Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/327

Rh to a certain amount with which to found new missions. There are extant the replies of only three friars, two of whom opposed and one approved the proposition.

At the end of December Duran prepared — probably for use in Mexico, with a view to prevent a renewal of Echeandía's original scheme, now that Victoria had fallen — a series of commentaries on the decree of January. It was one of the ablest documents that was ever written by a friar in California, but one which cannot be presented en résumé, and much too long for literal reproduction. On the decree, article by article, Padre Narciso expends the full force of his talent and learning, with not infrequent volleys of wit, sarcasm, ridicule, and bitter denunciation. Not a weak spot, and there were many, is overlooked, and not a weapon is neglected. In the paper there is much of sound argument, shrewd special pleading, evasion of real issues, and Franciscan prejudice, but little misrepresentation of facts. The standard position of all missionaries, that the Indians were absolute owners of the soil and all the mission property, but that they were still children requiring parental control, and that the friars alone were qualified to exercise that control, was presented over and over in a great variety of ingenious forms. Echeandía's lack of authority to make the changes was insisted on, as were many legal