Ghent
Disappointed at the conservative ideas of our old folks – Dismal legacy of slavery – Family interests and patriotic ideas and liberty – To die for the country is a duty – Against the stupid expression: “What a waste of blood!” – May those conservative ideas not infect our youth – Voice of encouragement – Friends keep aloof because of his poverty.
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Ghent, 31 March 1892
MR. JOSEPH RIZAL
Hong Kong
MY DEAR FRIEND RIZAL,
How distressed I am to learn from your letter that over there you are surrounded by opposition which prevents you from carrying out your ideas, instead of finding around you the solid support of those who seem to love their native land. But in this regard you ought not to be discouraged; on the contrary, your zeal and your efforts should multiply. In short, this effete generation that precedes us and which ought to pass away soon, still wants to leave us this dismal legacy of slavery. It is because their ideas of patriotism and liberty are not clear, being influenced by the abominable consideration of interest and family. In Europe an approaching war is incomparably frightful; everybody fears a massacre unprecedented in history, but at the word “Native Country,” no one would ever dare to retreat, for everyone realizes that it is his duty to die for his country. You see that to a patriotic man there is no sense in this stupid expression. “what a waste of blood.” In short, I repeat your timely phrase: “. . . to the animals in their torpor.” Now, it only remains for us to prevent such conservative ideas, which are never patriotic, [from] spread[ing] among the youth and the next generation, for otherwise the salvation of our native land would become an insoluble problem.
I thank you, dear friend, for your compliments on my progress in the study of French and though I find that you flatter me a little, I appreciate your good intention to awaken in me the desire to learn more. My scholastic record is not as brilliant as you suppose but I study regularly, like Alejandrino and Abreu, and I am satisfied and proud of it.
The map of the Island of Luzon is yours form the moment I had the honor of offering it to you. And I will try to send you the cartouches that you are asking for, but at this moment I am in a great financial difficulty due to the inexplicable neglect of my brother to send me money. The allowance he sends me is never enough to pay my debts to Egermont and the cost of my studies. Since two months ago, Abreu and Alejandrino have moved to another boarding house. They want to be as far away as possible from my poverty, afraid perhaps to lose their prestige as rich men among the women of Ghent; but it does not matter.
I have written my brother to try to send you at Hong Kong the $15 that I owe you.
My dear friend, yours truly,
EDILBERTO
04-718 [Misc.]