Brussels
Brussels, 9 July 1890
[Mr. Mariano Ponce]
Barcelona, Spain
MY DEAR NANING:
I received your letter and am informed of its contents, I sent you 6 copies to the address of our friend Icasiano.
I regret very much what had happened to our friend Panganiban. I wish he would get over his trouble and afterward his life, which is precious to our country, will no longer be menaced by similar evils.
I do not know how much I owe you, but you should have an exact account of everything. If there is something in my favor and you do not need it, I would appreciate it if you would send it to me, for I am badly off financially; I have not received anything from the Philippines for many months. That is why I am thinking of returning there as soon as possible and leave to what has to happen.
Graciano ought to do the same thing. Instead of going to Cuba to catch yellow fever, he should go to the Philippines and get killed for his ideas. We die only once and if we do not die well, we lose a good opportunity which will never come up again.
Let him challenge danger resolutely and the danger will flee, or at least, he will be a martyr to his ideas. I am opposed to his going to Cuba; it is useless; Cuba is exhausted; it is a nutshell. If one has to die, at least one must die in his own country, by his country, and for his country.
Yours,
RIZAL
02-555 [Blumentritt V.2]