Note 7 — Chapter XV · THE KATIPUNAN

It appears now that the name of Rizal was used as an honorary president of this society,7 but wholly without his authority or even knowledge. For this unwarranted use Bonifacio was much to blame. It is likely that he found at first some difficulty in securing recruits and took advantage of Rizal’s great popularity. Either so, or what seems more probable to us, he expected to have Rizal’s support for the Katipunan when it should have grown to formidable size. In either case, the course was inexcusable. But we are to remember that Bonifacio, warring against the most unprincipled and ruthless of powers, believed he was justified in using any weapons that came to his hand.