Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-08

A majority of the quarrels between
Northern and Southern California, since
its occupation by Europeans 120 years
ago, of all which complete history fol-
lows, have been based on conflicting in
terests which grew out of the diverse
climates and interests of the two Sec
tions.
The following accounts of the sec
tional troubles between Northern and
Southern California, in Spanish and
Mexican times, is wholly drawn from
the histories of H. H. Bancroft, who
more than any other man has had &C.
cess to their archives. 1t remains to be
seen how much peTusal of the archives
themselves will strengthen the position
of the southern portion of the state.
Briefly stated: The difference OF eli
mate and products north and south of
natures great dividing line, the Tehach-
cpl mountains, naturally did, as it still
does, produce diverse interests. Monte
rey and Los Angeles could never agree.
First, it was a contest of the friars Of
the college of San Fernando and those
of the college of Orizaba. Their diverse
interests were manifested in the civil
government, and two distinct parties
arose-the arribehos upper or northern
people) and the abajefios dover or
southern people), who maintained a
constant warfare till American occu-
patton.
THE FRIARs' FIGHT.
The first appearance of any sectional
troubles in California was among the
missionaries as early as 1S10-11. By
that time nineteen missions had been
established from San Diego to San Fran
cisco. Unable to get a sufficient num-
Der of missionaries, the friars of the col
lege of San Fernando offered to cede
one-half of the Alta California missions
to the college of Orizaba on the condi-
ton that the latter college would furnish
the necessary supply. 70 this psoposi-
ton the Orizaba college agreed, and
the cession was made in 1917.
Here came in the first d.
vision of the territory of what now con-
stitutes the American state of California;
and, singularly enough, it was made in
natare's great dividing line-the
Tehachepi mountains. The San Fer
nando college retained the missions of
San Carlos, San Antonio, San Luis
Obispo, San Francisco, Santa Clara,
Santa Cruz, Soledad, San jose, San
Juan Bautista and San Miguel. The
Orizaba college was to have the missions
of San Diego, San Gabriel. San Juan
Capistrano, San Buenaventura, Santa
Barbara, Purissima, San Fernando Rey,
San Luis Rey and Santa Ynez.
There was delay, however, of some
two years by the Orizaba college in send
ing missionaries, and the Fernando
friars still held possession. The storm
came in 1919 in the shape of vigorous
protest from the friars of the
missions south of Purissima in Santa
Barbara county. They spoke OF the ten
northern missions as worthless skele-
TONS" Their protest was effectual, as
it resulted in stay of proceedings.
They offered, however, the Orizaba col
lege the northern missions, preferring to
keep others, for the reasons that the
southern establishments are the richest
and most desirable in respect of climate,
MONDAY sun!'' bancroft, CAL, 409.)
They retained their possessions, and
thus in the first contest between the
northern citrus belt and southern Cali
fornia the latter was triumphant. The
San Fernandefio friars, who had been
here, and had looked the ground all over
from San Diego to Shasta, decided that
southern California is the better, and
when it became necessary to
make a division, they selected
the land of the orange instead Of gold,
and we of the south think that wisdom
ruled in their decisions.
NORTHERN VS.. SOUTHERN POLITICS.
The first general election in Alta Cal
ifornia was ordered April II, 1922. At
each mission the native alcaldes and
regidores were to choose, with the
padres advice" a district elector. This
being done, the electors met at their re-
spective capitals and chose the following
provincial electors
l. Francisco Castro, representing San
Francisco county, San Jose and Santa
Cruz.
2. Jose Aruz, representing Monterey
and six northern missions.
3. Francisco Ortega of Santa Barbara.
4. Jose Palomares of Los Angeles.
5. Ygnacio Lopez of San Diego.
These five provincial electors met May
81, 1922, ut Monterey, with Governor
Sofa and Lieutenants Estrada, Estudillo
and Gomez. They elected Sofa as dep
protest of the friars, who wanted Guerra,
and Captain Argnello was elected sub
stitute.
The district electors again met at
Monterey, this time on November 8,
1922, in obedience to the summons OF
Agustin Fernandez, the special agent of
Emperor Yturbide, of Mexico. They
elected themselves members of the pro-
vincial diputacion or legislature in the
following order OF seniority: Aruz, OF
Monterey; Ortega, OF Santa Barbara
Castro, of San Francisco; Palomares, OF
Los Angeles; and Carlos Castro, of San
Diego, who had been substituted as the
fifth vocal or voter for Lopez, who, while
he was good politician, could not read.
Jose Antonio Carrillo was added as a
sixth vocal, and Antonio Castro and
Jose Castro were named as substitutes.
Governor Sofa was president ex-officio
of the legislature and Francisco de Haro
was secretary. All took the oath of
Office and were installed the same day.
Father Peyras celebrated mass and
preached a sermon and there was a
parade of the military.
1t is not singular that almost the
first proceedings of this legislature
initiated the sectional troubles between
Northern and Southern California,
whose political interests were then, as
L L