12 September 1891

Madrid

Regrettable situations of the staff writers of La Solidaridad – “Man’s exploitation of man” – Luna is indignant. – Reports many injustices and anomalies – There’s money but there’s none – On the other hand, a lot of waste, useless trips, no initiative, dead campaign – Complaints sent to the Propaganda through Rizal against the administrators of the newspapers.

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Hortaleza 14 & 16, 2nd floor

Madrid, 12 September 1891

MR. JOSE RIZAL

Ghent

DEAR RIZAL,

Today I have learned that you are leaving for Manila this coming month of October for very sad reasons, according to information I have gathered. The prize for this work of ours is the destruction of our future and speaking jestingly and seriously, we serve as a screen so that others may able to pillage in the shadow. In short, man’s exploitation of man, synthetically speaking I refer particularly to the situation of the staff writers of La Solidaridad, I being one of them. They say that the society has money and sends much money to Spain to pay those who work and write. Letters they read to me say so. Consequently, if this is true, it seems that we are playing the part of simpletons, inasmuch as in the Philippines they give in the belief that La Solidaridad pays and remunerates. And it is not worthwhile to talk here of patriotism, for what happens there is the following: personal enthusiasm and activity are exploited for the simple reason that what is assigned to one is taken away from him. All this has made me rebel, for here I am told that I am playing a rather sad role, according to the news received from Manila. As a special favor that came from you, they assigned me 8 duros a month. It is exactly one year that, despite my fulfillment of my duties and working for more than is required, I have not yet received any promotion that will encourage me to continue. I write two, three, or more articles for each issue, as you will see, and nevertheless, despite stealing time from school duties, I find myself with the salary of a carromata driver (as I call him) without hope of rising further. If it is true that they are sending thousands of duros, on what are they spent, where are they invested? My book is dying of laughter, neither books nor pamphlets are being printed, the pay is wretched . . . what is this? On the other hand, great waste of money useless trips, complete abandon, no initiative, dead campaign. This is complete suicide. This very day the fortnightly is in my hands and the two issues published while I am here have only one article by Naning. Here in its true light is all the work of the laborers of the Propaganda. Today it has been truly scandalous. There was almost no material and I have had to write on one day four articles, because both del Pilar and Naning are doing absolutely nothing. This is a blessing. The question of the prizes would not have been stirred up if it were not for your letter and all midst of this passive resistance that is the best rampart. What is more natural, correct, and pleasant than for me to have been initiated in the mysteries of the Propaganda, if it has mysteries. Well no. Complete monopoly, so that we may remain in the lucky doubt about money, boasting that we count on large funds to say later (our Director’s words): “There’s money, but to whom is it going to be given? Is anyone doing any work? Anybody understands this zambra.[1] This absolutist administration is worse than that of the State: it wants employees to work and sacrifice and it does not find a person to play. Tableau! In view of all these anomalies, it will become necessary to resolve the present situation in one way or the other, and we have almost agreed to go on a friendly strike, but a strike nonetheless. Now that we encounter passive resistance we will quit work as friends and each one goes his own way and it will not be strange that one day you will be surprised with the following news: Mr. So and So, I and others have ceased to be members of the editorials staff. We shall then see the monopoly and the gratuitous exploitation. Letters from Manila say that the Asociacioin H. P. ought to received funds from there, for they owe the treasurer some money and they are not paid and there they blissfully believe that here we work faithfully, diligently patriotically, disinterestedly and . . . monopolically. If our campaign will consist of this, if the ideals I believe in and have believed to be holy and sacred have impious worshippers in the style of the Chinese clistianos,[2] I prefer to disavow completely my opinions, because, before such a great enormity, it is necessary to remove one’s shirt and pull out the last hair. Pity the efforts, the rights, the liberties, to my regret, that we are not worthy either of the liberty or of anything. We will live a long time as an enslaved people, being the humble servant of or masters who will hack our f aces with the whip. It is sad, but it is true. I am anxiously awaiting the coming of Graciano in order to examine things together and when we are informed and we are loaded with arguments, we will begin our general attack along the entire line. We shall see how they will defend themselves. I am ready to give up writing in La Solidaridad, knowing that they continue to treat us like servants. Synthesis: “Work, come patriotism, intellectual work; expose your skin, put yourself in front, that from time to time I will give you something with which to buy biscuits and with these I shut your mouth.” Man of God, by the nails of Christ, this is not funny and it is very insulting! Biscuits for the patriots? What will be for those who work? Ensaimadas.[3] With butter or without it? I do not know yet how this affair will turn out, but it is taking on such large proportions that its limits cannot be defined.

Enough for today; if the Philippine Propaganda has an interview with you, you may read these lines I am writing you line by line, with a smile on your lips, but with sorrow in your heart and disabuse in your mind.

In short, lad, until the next. I suppose you will write me before you leave. I have received your last letter; I will try to leave as soon as possible.

Regards to Alejandrino, Evangelista, and Abreu.

An embrace from your friend,

ANTONIO

03-648 [Reformists]