Paris
He will respect any criticism of his work El Filibusterismo – Reasons why Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad – It is a private enterprise – It has published ideas contrary to Rizal’s – He hopes La Solidaridad will live under del Pilar’s leadership – He regrets the attitude of some Filipinos at Madrid toward him.
* * *
4 bis Rue Chateaudun
Paris, 7 October 1891
[MR. MARCELO H. DEL PILAR]
MY DEAR FRIEND,
I received your letter with the 230.50 francs that you sent me, the balance of the 1,000 pesetas that they ought to send me. I thank you for everything. With this the sum I have received from the Propaganda since the month of February amounts to three hundred pesos,
I appreciate the benevolence with which you treat my work, and by this time you have already formed your opinion of it. Whatever it may be, I must respect it, because one who publishes must endure patiently all the criticisms that are made of him. I appreciate also the rant that La Solidaridad dedicates to me, such as, “distinguished Filipino literary man,” and “author of various works on the Archipelago that have merited general applause.” It is good to be known that Jose Rizal writes also about the Archipelago, in case it may not be known in the Philippines among the people who know Spanish.
You talk to me of writing again for La Solidaridad. I appreciate your invitation, but frankly I am going to confess to you that I have not the least desire to do so and you must have guessed the reason. I have written for more than a year for the fortnightly when I believed it was a Filipino organ and with this idea in mind I have not even wanted to inquire how it lives nor why it lives. I believe in a national enterprise and I bore resignedly the silence of the fortnightly over its mysteries, in so far as I was concerned. Now you tell me that La Solidaridad is a private enterprise and you will understand that I cannot work under these conditions for a private enterprise. I do not know whom I serve or how I serve him or how he takes my services. Here is the reason that you must have guessed without any doubt. Moreover, in La Solidaridad have been expressed not only ideas but also whole articles against my opinions and convictions and I cannot introduce duality in that fortnightly. I prefer to remain in solitude and isolation rather than to disturb the harmony and peace of its staff writers. I will do everything I can, except writing, in order that the fortnightly may continue its existence. You will probably find me very susceptible; I confess that I am, but when one has harbored only good will, love, and abnegation towards his friends and in return he encounters recriminations and attacks, believe me, he ought to alter his behavior and modify his manner of working. The scratches of a friend hurt more than the wounds inflicted by the enemy. I have outlined for myself a norm of conduct and that is to let the Filipinos of Madrid direct the policy that they know and understand so well. What can I do with my impatience and despotic pretensions? I understand the desire of every Filipino to do as he pleases and I give up my idea of forming with my countrymen the tight fagot of which I was dreaming. Perhaps the iron of compressed molecules. I have made a mistake and present my resignation.
You continue there, and inasmuch as you are already at the top, use your power to put into practice your ideas so that nothing will remain to be probed. Since the beginning, I have wished to introduced scrupulousness in political practices: I present my resignation at the first sign of discontent.
You will receive a copy of the Morga that I inscribe to you.
As I believe that this will be the last that I will write you. For I leave on the 18th, I bid farewell, sending you an embrace in memory of our old friendships.
Yours,
RIZAL
P. S.
I sent Naning some open letters for Manila to be delivered to you. Haven’t you received them? He has not deigned to answer me.
02-660 [Blumentritt V.2]