive mark of el Bueno to the name Guzman, which the editor strongly disapproved telling him rightly that he ought never to add to or remove from an article even one letter, inasmuch as the one who does so becomes ridiculous in desiring to share the glory of its author; and if the editorial staff considers an article bad, it should not publish it, but it must not mutilate it. After this reprimand of the aforesaid censor, we have excused his fault which was the result of misunderstood zeal rather than of a blamable desire, and I hope you will do the same.

The members of this editorial staff including the editor, and enlightened groups of this capital have lavished praises on your work and said that neither here nor in Spain, except Castelar, can produce an equal literary work so full of opportune concepts and poetic images. I therefore felicitate you warmly for it wishing that you continue the work you have begun, for all of us predict, for you unfading honors for your own glory and that of the Spanish border that saw you born.

I don’t know yet if the Diariong Tagalog can support itself. I doubt it because our fellow countrymen are indifferent to it.

By this mail we send you a set of this periodical from its first appearance to date and in the future you will receive the issues as they come out.

We should like to request you to favor us with a fortnightly review of the topmost news of that city and of others in Europe, six or eight articles every fortnight, and see if there are publications there that would like to exchange with us, and if you do not find any, you can subscribe for a year to a newspaper. If by chance there is someone there who wants to subscribe to ours, it would be desirable for you to accept it. We give you ample powers and you can consider yourself, as we already consider you, collaborator and staff writer of the Diariong Tagalog.

The expenses that you may incur in such activities.

I avail myself of this opportunity to offer you my highest consideration.

Your very affectionate friend and servant who kisses your hand,

Basilio Teodoro Moran

P.S.

Also please subscribe to another Madrid periodical for us and send it directly to us because if it is delayed, its news loses its importance as other newspapers might have published them already. Please do the same with letters, reviews and articles.

If your work will allow you, I beg you not to fail to send at least your literary articles every fortnightly, because I’m planning to reduce the personnel so that the periodical can support itself. Now the expenses amount to one thousand four hundred pesos monthly. You already know that I don’t count on a large fund.

I will reimburse you for your mailing expenses.

01-037 [Family]