Barcelona
28 January 1889
Jose Rizal
To the Members of Solidaridad
My dear Compatriots,
Gratefully acknowledging the great honor that you have just accorded me – appointing me Honorary President of the association you have recently founded and which I wish a prosperous future – I now have the great pleasure of greeting the members of the Executive Board, whom I believe are very well chosen, certain that in their hands the destiny of La Solidaridad is assured.
Though I have no doubt that my advices are useless, for every member of La Solidaridad is worth as much as I and more, considering that they are right on the spot, nevertheless, just to fill a sheet of paper, I will allow myself to write you some common observations which all of you undoubtedly know, but which cannot annoy by being written on a sheet of paper.
In a young association the spirit of tolerance ought to prevail when it concerns trifles that do not affect the essential part of a thing; in the discussions, the conciliatory tendency ought to dominate before the tendency to oppose. No one should resent defeat. When any opinion is rejected, its author, instead of despairing and withdrawing, should on the contrary wait for another occasion in which justice may be done him. The individual should give way to the welfare of the society. And so that the very delicate self-esteem of the Filipino – who is besides an unconscious individualist – may come out least hurt in the discussions and discontent may be avoided, it would be advisable that to all propositions, proposals, projects, and the like should always be added the ending: We think thus, if the other members have no objection, or any other similar phrase that you may deem more appropriate. I have heard many discussions arising from questions of self-esteem. Laying this aside, the decisions of the majority, after a sufficient discussion, are secured [?]] and unquestionable.
A great deal of integrity and much good will. No member should expect rewards or honors for what he does. He who does his duty in the expectation of rewards, is usually disappointed, because almost no one believes himself sufficiently rewarded. And so that there may not be discontented or ill-rewarded members, it is advisable for each one to do his duty just for its own sake and at best expect to be later treated unjustly, because in anomalous countries, injustice is the prize for those who fulfill their duties.
Thrift, thrift, thrift.
Seriousness and equal justice for all.
These are my admonitions, if the members of La Solidaridad have no objection.
J. Rizal
Honorary President of La Solidaridad
02-353 [Blumentritt V.1]