16 March 1887

Hortaleza, Madrid

Why they deny us representation in the Cortes – Opposition of the friars – Nothing can be expected from the Spanish government – The mestizos are responsible for lack of union – Criticism of España en Filipinas – We will follow you to glory or to the abyss.

* * *

24-3rd Hortaleza, Madrid

16 March 1887

My dear Rizal,

I reply to your letter of the 12th congratulating myself that you and Viola are united in spirit and in truth. The reason why the government does not want us to have representation in the Cortes is that the friars have intimidated it. In proof of that, Sagasta, Balaguer, and Moret have called Deputy La Guardia, who has initiated it, telling him that they would expel him from the majority if the continued supporting the three bills he has introduced in the Cortes in favor of the Philippines. Sagasta threatened Cañamaque also of expulsion if he carried out his plan to interpellate on Mindanao. The government has begged and requested Labra to desist from interpellating on the general policy on the Philippines

So that nothing can be expected from the government. Let us undertake our own regeneration and our progress.

As to what you say about the union of the Filipinos, you know very well that you and I have been constantly preaching and supporting it and nevertheless, you will remember the chastisement the Esquivels gave you. No, no, we the genuine or pure Indios are not the ones who foment disunity but the mestizos who, behind our back, hold meetings and conventicles without giving us a participating in their conspiracies, which certainly are not for lofty ends – like the common welfare, the interest of the Philippines – but egoistic and mean. Lete, Govantes, and the Eqsuivels did not attend the banquet of 31 December and Lete had the boldness to say he had nothing to do with the Filipino colony and now he is in charge of a publication. As to Llorente, being young and immature, they toss him about from one extreme to the other. I believe that upon the receipt of this you must have already read the issue of the magazine, España en Filipinas. Do they not seem to you insipid? The foreign review especially is unreadable; the political chronicle is violently pro-government; and the local press written by Llorente is the most innocence and inoffensive. In truth I expected more from Llorente, who seemed to me a promising youth, but I was mistaken. Is it not true that the magazine is most candid that it neither pricks nor cuts? Everything in it is childish and it has no vigor that every publication that fights for great ideals should have. Does it not seem to you that far from being either moderate or prudent, it is rather languisero?[1]

If I separated from the editorial staff and refrained from collaborating with it, it is not for being red, for I know very well that one cannot be red in discussing overseas interests in magazines that are published in the country of our master and oppressor, as one wishes, but moderate and prudent, keeping all the gall inside; but not so much, so deferent and pro-government, as the two issues that you must have before you by now prove.

I, in your place, instead of returning to the Philippines, would pass by Japan and China to attend to the matter that I told you about in my previous letter.

From day to day I am becoming convinced that our countrymen, the mestizos, far from working for the common welfare. Follow the policy of their predecessors, the Azacarragas. O am, very glad that they have brought about the division and not us.

I, like you, submit to the leader that you wish to find and I believe that no one but you can be it, with the assurance that all the genuine suyas [Filipinos] will follow you blindfolded, whether to glory or to the abyss.

Apolonio Rivera has completely recovered, is robust, and already talks a great deal and is ready to fight for our prosperity. His mind has been opened to the great ideals of liberty and progress of the Philippines. He sends you and embrace and a thousand regards. He does….in order to eliminate quinine and they are doing him good. He is atrocious, he is with us, he never forgets you.

My regard to friend Viola and answer me.

Yours,

Graciano

Greetings in advance on your saint’s day; Rivera also felicitates you; I wish to spend it happily.

02-208 [Blumentritt V.1]