Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/497

Rh either section. Alvarado was personally popular in both sections. The padres Fernandinos in charge of the southern missions were disposed rather to favor than oppose the change. El sur, as fully as el norte, had felt the effects of Mexican oppression and neglect, real or imaginary. The benefits, if any, to be derived from independence could be nowise sectional. Other reasons for southern opposition must be sought.

A strong sectional feeling had been in process of development since 1825, when Echeandía, charmed with southern climate and southern ladies, had seriously wounded the pride of Monterey, by fixing his residence at San Diego. Most representatives to congress had been from the south, which was deemed a slight to northern talent; but on the other hand, Argüello and Castro had ruled as governors, while Pico and Estudillo had failed to secure recognition. Custom-house quarrels had waxed hot between San Diego and Monterey, to the advantage of the latter; but the southern pueblo had gone far ahead of San José in population, even gaining the rank of city. In the struggle for the capital, Los Angeles had gained the victory, on paper, which caused a burst of indignation in the north; but Monterey had thus far evaded a delivery of the spoils, and the Angelinos were furious. A division of the missions between the friars of two colleges had a slight tendency to widen the breach.

The first feeling on hearing what had happened was one of surprise and of timidity. Yet the people were not more timid than the arribeños, but their courage had not, like that of the others, been braced up by the excitement of personal participation in stirring events or by the eloquence of popular leaders. Soon, however, there was developed in the minds of the southerners a still more potent sentiment, to the effect that the revolution had been the work of northern men, and that they would not only monopolize the glory and prestige arising from the achievement, putting on airs of superiority, but would probably claim