History of Central America Author:Hubert Howe Bancroft Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. UNION WITH MEXICO. 1821-1822. Fibst Acts Op Guatemalan Rulers—Intrigues Of Parties—Their Evil Consequences—Oainza's Intrigues—Independence In... more » The Other Provinces—Rewards To Gainza—Troubles In Salvador—Dissen- Sions In Honduras—Local Squabbles In Nicaragua—Predilection For Imperialism—Costa Rica Neutral—Condition Of Various Sections—Seceding Districts Of Guatemala—Perplexities Of The Junta Consultiva—Iturbidb's Devices—Military Pressure—His Proposals Accepted—Illegal Annexation—Protests And Resist- Ance—war Begins. Among the first acts of the junta at Guatemala was the promotion of two officers who were supposed to be reliable supporters of the late movement.1 Both E roved themselves afterward recreant to their pledges, y their hostility to the republican cause. The cacos were republicans. They strove to rid the country of the antiquated errors and practices, including in their plans the abolishment of the privileges of the clergy, and the restriction of their power, which had been a constant source of injury to the people at large. They wanted the adoption of democratic institutions, in order to place the masses on the level heretofore occupied only by the ruling class. They succeeded in prevailing on the people to take an interest and a direct intervention in public affairs. Barrundia, Molina, and Cdrdoba led them to the gal- 1 They were Lorenzo Romafia, who was made colonel of the battalion of regulars, superseding the Spaniard rY-lix Lagrava, and Manuel Arzii, who obtained the command of the artillery, with tho same rank. J/arurf, Bom. Hilt. Cent, Am., L 28. PAETY STRIFE. 43 leries of the junta chamber to witness its acts, and even take part in its deliberations.11 They attacked Valle lor the clause he inserted in the acta of the 15th, to ...« less