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Show RIZAL, FILIRINpARTYR, r WROTE REMARKABLE POEM i By FORMER CONGRESSMAN CLYDE H. TAVENNER. y '"' ss &iv Every year June 19 Is celebrated by Filipinos as the anniversary of the birthday of the Filipino martyr, Dr. Jose Rlznl, regarded as the grentest man the Malay race has produced. Rlzal, who spoke seven languages and was a cultured and much traveled man (on one occasion he traveled across the United States), earned the enmity of Spanish governors in the Philippines by protesting against the oppression of the Filipino people. As a boy he had witnessed scenes that sent shafts of grief into his poet soul, and he early dedicated his life to the liberation of his "land adored." At the risk of his life, nnd at the ' sacrifice of his career, friends and " loved ones, he became the spokesman M the stilled grievances of the voiceless voice-less multitude, and thus became "the living indictment of Spain's wretched colonial system." Rizal could have saved his life, as he had been warned by friends not to return to the islands. He could not be dissuaded, but before returning to Manila left a letter with a friend In Hongkong to be opened after hla death, In which he wrote: "Gladly do I go to expose myself to peril, not as any expiation of misdeed (for In this matter I believe myself guiltless of DR. JOSE RIZAL, The Filipino Patriot w any), but to complete my work and myself offer the example of which I have always preached. A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold fast to every Idea which I have advanced ad-vanced as to the condition and future of our country, and shall willingly die for It I hold duties of conscience above all else. Besides I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for duty and principles." prin-ciples." While Rizal was In Europe working for Philippine reforms, the Spanish governor-general, to Indirectly punish Rizal, carried on a relentless persecution persecu-tion of his parents and relatives in the Philippines, driving them Into exile. To his parents Rlzal left a second letter, saying: "Should fate go against me, you will understand that I shall die lmppy In the thought that my death will end all your troubles. - Return to our country and may you be happy in It. Till the last moment of my life I shall be thinking of you and wishing you all good fortune and happiness." Spain had meanwhile determined on having Rlzal's life, foolishly thinking that If his voice was stilled agitation for the reforms he championed would end. Illzal was arrested on a trumped up charge of treason and condemned to death. But no sooner had the firing squad completed Its work than tt teachings of Rlzal almost Instantaneously became the passionate Inspiration of the whole Filipino race. His unjust execution had simply transferred the Intense patriotism of Rlzal to the breasts of an entire nation of people. The Philippine nationalism of today dates from the sunshiny morning of December 80, 1800, when Rizal was led forth from his prison to willingly give, as he himself said, his life for his country's redemption. While touring in the Philippines recently the conviction was ever present In my mind, and I could not throw It off, that the real Inspiration as well as the leadership of the Filipino people In their present desire for Independence Is the spirit of Jose Rlzal. , The memory of Rizal and the desire for Independence Inde-pendence seem to be synonymous In the mind of the average Filipino. Rizal Is the Inspiration of all classes, of old and young, of all the people; he Is not dead, for his spirit Is everywhere In that beautiful land. His picture pic-ture adorns the homes of the poorest families; streets, avenues and cities are named In his honor, whle his statue stands In the parks and public squares. In life Rlzal was a beautiful character, kind nnd considerate of all, gladly giving his life for his country, and In memory he has become the national Idol. With such a spirit as its national inspiration the Philippines can not help but reach heights now not dreamed of. Wliile awaiting death In his cell during his last night on earth Rlzal wrote 1 remarkable poem, "My Last Farewell." lie secreted the manuscript In an alcohol cooking lamp, where it was found after his execution. It follows: MY LAST FAREWELL. By DR. JOSE RIZAL. ' ; " Let (he sun draw Its vapors up to tho sky, And heavenward in purity hcar my tardy protest : Let some kind soul o'er my untimely fate try. And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on hlnh. From tlipt.. o my country, that In God I may rest. Pray for all thoe tlmt Ir. pious have died, For all wlio have siii'tui-cd tho unimasur'd pain ; For oil'- mothers that bitterly their woca have cried, For wHita's and orphans, for captives by torture tried; And then for tliv:-elf that redemption thou may'st gain. And when the dark niKht wraps the graveyard around, With oniy the dead in their virril to see; Break not n,y repose or the mystery profound, And perchance thou may'st hear a sad hymn resound; p "Ti I, O my country, raising a song unto thee. When even my grave is remembered no more, Unmark'd by never a cross or a stone; Let the plow sweep through It, the spade turn it o'er, That my ashes may carpet thy earthly lioor, Before into nothingness at last they ar flown. Then will oblivion bring me no care. As over thy vales and plains I sweep. Throbbing and cleansed In thy space and air. With color and light, with song and lament I fare. Ever repeating the faith that I keep. My fatherland adored, that sadness to my sorrow lends, Beloved Fiiipinas, hear now my last pood bye. I give thee all: parents and kindred and Farewell, dear fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd, Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lout; Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best, And were it brighter, fresher or more blest Still would I give It thee, nor count the cost. On the field of battle, 'midst the frenzy of flKht. Others have given their lives without doubt or heed; The place matters notcypress or laurel or lily white. Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's martyr-dom's plight, 'Tls ever the satno. to serve our home and country's need. ( rile just when I see the dawn breik Through the gioom of niht, to herald the day And If color Is lacking my blood thou shall lake. Tour'd out at need for thy dear sake, To dye with Its crimson thy waking ray. My dreams, when life first opened to me, My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high. Were to see thy loved face, O gem at the I Orient sea, From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free; No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye. Dream of my life, my living and burning desire, All hall! cries the soul that is now to take flight; AH hall! And sweet it is for thee to expire! To die for thy sake that thou may'st aspire; And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night. If over my grave some day thou seest grow In the grassy sod, a humble flower, T'raw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so. While I may feel on my brow In the cold tomb below The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm flower. Let the moon beam over me soft and serene, 1 Let the dawn shed over me Its radiant 1 dishes, I Let the wind with sad lament over me 1 keen; ! And If on my cross a bird should be Been, I Let it thrill there its hymn of peace to my I ashes. irienas; For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends. Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on hleh. Farewell, father and mother and brothers. dear friends of the fireside! Thankful ye should be for me that I rest at the end of the long day. Farewell, sweet, from the stranger's land, my Joy and my comrade! Farewell, dear ones, farewell! To die Is to rest from our labors I |
