The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-08

the influence Of the Moorish architecture. the
main features OF the mission buildings are OF
the Romanesque type. Distinctively Roman
are the ground plan. the massive walls. aud
the prcdonlinance Of the round arch. As for
the tile roofs and befry t)wera they may be
encountered everywhere In the Villages OF old
Spain. We may here mention the interesting
fact that the buildings Of this new and mag
nifcent university at Palo Alto have been
modelled after the mission architecture.
Mr. Blackinar bears testimony to the masni-
tu,ie aud the benenceaco of the results accom-
rlishcd by the Franciscan friars in California
No doubt tho methods followed by the priest
colonists in their management Of the Indians
are open 10 some criticism. But II their proc
csses be compared with those adopted by
other missionaries In different parts Of tho
world, IT may be doubted whether more sue
cess has been attained anywhere than in Cali
furnin. The preparation for citizenship was
indeed slow and the educational means en-
ployed did not always tend toward indepen-
dence OF thought and act on the part of
tho citzens. hut tho sumo din1cnlty Is
everywhere experienced in the attempt to
civilize barbarous tribes Our own civilian
ton rests upon many centuries OF self-erolu-
ton. and an attompt to force 1t suddenly on q
race not yet entered upon evon tho pastoral
stage Oh ueEeiopNnent WusS noeus ohu Ill iai-
IRE. III dcaling with unciViiizcd trioes' CIVIL
lied nations have not given suncicnt atten.
tion to their relative stage OF progress. and
consequently have attempted to force the proc
ess Of domcstication too rapidly 1t is Mr.
Bhckmnr's conviction. based apparently upon
the experience OF tho Spanish padres in
California. that the slow development OF
Il race In the natural order through
the pastoral. agricultural. and industrial
stages is the only cirilizinG process that VIII
lead to permanent results. The natives should
be taushtto practise tho industrial arts. ana
should be inspired with desire to become
se!f-sustaining before there Is any hope OF real
culture. with this principle In Wow. we iind
the Franciscan friars teaching tho Indians
with whom they cnlie in contact. first the care
OF focks. next the processes OF agriculture,
and then the common industrial arts. 1t Is
certain that no other system has come so near
uplifting the savage races to state OF civiliza-
ton US that pursued by the priest colonists In
California We must bear in mind. too.thatw what
they accomplished was effected In very short
time. for sixty years Is but span In the record
OF civilization. One thing at all events they
did: under the supervision OF missionaries the
pioneer work OF great state was begun. On
sheep sowed the grain. harvested the crops.
planted the vineyards and orchards. and con-
structed the buildings. Indeed. every variety
OF Industry was cultivated among the neo-
phytes. and labor ana worship were their dis
cipline. When We consider that there was
only handful OF monks to organize anu
superintend the work. that they labored under
great disadvantages and received but little
substantial aid from the civil or military
authorities. we cannot but regard as
marvellous the outcome OF their occu-
patton OF California for the period OF
sixty years. 1t cannot, however. be denied
that effective as tho system OF the padres
proved wnen introduced among mo reiatiVeiy
docile natives OF the california seacoast' II
failed when applied to the treacherous
Apaches ana the warllke Moqui. IL was sys-
tenn especially adapted to sedcntary Indians
and peaceful races. IL IS OF course well unoer-
stood that the natives OF California, although
some ofthem lived in villages. were not so far
advanced socially as were the Pueblo Indians OF
New Mexico. Their social and political organ
iZatt0n was less complete tnan that OF the
Taos and Zuni. and their products OF art were
inferior An exception. perhaps. should be
made In the case ofthe ancient tribes OF santa
barbara.
~
Let US glance now at the social and political
life OF the white colonists OF California. 1t is
fact not generally known that there was here
larger percentage of pure Spanish blood than in
some OF the older provinces OF Mexico. In this
fact the coonists took great p.ide. In the
small towns the town settlers were. it is true.
old soldiers OF hybrid ancestry who had served
out their time and had received grants OF land
in payment Of past services. Tho upper class
was composed of officials and their families
On the great ranches were often to be found
men Of thigh rank in whose veins flowed the best
blood OF CASTLE. Here. then. were mingled
two classes Of people. the mongreI Mexicans
and the pure Spanish speaking two dialects
Of the Castilian language. The majority of the
colonists were kind-hcnrted and joval as is
usually the case with frontiersmen when they
are not too heavily burdened with the cares Of
life In California there was no necessity for
the excessive labor which is generally the lot
Of the pioneer The Indians did all Of the me-