Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-09


Hubert Howe Bancroft, in lis recent first
volume Of California history, prctaccS it
with this expression The past 81 Cali
fornia. as a whole and in each successive
phase. furnishes Il record not cNce.leI
either in variety or interest by that 81 any
New World province From thetimc twas
Il mere field Of cpsmographic conjecture It's
position has drawn upon itself . liberal
share Of the worlds notice. The period Of
Spanish occupation, OF Splritua! conquest
and mission Development growing out "I
Franciscan effort. OF quiet pastoral !ilcWiti
its social monotony, is a fascinating
subject that in no par: Of America can b"
studied more advanJagcOuslY than here.
Even the miniature struggles between
church and state, tie political cor
trovcr,ies of the Mexican regime the
pav ut war and ..atc-crltt. are fail OF inter
est 10 the reader who can loTscs lie nIe2gcr
outcome. on tna ocean A. on great mar
itimc highway. California was visited by
explorers from all parts OF ,he world.
over the mountains presently
came adventurous pIth-iinderS, followed
by swarm Of Augio-SaN"0 immigrants,
to seek homes hy the Pacific; and
their experiences on the overland
way. with the disScnSiOnS and hihuS-
terings that followed their coming. from
the Graham affair To- the B2ar-tiag re-
volt. furnish matter for u nlrrativcnCt want
ing in dramatic interest Then came the
conquest. the change of flag, and the inter
rtgnum Of military rule under the United
states closely followed by the crowuin-
excitement OF all, the discovery Of gold-
an event that not oaly made California ia
nous among the nations hut impaired II
new interest To the country past The
gold mines with their immense yield. the
anomalous social conditions and develop
mcnts of the flash times the committees
of vigilance aud other strange phenomena,
for wears permitted no relaxation of the
worlds interest. And thcn dawued the
latest epoch Of industrial progress, of aGri-
cultural wealth, Of trauscontinental rail
ways, of great towns on the Pacific; an
epoch that in a measure places California
side by side with the older States in Il ca
rccr of progress and prosperity
TIE STORY OF THE ADMISSION.
When James X Poll! in 1915 came 20 the
Presidency his administration had in view
the annexation of the territory we know rs
California Sufficient Americans were upon
its lands and had visited its shores to report
the GcSirabilitv Of such acquisition There
was reason to believe that both England and
France coveted the prile: iudec,i, volnmcs
lQu bccu NIitNHli AZ forward inc SEIZURE
of the land by either nation rs against the
United States. The Mexican system was
weak, temporizing, afforded the people NJ
protection, was non-pgogresSive and gov-
crned from point too distant. Larkin.
the American Consul at Monterey very
adroi;lv managed to favor American acqui-
sition. But Fremont raShly overturned his
plans to win the friendship of the native
Californians to the United States, 10y defy
ing local authorities ON his entry with an
exploring party. and the result was that an
assault was made upon him by an armed
official force. but no conflict enSued. Amer
leans from that time fell into disfavor.
Soon after the Americans on the borders of
what is now Sonoma county revo!ted, Ere
mont having suddenly returned from Ore
gon with his force, and giving the move
ment support and aid June Ii,
1916, they seized the Mexican town