Dapitan
Present of books on carpentry and wheel have been taken as revolutionary books – He will engage in farming – His clientele in Dapitan is poor – They propose to him to escape – But Rizal does not want to be called “a runaway” – Friars sent spies to watch him.
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Dapitan, 15 March 1895
DR. LORENZO MARQUEZ
MY VERY ESTEEMED FRIEND DOCTOR MARQUEZ,
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines and to tell you how I am. I continue living as a deportee, but free enough to engage in some abaca business.
The books on carpentry and wheel that you sent me have been taken for revolutionary works and they have torn out the page with your dedication.
I intend to engage in farming, for the place where I am is so poor that I even have to give free medicine. I still do not know how much longer they intend to hold me as a deportee. I am resigned, for the longer they hold me the worse for the government’s prestige.
Some have proposed to me to escape; but as I have nothing to reproach myself, I do not want later to be called a “runaway.” Moreover, this will prevent me from returning later to my country.
The friars sent me here a spy called Pablo Mercado; then they sent another; then they appointed the present district physician to watch me, according to his own confession. A doctor appointed to spy! Is it not sad?
I do not write more because I will be in bad humor.
Many regards from your old friend who misses your pleasant and intelligent company.
Affectionately yours,
JOSE RIZAL
[The following two letters deal with the proposed flight.]
Manila, 26 May 1895
MR. JOSE MA. BASA
Hong Kong
MY DEAR SIR,
I take the liberty of writing you this letter – and I suppose that you will be surprised by this boldness and bother at the same time – to introduce to you the bearer of the same, who is a fine man, Mr. Timoteo Paez, who is in charge of the risky mission of liberating my brother from his exile. Mr. Paez will give you an account of everything we have proposed here for such an undertaking. He is our good friend whom we owe many favors and who deserves your confidence. He is going to that port to charter a boat and afterward . . . .
I shall appreciate infinitely every attention and favor you may grant him and command at your pleasure your faithful servant who kisses your had.
TRINIDAD RIZAL
P. S.
My affectionate regards to all the family and kisses to your daughters.
ANTONIO MA. REGIDOR JURADO
Spanish Advocate
23 Billiter Street, London
7 June 1895
MR. JOSE MA. BASA
Hong Kong
MY DEAR FRIEND PEPE,
I received your letter the 9 January on time in which you kindly suggest to me the negotiation for the freedom of our dear friend Rizal. Now I must tell you that when I was in Madrid last year, without the encouragement of anyone, I attended assiduously to this matter and I was surprised that the large Filipino colony there thought that Rizal no longer wanted to leave the place where he is because he has invested there some six or eight thousand duros that he won in the lottery and he had with him several of his brothers, developing his agricultural lands. The idea, though possible, seemed to me improbable and I ignored it. Availing myself of the close friendship that bound me with some of the ministers then, I explored the possibility of obtaining his liberty. However, to my great regret, I became convinced that it was impossible to obtain it in Spain, for the ministers themselves told me that, and they said the truth, they did not believe any order of that kind would be carried out in Manila; that it must be worked out in Manila with the Captain General who should carry it out openly, cautiously, and without the knowledge of the Reverend Fathers until after Rizal is already on the way for abroad. In the numerous efforts I made here I did not find anyone who wished, or better, who dared, to write on the matter to General Blanco. All agreed that the best solution was Rizal’s escape; and as you know that I have always been a practical partisan of this solution, I cannot understand why our friend whom I believed courageous and intrepid does not adopt it. The sympathetic Mr. Blumentritt wrote me later that Rizal wanted to leave and much later I received you letter. Unfortunately for me I have been very ill since 19 December until about fifteen days ago. Nevertheless I have moved in the sense suggested by you, and though I do not despair, I do not think my mission is easy to realize. In my opinion we ought to study and utilize for our purpose the political changes that occur in Spain. Now there is the possibility and hope that new elections of deputies to the Cortes may be held in January or February and I believe that we should try then to elect Rizal, very secretly, deputy for one district in Spain. If we succeed, they would have to let him go, for the president of the new congress would have to demand him from the Captain General over the exactions and impositions of the Reverend Fathers. Would there not be in the world ten patriots who will contribute each one thousand duros for that undertaking? If you succeed to get this, I offer to go to Spain to work and prepare a district and present Rizal’s candidacy with the least expense, without ostentation or noise, the latter being indispensable conditions, I reiterate, to get this election. If the amount I mention is not obtained, reduce it to four or five thousand duros and work for the election of del Pilar or any other Filipino with sufficient qualifications who formally promises to work openly and secretly for the liberty of Rizal and of other Filipinos, for the representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Parliament, and for the elevation and employment of purely and essentially Filipino elements. And in making this suggestion, I wish to make it clear in advance that I do not count myself among those who are qualified for numerous reasons, among them, which should not be concealed from you, that I can no longer inspire enthusiasm and confidence in those who are to take part in this campaign – twenty-three years of absence, the distance, the retired life I have been forced to lead in these last years for reasons too long to enumerate, place me logically out of that candidacy. In order for it to be successful, those who ought to take part in it are only the modern saints, the spirited young men who know the youth intimately and inspire confidence. We the old ones ought to retire now behind the curtain and the gallery and from there, like observers and advisers, inspire and suggest to those who enter freshly and anew in this fight for liberty and rights in which you entered and from which our contemporary friends came out so ill-treated. Let us push forward and encourage that youth that I love and that makes me conceive of so many hopes if it marches through the tried paths trodden by us before them and with identical purpose, the same enthusiasm, and the same generous faith that seize them, though with infinitely more limited means in an era of dejection and decadence with could rarely happen. Work then in this sense, friend Pepe, which is the only means through which we may get, as it is commonly said, with one stone, not two but four or five birds. We must not sleep. Believe me ever your very affectionate friend, compatriot, and comrade.
ANTONIO REGIDOR
01-846 [Family]