2 April 1889

Paris

Rizal writes the members of La Solidaridad Association of Madrid about troubles in the native land – Imprisonments and abuses, the necessary evil of a corrupt society – How the Filipinos can show themselves worthy of liberty – Calainos has more faith than all the friars put together – Liberty cannot be obtained without pain or merit – That the outraged take their case to court, and if not, appeal to God – Friar threats do not frighten nor do their nonsense deceive – The booklets of Fr. Rodriguez – Only what is instructive and didactic should be written – Invitation to join the International Association of Philippinists – An article of Rizal entitled La muerte de Magallanes – Filipinos should not accept anything from the friars in Rizal’s opinion.

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Hotel de la Pensee, 18 Rue de Rochechouart

Paris, 2 April 1889

To the Members of La Solidaridad

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

Last night I received a telegram which worried me very much and did not let me sleep, not that at bottom it displeased me, but for thinking of the grief and misfortune of the outraged families and also of the weakness that many of the persecuted later showed.

I said that at bottom it did not displease me because all these persecutions and intrigues contribute towards the opening of the eyes of those who are asleep and lessen the prestige of the hypocrites who, under the guise of a lamb, now avail themselves of every means in their difficulty and venom. All these imprisonments, abuses, etc. are the “necessary evil” in a corrupt society. I express myself thus, because I cannot accept that an evil is necessary in a good society just as medicine or surgical operation in a healthy man. If the Filipinos in this cruel and unequal struggle demonstrate fortitude and valor in spite of everybody and everything, then it will be because they are worthy of freedom and then we can say: Dumating na ang tadhana. [The day has come]. If not, if they are cowards and weaklings, then let the tree mature first, because if it is cut before the right time, it will soon be eaten up by evil and it will be of no use.

Perhaps you wonder that the Calambano[1] who has mocked many beliefs and superstitions should believe firmly in Providence. It is because Calainos[2] has more faith to God than all the friars put together and holds that God watches over His creatures and helps those who possess valor and goodwill. This is the fruit that the study of history has given him. Liberty is a woman who grants her favors only to the brave. Enslaved peoples have to suffer much to win her and those who abuse her lose her. Liberty is not obtained bobilis bobilis, [without pain or merit] nor is it granted gratis et amore.

Neither can I nor do I wish to take a step in favor of the prisoners in Manila, unless it is through legal and judicial means. What occurred to me in connection with my brother-in-law has given me one more lesson – a remonstrance of mine is equivalent to an accusation. The best is to resort to courts. The outraged should go to court if they can, if not, appeal to God… I write to Regidor however, but everything will be useless. The struggle is on. He who weakens will fall. Let us show to the world and to our enemies that we are not frightened by the threats of the friars nor are we deceived by their nonsense. Give me however truthful details because the Cologne Gazette[3] is asking me for an article about our country. I want true facts.

Speaking about the two booklets of Fr. Jose Rodriguez, VI and VII,[4] frankly and between us, they have made me laugh and now I almost understand Hidalgo’s question. This painter compatriot asked me confidentially if Fr. Rodriguez’ books were not written by us. “Why?” I asked him, surprised. “Come on, tell me the truth. I will not tell it to anybody.”

To my serious and categorized affirmation that they were by Fr. Rodriguez he then answered assuring me that they here in Paris believed that they were written by one of us in order to ridicule the friars, because they said “an enemy of the friar could not have done more to discredit them than by attributing to them such booklets.” Blumentritt calls them basines.[5] I think that from now on we ought not to answer or attack such booklets, but we should write only what is instructive and didactic in simple and pleasant style, recommending always the works of Fr. Rodriguez so that the public may come to know his great talent. And the Filipino who may still fall into the barbarity of believing the aforesaid friar will be a useless man and we do not want useless people.

Without doubt all those who want to be members of the association Internationale des Philipinistes can be so, provided that they work and undertake studies on the history, languages, usages, customs, politics, and the like of the Philippines. Anyone who has published a book about the Islands shall be an honorary member, in case he is admitted as member.
Give me some recent data on those imprisonments for publication in the Cologne Gazette.

Tell me the price of La soberania and of La vision de Fr. Rodriguez.

I suppose that you had sent to the Philippines many copies of Soberania. Send me also Vision.

Without anything more for now.

Yours,

RIZAL

For the periodical, I shall send on the 10th of this month an article La Muerte de Magallanes [The death of Magellan].

P.S.

With respect to the case of Fr. Font,[6] the prevailing idea here is that, if this friar deceives the Filipinos, the Filipinos should be more clever and should be the ones who should deceive him. If he gives money, exploit him, but do not be bound to him: However, I do not share this opinion, for we should not descend to the category of friars or accept anything from them. But everybody answered me that the money they handle has been taken from our pockets, employing now knavery now violence. You decide and whatever you decide will be circulated among all the Filipinos.

03-382 [Reformists]