18 May 1889

Barcelona

T. H. Pardo de Tavera’s lively imagination – We ought to protect ourselves from the intrigue of the enemies and the candor of friends – If it is time to abandon the pen, then Rizal can count on him – Was there racial antagonism in the break with the one who had promised to publish Rizal’s work? – Petition presented to the Ministry of Colonies published in La Solidaridad.

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Barcelona, 18 May 1889

FRIEND LAONG LAAN,

I do not know what news Trinidad[1] brings, though I know that he is a person with a rather lively imagination. He is one of those who break their fingers to cover their ears when the small culverin is just being loaded.

On the day that you were in Lipa, or I do not remember what town for I know not what fiesta, he was there too. He saw you looking out a window of a house and he passed along, but contented himself with greeting you with his hand, in spite of his great desire to embrace you. He continued his walk to I know not what bathing-place and always accompanied by a European corporal or sergeant of the civil guard and do you know why? In order to have ready a witness that he had not met with you. Ask him if this is true; but it is useless to tell him the origin of the news because he does not know me, though indeed I have known him since I was a child. But the incident is one of the proofs of his fertile imagination.

Notwithstanding, I am at your disposal and permit me to make an observation. In the development of the spectacle on that stage, neither you nor I are strangers to the work of the fly and for that very reason we ought to receive with distrust the urgings that come from strange sources. I believe that we ought to protect ourselves from the intrigues of enemies and the candor of friends. It goes without saying therefore that, if in accordance with the data you have, we are in a condition to abandon the pen and it is proper time, you may count on me.[2]

I deplore the break that you had with the one who offered to publish your work.[3] May God will that his incomprehensible behavior did not arise from that which I should not like either to see or suspect, though it asserts itself – radical antagonism. It makes my blood boil what Graciano told me about the persistence of that man to subordinate the painting of our great Luna in a certain exposition to that of a mestizo that hardly deserved to be accepted and all for maintaining racial superiority. I do not like to think of this, but . . . let us forgive so much idiocy.

In La Solidaridad, No. 6, page 58, you must have seen the petition we presented to the Ministry of Colonies. I know that the three extremes of our demand cannot be achieved immediately; but I should like at least that through No. 3 we exert some effort to obtain a royal order prohibiting expressly harassment that we point out and that the prohibition be published in the Gaceta de Manila inasmuch as such a measure lacks support in the laws in force in Spain overseas. If you can enlist the support of the Grand Family, this is the occasion. Becerra belongs to it and such harassment affects its prestige and good name for its members and friends are the ones who will suffer from it there. We shall have achieved much if we get that because, though the Satsat[4] do not suspect all the importance of that weapon, it is the only one they hold. If the prohibition is obtained, every administrative banishment falls under the jurisdiction of the Penal Code. Once the weapon is gone then we can kick . . . . . . . . . . .

03-395 [Reformists]