To promote primary instruction, to end the interference of the friars in the control of education, to give better salaries to both men and women teachers. To divide civil appointments equally between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. To cleanse the administration of justice. To establish in capitals of more than 16,000 inhabitants schools of arts and crafts. These are my chief reforms. Once established in the right spirit, the Philippines would be the happiest country in the world. Carnicero. Friend Rizal, these reforms of yours do not seem to me at all bad; but you seem to forget that the friars have as much influence in Madrid as in Manila, and for this reason it would be practically impossible at this time to put these changes into effect. Rizal. Do not think so. The influence of the friars is waning in all parts of the world. I am bold enough to assure you that wherever a government, even a little advanced, would give a free hand to five or six honest and patriotic men, the power of the friars would disappear. In Madrid it is perfectly well known what the friars are doing here. So true is this that in the first interview I had with Pi y Linares Rivas, when he was a member of the Liberal party of Spain, he told me of things in this country of which, although I was born here, I had been in ignorance. I can cite to you many other instances of men in Spain that have exact data on the lives and characters of the friars in the Philippines. These gentlemen said to me: “The bad governments that in Spain are following one another are blamed for many abuses that in reality are wrought by the religious corporations. On the day when things change we shall not forget the real offenders.” Excuse me for saying this to you, but the friars are not wanted in the Philippines. Always they become more repugnant and hateful as always they interfere the more in conditions and affairs that do not belong to them. [185] Where lay the sedition that Rizal plotted is evident from this report, and equally evident what power pulled the strings behind puppet king and manikin premier.