Madrid
Grieved by the deportation of Rizal – “Soon I will follow you; let us see if we can scatter the seed” – Pi y Margall and the European colony deplore it – According to del Pilar it is not Rizal whom Lete attacks – It was a call to reflection and duty – Machiavelli divides us.
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Madrid, 20 July 1892
MR. JOSE RIZAL
Manila
MY DEAR PEPE:
The news of the outrage done to you has impressed me painfully. I prefer to be the victim than to devour this anguish that takes away my sleep. Well, soon I will follow you and let us see if there where they send us we can scatter the seed and succeed to popularize its sowing. The European colony, including Pi y Margall and family, sympathizes with us. With the first, I have had long conversations about the case; it is very eager to do something, but its ignorance of the motives that led to our justified outrage prevents it from a definite attitude. Don Miguel is out of Madrid on his summer vacation, but I wrote him asking him for his advice. We are expecting any time now the Assistant Minister of Colonies who has also been out of town but will return soon.
I received your two letters in which you affirmed your belief that you have been attacked by the article of Lete in La Solidaridad, dated April 15. You are mistaken. How could I allow him to attack you when I am interested in your prestige? How, when in spite of whatever has happened between us (better said “in you”) I have not stopped wishing for you the renewal of our former ties, for I believe that slight differences in procedure are not enough to destroy our common principles, purposes, and feelings? How, when my mode of action depends on the unity, fraternity, mutual tolerance, and mutual support of those who uphold the same ideal? For what have I swallowed in silence the attacks, insults, and bitterness that I have received from many? For the sake of harmony. I repeat, you are mistaken. I am sure that when Lete wrote the article he did not intend to allude to you and much less to molest you. He described an individual whose methods are diametrically opposed to yours. You do not reject the methods that contribute to your own; you yourself have told me repeatedly: “No more means are left for us to try;” How can you imagine yourself portrayed by a person who rejects and destroys all means of preparation? Had I believed you as such, I would have insulted you and you already know that neither for anything nor for anybody will I offend you.
Whether my words be of value or not, I would like to enlighten you about this affair. But first, be assured that Lete’s article was inspired by the news which arrived on that date from Manila about the active and effective campaign intended to destroy every instrument of our propaganda: Destroy La Solidaridad, destroy the committee, destroy finally all means for the preparation of further solutions, in order not to think of anything more but of these. Although there is bad faith on the part of the hidden agitator of this movement, those who follow him are undoubtedly working in good faith, believing that they are serving their country. For that reason Lete thought of issuing a call to reflection and the medicine that he used was not opium but a caustic substance. But believe me, he did not allude to you, for you had nothing to do with that campaign.
And now let us refresh our minds: You will remember that, walking on the Paseo de Recoletos, you going to the house of Cunanan and I to that of Don Miguel, I told you: “Watch out, for some fine day we shall wake up quarreling without knowing why.” You laughed at my witticism and so did I; you could not believe that determined as you were not to offend me, and I not to offend you, we would ever quarrel; but that occurred to me without reason as a vague presentiment.
The fact was later we were on bad terms. After you have gone, I got to bad terms with both elements of the Filipino colony; and I had to swallow in silence all the bitterness I received in order to maintain harmony among us. It is because neither you nor I had suspected the designs for revenge of the one who was determined to avenge with Mephistophelian devices the affronts of the committee.
I have no proofs to show you that the same hand that disunited us in Madrid is the one that continues to divide our own men in the Philippines; but I know his trade mark; and whether my words be of value or not, in any case I let you know them in case they may be of help to you in the evaluation of the matter. You as well as I, my partisans as well as yours, are victims of a base campaign. I do not know whether the purpose of this campaign is solely for revenge, or the friar policy has also something to do with it.
Had they accepted my resignation since before and had you relieved me here, we could have exercised his Mephistophelian campaign. Because, revealing myself there as your partisan, his Machiavellism would have been crippled.
Well, we shall have an occasion to talk together. I’m glad of the spirit of benevolence that I note in your last letter. You already know that no other spirit animates me except that of unity and fraternity with our colleagues. Let us reserve our energies for the enemies of our tranquility.
Your affectionate friend embraces you,
MARCELO
01-757 [Family]