14 June 1887

Madrid

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 – Lopez Jaena now collaborates – Filipinos on the Board of Directors of the Sociedad de Geografia Comercial – His criticism of Noli me tangere – 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 6th and 7th instant. You cannot imagine my satisfaction to know that you and compatriot Viola are on my side of the question of 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 “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 Titiro!”…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!”, while inevitably I though tenaciously of the “Accursed” in the precious novel; but now 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 Azcarraga whose quotas amounted to 7 duros, 5 of the first and 2 of the second. This is just a bite of importance! I don’t know how we shall get along in the future. As to the rest, not only has any subscriber withdrawn, but some spontaneous subscriptions do not fail to come, like those of Messrs. De Battle (Mr. Jose 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 Serafin Cano tabo[1] who is the author of the letter to which I refer in my article Nuestros hermanos en el Retiro, he has closed himself up, in profound and prudent silence, limiting himself to the withdrawal of his subscription to our review and…the famous Correo 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 of 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 unprepossession 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 Geografia Commercial 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! I have not taken up again our brothers in the Retiro 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 woman so that I may not again compose another hapless sonnet. I have not met Julio [and] 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 not going to exhibit the book at the exposition because it would undoubtedly not be liked by this contemptible people. 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 folk, etc., steps out of the natural, no: in saying that that language was loaded with p….and rep….I wish to indicate 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 Quijote has been respected in the printing of the Quijote. 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”[2] says that 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 of the Paterno “coat of arms”]

A sun of the size of a Japanese half-franc and above it a casque 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

02-241 [Blumentritt V.1]