Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/370

352 suggested it first himself, but in August, after reflection, changed his opinion, basing his opposition on the governor's lack of authority to make such an innovation on the Mexican laws against the foundation of any obras piadosas whatever, on the animosity that would be felt against the padres so long as they administered any property, on the insufficiency of the means proposed, and on the injustice of freeing the gente de razon from all responsibility for the support of religion. On account of this opposition or of Figueroa's early death, the scheme was carried no further. From the Fernandinos we hear nothing; and their silence may indicate that in the south secularization was proving more or less satisfactory. In the north, however there were complaints of demoralization among the Indians, and of other difficulties, which prompted Prefect García Diego to suggest certain modifications of the rules, not adopted so far as can be known.