In the whole course of history, two
parties in conflict will always end up one to give away. From this very essay,
it says “The existence of a foreign body within another endowed with strength and
activity is contrary to all natural and ethical laws. Science teaches us that
it is either assimilated, destroys the organism, is eliminated or becomes
encysted.” The “foreign body” may refer to the
Spaniards and the “within another” is the Philippines, in the context of
historical events Rizal was in.
Dr.
Rizal says that there will be three (3) possible outcomes of colonization.
First is that
Philippines will claim their independence if they will not be included as a
part of Spain. He says that this can be
opposed with neither the Spaniards patriotism, nor the Filipinos love for
Spain. It is a part of necessity that been a result of the events.
Next is the extermination
of the Filipinos by the Spaniards. It is impossible, he adds, but even if it
were not, it would take one-fourths of the population of Spain to accomplish
it.
The last is the
expulsion of Spaniards in the lands of the Filipinos. He stresses the failure
of many ways they will possibly take in order to keep the Filipinos silenced.
One of these is failing to keep the Filipinos uneducated and ignorant. This in
contrast will result to a search of enlightenment in other countries, and with
this search, their love of country will then be transformed to hatred and
revenge. Another failure he envisioned is the maintenance of Filipinos’
impoverished living. According to him, this will make Filipinos yearn for a
change and want a better way of living. The next and last failure he mentioned
in his essay is the failure of exterminating the people. He believed that the
blood that will leak in the soil will not decrease the number of Filipinos who
will fight for their country, but instead increase the number of the afflicted
and the ones who will rise against them, because usually, families will not
take the loss personally but instead take it generally, a hurt of the whole
race.
Dr. Rizal also cited
that as the oppressed is “bathed in
blood,” they perfect themselves in fighting and learns to struggle. On the
other hand, the colonizers, who depend on their subjects, weaken and soon die.
He likened this situation to a rich sensualist, usually waited for by his
servants who work hard, but when the day comes the servants refuse obedience,
he must be condemned to die.
If Philippines will
be able to acquire its independence from Spain, Rizal envisioned that countries
(England, Germany, France, Holland, Japan and American Republic) will not dare
to take the same pathway Spaniards did. He stated there that almost all of
these countries, except American Republic, would have the courage to conquer
Philippines because these countries already own possessions and they will be
anxious on the risk of losing them if they will still do so. England has
already her colonies in the Orient and he believed that she will not risk to
losing them all and lose her balance. Germany as well, he believed will not
care to run and risk her existence in the continent while scattering her
forces. For France, he said, she will not risk as well. This is because France
loved glory in the battlefields of Europe. He said that even if France will
overpower Philippines, it will still not quench its thirst of glory, for the
echoes of her glory in this side of the world is barely heard in the West.
Holland is sensible and will be contended of what she has. In the time of his
writing, American Republic had not yet has colonies. Through this, he
envisioned her to dream of foreign possession.
He also stressed in
this part that Philippines is most likely to keep her independence at one’s
disposal, and work hard, striving for progress. As these were prophesized,
these may still go wrong through accidents. However, he also said that it is
not well to trust everything on accidents only.
On the last part, he
left a message for the Spain. It talks for the Filipinos who were exhausting
their intelligence to Spain, serving her interests and yet keep herself wrapped
with pride and remained deaf. She even
took a fatal path and accused Filipinos of being traitors, merely because they
loved their country. And lastly, he asked Spain if he will tell other Filipinos
that Spain will also not have an ear to hear their woes.
