Preface
Among the many wrongs done the Filipinos by Spaniards,to be charged against their undeniably large debt to Spain, one of thegreatest, if not the most frequently mentioned, was taking from themtheir good name.
Spanish writers have never been noted for modesty or historicalaccuracy. Back in 1589 the printer of the English translation of PadreJuan Gonzalez de Mendoza’s “History of the Great and MightyKingdom of China” felt it necessary to prefix this warning: * * *the Spaniards (following their ambitious affections) do usually in alltheir writings extoll their own actions, even to the setting forth ofmany untruthes and incredible things, as in their descriptions of theconquistes of the east and west Indies, etc., doth more at largeappeare.
Of early Spanish historians Doctor Antonio de Morga seems the singleexception, and perhaps even some of his credit comes by contrast, butin later years the rule apparently has proved invariable. As theconditions in the successive periods of Spanish influence wererecognized to be indicative of little progress, if not actuallyretrogressive, the practice grew up of correspondingly lowering thecurrent estimates of the capacity of the Filipinos of the conquest, sothat always an apparent advance appeared. This in the closing period,in order to fabricate a sufficient showing for over three centuries ofpretended progress, led to the practical denial of human attributes tothe Filipinos found here by Legaspi.
Against this denial to his countrymen of virtues as well as rights,Doctor Rizal opposed two briefs whose English titles are “ThePhilippines A Century Hence” and “The Indolence of theFilipino.” Almost every page therein shows the influence of theyoung student’s early reading of the hereinafter-printed studiesby the German scientist Jagor, friend and counsellor in his matureryears, and the liberal Spaniard Comyn. Even his acquaintance withMorga, which eventually led to Rizal’s republication of the 1609history long lost to Spaniards, probably was owing to Jagor, althoughthe life-long resolution for that action can be traced to hearing ofSir John Bowring’s visit to his uncle’s home and theproposed Hakluyt Society English translation then mentioned.
[iv]The present valu