18 April 1889

Paris

Rizal’s reply against La Defensa did not make it in time – At least it can be improved for the next issue – Style of La Solidaridad: just, sober, and clear – “Without 1872 there would not have been either Plaridel, or Jaena, or Sanciango; without 1872, Rizal would now be a Jesuit.” – Do not be perturbed because some fall – The tests of fire and cautery – What are lacking are men who may give an example to the people and rouse their enthusiasm as the Christian martyrs did – Nobody knows how to behave at the critical moment of death; it is so repugnant to die hanged and young with ideas in the head – “The day you should see me in the clutches of the friars, try to put another in my place who may revenge me.” – Urges the Filipinos to show more valor, more abnegation, less fear of death and torture…

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18 Rue de Rochechouart, Paris

18 April 1889

[Mr. Mariano Ponce]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I received today your letter together with La Solidaridad. This number is really good and the periodical is improving. To Graciano;

I am glad that my article against La Defensa did not come out. In the following number you can publish it improved, adding or striking out what you want together with the data drawn form Escosura that I sent to Plaridel. The style of the periodical is just as we here like it. – just, sober, clear, to the point, and substantial.

We felicitate all of you.

I sent to Naning a manuscript[1] so that is may be printed there. I wish to correct the proofs. Charge me for postal expenses, remittance, and the like and send me the bill so that I can send you money in case my funds there are lacking.

With respect to the imprisonments, only now through the periodical La Solidaridad we find out their cause. Now we are going to work, for the possession of anti-friar books is not a crime. For the rest, all this is fatal, and though it may be considered a personal misfortune, it may be applauded as a general good. Without 1872 there would not be now either a Plaridel, or Jaena, or Sanciangco, nor would there exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in Europe; without 1872 Rizal would be a Jesuit now and instead of writing Noli me Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the sight of those injustices and cruelties, while still a child,[2] my imagination was awakened and I swore to devote myself to avenge one day so many victims, and with this idea in mind I have been studying and this can be read in all my works and writings. God will someday give me an opportunity to carry out my promise. Good! May they commit abuses, let there be imprisonments, banishments, executions, good. Let destiny be fulfilled! The day they lay their hands on us, the day they martyrize innocent families for our fault, goodbye, friar government, and perhaps, goodbye Spanish Government![3] The cruelties and selfishness of Louis XIV and XV brought about the Revolution; the cruelties of the inquisition killed monasticism. We demonstrate in books and writings that friars are not what they pretend to be nor are they ministers of Christ or the protector of the people, nor the support of the government. We write this and we affirm it, and the friars prove it by their deeds. What more do we want? Don’t they show cruelty? Don’t they instigate the government against the people? Don’t they manifest terror? Where are sanctity, protection, and force?

Well now, don’t fear nor be perturbed that some may fall. In all fights there will always be victims and precisely the biggest battles are the most bloody. What is imprisonment? What is death? Sometimes a sickness ties us to bed, takes away our life. The question is that this sickness and this death may not afterward be useless to those who survive. Some will say: “These imprisonments and these deaths frighten and intimidate the others! If the people are really courageous, after the terror, they will return to the fight with more ardor and avenge the fallen, as it happens in the cauterization of a wound – it seems that the burnt part has died, but the next day it is seen that a new and more healthy element replaces the crust. If the people is not brave, if it is cowardly, a diseased organism, infected, and close to disintegration, fire is precisely the most recommendable. Fire awakens vitality, irritates the cellules, makes the flued vibrate, etc,. and the body dies only if no vitality exists in it. What for should we dedicate ourselves to labor for a people without a soul, without sentiments? Suppose we liberate them now from the tyranny of the friars, good; tomorrow they will fall into the tyranny of the government employees.

With these imprisonments and these vexations the exceedingly soft skin of our countrymen is hardened. Some will fall and desert, it does not matter; others perhaps will hold firm; what are lacking now are men who from the prisons and banishment may manifest valor and fortitude in order to give an example to the people and arouse their enthusiasm like the ancient Christian martyrs, like the Nihilists. Had it not been for the harshness of the Russian government there would not have been forged souls of the temper of the Nihilists. For this reason I believe that they need us there. If at the time of his death Burgos had shown the courage of Gomez, the Filipinos would have been different from what they are today. However, no one knows how one should behave at that supreme instant, and perhaps I myself who preach and brag so much may manifest more fear and less energy than Burgos at that critical moment. Life is so pleasant and it is so repugnant to die hanged young and with ideas in the head…

If these ideas seem to you acceptable, communicate them to our countrymen here so that they may show more valor, more abnegation, less fear of death and torture, so as to make our enemies respect us. If they should be banished, better; on the island where they may be sent they communicate their ideas to the people there and they make propaganda. If they should hanged, they may be supposed to have died of the sickness of friarotis or friarophobia. We shall avenge them and with their blood mark our enemies. In the prison the friars will not eat them. The friars have their houses and the best food. While in prison, they may meditate, like Regidor, on plans of revenge. The first words that I had said to my family upon arriving in the Philippines[4], when they manifested to me their fear, were that they should not take the smallest step for my sake if I would be imprisoned nor interpose or spend anything for me, but to educate my newphews and let them avenge me.

I say the same thing to my countrymen. The day on which you would see me in the clutches of the friars, do not waste time making petitions or uttering complaints or lamentations – it is useless. Try to put another in my place who may avenge me and make them pay dearly for my misfortune. If I would see a son of mine (if I had a son ) in the mouth of a shark, I would not try to pull him out – for it is useless and all I would achieve is to destroy him – I would kill the shark if possible, and if not, I would waylay him. Well then, suppose that the friars are either sharks or only dalag [mudfish]. If they are the first, they must be killed; if they are the second, they should not be feared. I rather think they are dalag and so I am not afraid to fall into their hands. They have to be very many, very many, in order to finish me, and even then they would have to pay for it.

Comfort then and encourage our countrymen over there that they may know that jail is not death, and even if it were so, what is death? Don’t they believe in God? I suppose that in the other life there are not so many friars to deal with and if there were, they would be reformed. And besides, now the Indio is not killed thus.

I reiterate my felicitations to La solidaridad

Recast my article and the citations form Escosura against the friars. Plaridel could do me this favor. Be it noted that Escosura kept silent about many things that he could have said very plainly.

Regards to all. How are the members of La Solidaridad?

Yours,

RIZAL

02-387 [Blumentritt V.1]