Immediately Mexico claimed California, as well as Texas,
Arizona and New Mexico as a portion of her empire, although the people
of California, with the exception of a handful of Mexicans, had never
shown the least desire of change of government, for the greatest number
of her settlers were Spaniards or their children who were intensely
loyal to the Crown of Spain. Here we will add that no person who held
any office of importance was any other than a Spaniard, or of purely
Spanish blood or parentage, hence missionaries, bishops, army and navy
officers, surgeons, etc. were all "children of Spain," the highest
decoration that a mixed blood could attain in the Spanish army of
California or of Mexico was that of Corporal or Sergeant. But when
Mexico gained her independence all these corporals and sergeants were
suddenly made generals by their country, Mexico; and here was clearly
seen "who was who" for all mixed bloods as well as those of purely
Indian birth, both in Mexico and California raffled around their
standard, the new Mexican flag; in this number we will only except many
of the Christian Indians, in California, who clung piteously to the
missions, and who had more of their share of suffering.
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