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diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

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9. [Casimiro Herrero, 0. S. A.] Filipinas ante la razdn del Indio: Obracompuesta pot el indtgena Capitin Juan para utilidad de sus paisanosy publicada en castellano por el espafiol P. Caro. Madrid: Iniprenta deA. Gomez Fuentenebro, 1874This is a more voluminous work by the Augustinian Procurator andBishop of Nueva Caceres. It does not carry the author's name, but no onedoubts it is from his pen. The message is the same as that proposed in theprevious book, except that this time it is written fictitiously by a Filipino, nota Spaniard.The hero and author, Capitan Juan, asks his friend, a former pilot of abrig, to infiltrate a liberal group about to start a revolt against Spain toneutralize their plot He does this through dialogue with the plotters, whichcan be summed up in the following points: liberalism caused the Cavitemutiny of 1872; the words used by the masons, "equality," fraternity," and"liberty," must be rejected because they are against nature and deceive thepeople; "blind submission even to despots [i.e., of the Filipino to theSpaniard] is beneficial, necessary, and an unavoidable factor in his way oflife";" the Filipinos, therefore, ought to understand that union with Spain,under her flag, and the obedience owed her "are based on divine and naturallaw."" Hence, it follows, they should show the "deepest gratitude" toSpain—an idea repeated by Fray Casimiro more than once.The work ends with a Rational and Social Catechism for the Benefit ofthe Adios. It is in dialogue form and seeks to synthesize in a few words thecentral message of the book.There are no clear proofs Rizal had read or was thinking of this bookwhen he wrote his novel. But there are indications to think so. Chapter 60 ofNoll which describes the various reactions of the people after the discovery ofthe alleged San Diego uprising almdst certainly echoes it. Capitan Ti<strong>non</strong>gand his wife began to bum incriminating books, newspaper, documents:"Harmless books by unsophisticated authors thus found their way into thefire. Not even Capit4n Juan the most naive work was saved." The next phraseis filled with irony: "Yet Cousin Primitivo was right. The just suffer for thesinners?'"89

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