Lineage, Life and Labors of Jos Rizal, Philippine Patriot | Page 7

is purity,
propriety and precision in choosing words all there is to literature.
Rizal charged Spain unceasingly with unprogressiveness in the
Philippines, just as he labored and planned unwearyingly to bring the
Filipinos abreast of modern European civilization. But in his appeals to
the Spanish conscience and in his endeavors to educate his countrymen
he showed himself as practical as he was in his arguments, ever ready
to concede nonessentials in name and means if by doing so progress
could be made.
Because of his unceasing efforts for a wiser, better governed and more
prosperous Philippines, and because of his frank admission that he
hoped thus in time there might come a freer Philippines, Rizal was
called traitor to Spain and ingrate. Now honest, open criticism is not
treason, and the sincerest gratitude to those who first brought Christian
civilization to the Philippines should not shut the eyes to the wrongs
which Filipinos suffered from their successors. But until the latest

moment of Spanish rule, the apologists of Spain seemed to think that
they ought to be able to turn away the wrath evoked by the cruelty and
incompetence that ran riot during centuries, by dwelling upon the
benefits of the early days of the Spanish dominion.
Wearisome was the eternal harping on gratitude which at one time was
the only safe tone for pulpit, press and public speech; it irritating
because it ignored questions of current policy, and it was discouraging
to the Filipinos who were reminded by it of the hopeless future for their
country to which time had brought no progress. But with all the faults
and unworthiness of the later rulers, and the inane attempts of their
parasites to distract attention from these failings, there remains
undimmed the luster of Spain's early fame. The Christianizing which
accompanied her flag upon the mainland and islands of the New World
is its imperishable glory, and the transformation of the Filipino people
from Orientals into mediæval Europeans through the colonizing genius
of the early Castilians, remains a marvel unmatched in colonial history
and merits the lasting gratitude of the Filipino.
Doctor Rizal satirized the degenerate descendants and scored the
unworthy successors, but his writings may be searched in vain for
wholesale charges against the Spanish nation such as Spanish scribblers
were forever directing against all Filipinos, past, present and future,
with an alleged fault of a single one as a pretext. It will be found that he
invariably recognized that the faithful first administrators and the
devoted pioneer missionaries had a valid claim upon the continuing
gratitude of the people of Tupa's and Lakandola's land.
Rizal's insight discerned, and experience has demonstrated, that
Legaspi, Urdaneta and those who were like them, laid broad and firm
foundations for a modern social and political organization which could
be safely and speedily established by reforms from above. The early
Christianizing civilizers deserve no part of the blame for the fact that
Philippine ports were not earlier opened to progress, but much credit is
due them that there is succeeding here an orderly democracy such as
now would be impossible in any neighboring country.
The Philippine patriot would be the first to recognize the justice of the

selection of portraits which appear with that of Rizal upon the present
Philippine postage stamps, where they serve as daily reminders of how
free government came here.
The constancy and courage of a Portuguese sailor put these Islands into
touch with the New World with which their future progress was to be
identified. The tact and honesty of a civil official from Mexico made
possible the almost bloodless conquest which brought the Filipinos
under the then helpful rule of Spain. The bequest of a far-sighted early
philanthropist was the beginning of the water system of Manila, which
was a recognition of the importance of efforts toward improving the
public health and remains a reminder of how, even in the darkest days
of miseries and misgovernment, there have not been wanting Spaniards
whose ideal of Spanish patriotism was to devote heart, brain and wealth
to the welfare of the Filipinos. These were the heroes of the period of
preparation.
The life of the one whose story is told in these pages was devoted and
finally sacrificed to dignify their common country in the eyes of his
countrymen, and to unite them in a common patriotism; he inculcated
that self-respect which, by leading to self-restraint and self-control,
makes self-government possible; and sought to inspire in all a love of
ordered freedom, so that, whether under the flag of Spain or any other,
or by themselves, neither tyrants (caciques) nor slaves (those led by
caciques) would be possible among them.
And the change itself came through an American President who
believed, and practiced the belief, that nations owed obligations to
other