He sends Rizal issues of El Liberal in which Quiquiap’s anti-Filipino articles appear – Graciano Lopez Jaena’s reply
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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 you the enclosed articles published in the issues of El Liberal for the 13th and 16th instant. You will see how unbecoming and unheard of are the writings of one Quioquiap.[1] It is not the first time that he has written such things about the Philippines and her people. But the coward says such things and he seems so 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 of 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 which you will have the pleasure to read. I say that he went ahead because others also wanted to write but 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 glad of 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, 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 Quiquiap what in reality it deserves, I said in my reply that he should not be confused with the truly honorable Spaniards, though he boasts of having the heart of those who fought in Bailen, Lepanto, etc.; that though he may not certainly lack the 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 anyone 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
02-198 [Blumentritt V.1]
1887. 02. 21 Berlin
From: Jose Rizal
To: Ferdinand Blumentritt
Two articles by Rizal: A defense of the Philippines and another an attack on her detractor — Spain and not the Filipinos should wish the Hispanization of the country — If Blumentritt could go to the Philippines.
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Berlin, 21 February 1887
Esteemed Friend,
I’m glad that you are feeling better; you have been sick a long time. My chest pains have already disappeared, but I still take arsenic which does me much good.
Thank you for the copies of Globus. I already owe you much, but I’ll know how to return your kindness when I get home.
I’m sending you two articles: An attack against a detractor of our country and my defense of our country. López Jaena[2] is a Bisayan of about 27 years. Mr. Quioquiap[3] is somewhat more blunt than Cañamaque, Mas, San Agustín, etc., but more sincere. He wants political distinction and he is right. The Filipinos have long wished for Hispanization and they were wrong in aspiring for it. It is Spain and not the Philippines who ought to wish for the assimilation of our country. Now we receive this lesson from the Spaniards and we thank them for it. If my country were in a different condition and you could live there — the summer is eternal — I would tell you that you go there to know better the Indio[4] whom they nickname “monkey,” and also to know the friars and the writers who write about her strange things, so “friendly” and “fraternal.”
I hope you soon recover completely and I envy you in spite of your chronic indisposition.
With fond greetings from your most affectionate friend.
Rizal
The newspaper in which these articles are published is El Liberal. I have only one copy which I’ll send to the Philippines. It is a very good lesson.
03-199 [Reformists]
[1] Pseudonym of Pablo Leced, a Spanish writer, notorious for his anti-Filipino writings.
[2] Graciano López Jaena (1856-1896), orator and journalist, founder of the fortnightly La Solidaridad .
[3] Pablo Feced, Spaniard, author of Filipinas: Esbozos y pinceladas , a collection of satirical articles and diatribes against the Filipinos and the Philippine.
[4] Francisco Ca ñ amaque, Spanish writer and politician, contemptuously called the Indios “ monkeys. ” He was the author of Recuerdos de Filipinas, Madrid, 1877-1879, 2 volumes, and Las Islas Filipinas , Madrid, 1880.