The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-18

Manila, r. l., June 17.-June nine
teenth lis the birthday OF the greatest
parsonage of the Malayan race Or.
Jose Rial, the Filipino patriot
Since the moment OF his dramatic
execution by the Spanish in Manila
on December 80. 1895, his memory
has been reversed as the national hero
OF the Philippine Islands.
The real undoing OF Spanish rule
in the Philippines began with Rlzafs
writings. when even as child at
school, he indited verses passionate
with love for country. Rial appear
ed at time when the government
of his country was a government or
men and not OF law. He early saw
the highhanded methods OF colonial
Spain. He early witnessed deeds cf
oppression that sent shafts of grief
into his poet soul. And he early dedi-
Gated his life to the liberation OF his
land adored."
Rizafs life was a hostage to tyranny
and his example imm ortalized him In
the hearts OF his countrymen He
taught them that they had a father
land which was not Spain. He made
articulate the stif1ed grievances of the
voiceless multitude.
For that he was executed by Spain.
But the death is one of those epochal
dramas of history which have in
spired peoples and made national sem
timent a real and living force. Philip
pine nationalism has it's rootage in the
writings OF this hero. The challenge
! flung against Spain in 1895 was the
swee ping manifestation of the national
| spirit of the race made conscious or
itself by the ringin stones OF the
leader. The mendacious institutions
OF the day were annihIated; the
ground was cleared for a modern
scheme of government; and a repuh-
lie was instituted clothed with all the
requisites Of a genuine dem ocracy.
There were no deeds OF valor in the
battlefield that can be cited to Rzals
credit His only weapon was the pen.
| But "all he was. was patriotism,
| all he thought was patriotic"
| Rial was born in Calamba, pro-
vince of La Laguna, about three
hours journey from Manila, on June
| 10. 1861 His father was Francisco
! Marcado who often used to descent
| with pride on the intellectual pro-
gress Of his son at the Jesuits' school
| at Manila who was winning prizes
| in literary contests. Before the boy
was fourteen years of age he wrote a
| melodrama in verse entitled "Junto al
| Pasig" l"Beside the Pasig River"1 :,
| which was performed in public and
we'll received. He could paint. was In
| terested in clay mod cling and was an
| expert in carving. At age OF twenty
! one. he went to Spain and entered
| the Maurld uhlVersity' Where ne
graduated as DOCTOR OF meolcine aho
philosophy. he later supplemented
| ms studies In Parls, brussels Lon
doh. ana al several seats OF learning
IN Germany. IL was IN Europe ina.
| ne ACQUIRED a clearer conceptlon OIL
the rignts OF humanity. ~ was tnere
mat ne hrooded on pians ny wnfch
ms country couid De placed on leVel
OF material and moral prosperity with
! otners-
| ne stuoied the causes OF ms couh-
| uys unnappiness, ana 10 pring 1nose
+! causes nome 10 the people ne Wrote
ana puoiisned in Germany IN the
! spanish language. a DOCK whlch ne
| en'i'ieo Non Me ranger IL Is
satiricai mover exposing the inner NE.
| tne arrogance ana the despotsn or
tne irairs IN their treatment OF .ne
! fllpiho natives Ihroueh one OF ms
| characters. the ola philosopher ne
SAID IN TINS novel that ne was not
| wrlune TOR ms own eereatlon out TOT
coming instructed seherauon' nc
wanted 10 sho" that not all were
asleep IN the night OF our Iere-
1a.ners.
Inc mover was supplemented IN 1881
oy anotner book IN the form or
romance enti.ieo n Fliiousterismo.