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 THE RE VOL UTIONAR Y PERIOD 1 39 they had no well organized political institutions. More than all, the young republics had large popula- tions of half-civilized natives, of ignorant classes un- fitted for exercising the privileges and responsibili- ties of the elective franchise. They might not so soon have been led into a war for independence, if the subjugation of Spain by Bonaparte, and the unsettled condition of the government at home which followed, had not forced them to take steps for their own preservation and security. Their sympathies were with Spain and bitterly against France ; they were still loyal to Ferdinand ; they formed juntas in the name of Ferdinand, but they denied the authority of the regency of Cadiz and of the juntas of Spain ; they offered assistance, and did afford aid in the war against France. Almost without complaint, they permitted Spain to impoverish the colonies to carry on her wars. But these measures undertaken primarily for relief excited the bitterest antagonism of the governing body of Spain, of Spanish rulers, of the Cadiz monopolists, of Spaniards in America, and greatly increased also the jealousy and unfriendly feelings which had long existed between the native Spanish-Americans, 5r Cre- oles, and the European Spaniards in America. War was at first rather with the arrogant and corrupt vice- roys and their Spanish sympathizers, than with Spain herself; the opposition was rather to the oppressive burdens and obnoxious officials than to the principle of dependence. But the measures immediately adopted in Spain to crush all efforts at amelioration, to put down what was called a rebellion, to throttle the first efforts to obtain "home rule" or a fair share in the government and offices, and these too by the most cruel and barbarous measures known in history, soon alien- ated the colonies from the mother country and filled