The Resolute Propagandist Abdicates Leadership

The Resolute Propagandist
Abdicates Leadership
This chapter is focused on the
misfortunes Rizal experienced while in
Madrid from 1890 to 1891, which
culminated in his abdication of leadership
in the reform movement in Europe.
2
Rizal Seeks Justice For His
Family
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Upon arriving in Madrid early in August
1890, Rizal exhausted all available legal
remedies to seek justice for his family and
the farmers in Calamba.
He sought the assistance of the Associacion Hispano- Filipina and used
the liberal newspaper in Madrid.
With the assistance from Marcelo H. del Pilar and Dominador Gomez,
he sought an audience with Senior Fabie, the minister of Colonies to air
the injustices committed by Governor-General Valeriano Weyler and the
Dominican friars against the powerless and poor farmers in Calamba.
He also sought the help of former liberal statesmen of Madrid.
On the whole, all the attempts and
efforts exerted by Rizal and his
friends ended up in failure. Rizal
family was, thus, denied of justice
which he sought in Madrid.
The Death of Jose Maria
Panganiban
Rizal recognized the efforts exerted by Jomapa (pen
name of Jose Ma. Panganiban), he felt sad hearing that
the former had passed away.
He write a eulogy for Panganiban, wherein he praised
him for his extraordinary talent, intelligence and
industry and considered the latter’s demise as a lost for
the country.
Aborted Duel with Antonio
Luna
In Madrid in the latter part of August 1890 Rizal attended a social
gathering of Filipino expatriates and One of the practices of the
Filipino when they congregate was to offer wine to those in
attendance as part of the fun and merriment but after numerous
jigger shots Luna became intoxicated and starting blaming Rizal for
his failure to win Nellie Boustead’s heart but Rizal denied it in many
occasions and explained to Luna that he had nothing to do with
Luna’s failure to win Nellie’s affection.
Rizal irritated to Luna because Luna started
uttering nasty comments about Nellie and Rizal
have high regard for women and because of that
Rizal challenged Luna to a duel But when Luna
regained his normal sense, he came to realized that
what he did was wrong and He asked Rizal for an
apology and Rizal accepted the apology and forgot
the incident
A Duel with Retana
When Wenceslao Retana published numerous
articles in the anti Filipino newspaper in Madrid, La Epoca, one
of the articles he published alleged that Rizal's family and
relatives were ejected from the lands they were tilling for their
failure to pay their annual rent to the Dominican friars. Rizal
was insulted but it was true. He challenged Retana to a duel
but knowing Rizal was an expert in both the sword and pistol,
Retana did not accept the challenge. Instead, he retracted
what he published in the La Epoca, which to Rizal was Retana's
way of apologizing.
The News About the
Marriage of Leonor Rivera
Rizal received a letter from Leonor Rivera, his
childhood sweetheart and lover by
correspondence, from the early part of December, 1890 to
inform him that Leonor will be marreid to an English man.
Blumentritt cognizant of Rizal's misfortunes consoled Rizal. He
tried to make Rizal realize that Leonor Rivera was not the
woman for him. He stressed that even though he lost Leonor,
Rizal had no blur object of love which was none other than his
Motherland.
Rizal's Break with Del Pilar
Rizal was the undisputed leader of the
Filipino expatriates in Europe. As the recognized leader
of the propagandists, Rizal endeavored to imbue his
fellow reformers with his idealism (to gain the respect of the
Spaniards and their government by demonstrating high sense
of morality and dignity and be willing to make sacrifices for
the country). Rizal's idealism was unacceptable to his fellow
reformers, as a result, they indulged so much in drinking,
gambling, and with women.
Some of his former supporters started shying away from Rizal and
shifting their loyalty to Del Pilar. According to Guerrero (1998), Del
Pilar was the only rival of Rizal for leadership in the reform movement.
The rift between Rizal and Del Pilar was accentuated by the editorial
policy of the La Solidaridad under the latter's management--- that La
Solidaridad has to be ran as a business contrary to Rizal's idea that it
should be ran as a patriotic venture (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
A meeting was held on January 1, 1891 to settle the differences
between Rizal and Del Pilar and bolster the campaign for reforms. It
was attended by 90 Filipino expatriates in Madrid. For anyone to be
elected, two-thirds vote of the members of those in attendance had to
be secured. The balloting that ensued resulted in
three inconclusive ballots with two more the following day.
Annoyed by the situation, Rizal walked out. Del Pilar directed
Mariano Ponce to convince the Pilaristas to vote for Rizal. Rizal
was elected as a consequence but did not accept the coveted
position. For him, the election was an insult on his part. Aware
of the fact that the Pilaristas hated him, Rizal abdicated the
position of leadership conferred to him by his fellow reformers.
The rift between Rizal and Del Pilar soon intensified. Rizal
informed Del Pilar that he would no longer contribute articles
to the Soli. News of the rivalry reached Manila. Filipinos
supporting the propagandists in Spain commissioned Juan
Zulueta to reconcile the two. Rizal soon left Madrid for good to
forget what to him, was a betrayal of his presumptive right to
leadership. He then proceeded to Biarritz.
An Affair with Nellie
Boustead
Rizal arrived in Biarritz, a resort city in French
Riviera in the early part of February 1891. He stayed
with Boustead and became attracted to Nellie, the younger
daughter of Mister Boustead. For Rizal, Nellie was an epitomy
of a real Filipina, thus he told his friends his intention of
marrying her. Luna, upon learning of Rizal's plan convinced
Rizal to push through with it. Rizal seriously courted Nellie and
won her love and affection. Unfortunately the affair was not
consummated for two reasons: first, Rizal did not give his
Catholic faith for Nellie who was a devout protestant; second,
Rizal was not acceptable to Nellie's mother due to his financial
status and dangers he brought.
To Paris and Brussels
Once Again
Rizal left Biarritz in March 30, 1891. From there, he
traveled to Paris by train and stayed in the residence of his
friend Valentine Ventura. Upon arriving in the city, he wrote
letters to Jose Maria Basa in Hong Kong and practiced
opthalmology to support himself.
From Paris, Rizal went to Brussels where he was received by
the Jacoby sisters. Here, he again met Suzanne, with whom he
had a love affair before.
It was here that he informed the
propaganda authorities of his decision to retire from
the reform movenment.
Thus he told them to stop sending him monthly allowance.

Consequently, he stopped contributing articles for the Soli.
Rizal concentrated in revising El Filibusterismo which he
finished in Biarritz by May 30, 1891 it was ready for printing.

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The Resolute Propagandist

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Thus he told them to stop sending him monthly allowance.

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