ethodist Episcopalians, 37,682
Presbyterians, 26,390 Congregationalists, 24,801 Baptists, 21,317
Protestant Episcopalians, 11,371 Lutherans, and 9,110 members of
Eastern Orthodox churches. A peculiar feature in the population
statistics of California is the predominance of males, which in 1900 was
156,009; the Asiatic element accounts for a third of this number. Since
1885 the eight counties south of the Tehachapi Range, which are known
collectively and specifically as Southern California have greatly
advanced in population. In 1880 their population was 7.3, in 1890 17.2,
and in 1900 20.1% of the total population of the state. The initial
impulse to this increase was the beginning of the "fruit epoch" in these
counties, combined with a railway "rate-war" following the completion to
the coast in 1885 of the Santa Fe, and an extraordinary land boom
prevailing from 1886 to 1888. The conjuncture of circumstances, and the
immigration it induced, were unusual. The growth of the South, as of the
rest of the state, has been continuous and steady.

The Indians were prominent in early Californian history, but their
progress toward their present insignificance began far back in the
Spanish period. It proceeded much more rapidly after the restraining
influence of the missions was removed, leaving them free to revert to
savagery; and the downward progress of the race was fearfully
accelerated during the mining period, when they were abused, depraved,
and in large numbers killed. There have been no Indian wars in
California's annals, but many butcheries. The natives have declined
exceedingly in number since 1830, in 1900 numbering 15,377. They have
always been mild-tempered, low, and unintelligent, and are to-day a poor
and miserable race. They are all called "Digger Indians"
indiscriminately, although divided by a multiplicity of tongues.

_Government and Institutions._--In the matter of constitution-making
California has been conservative, having had only two between 1849 and
1910. The first was framed by a convention at Monterey in 1849, and
ratified by the people and proclaimed by the United States military
governor in the same year. The present constitution, framed by a
convention in 1878-1879, came into full effect in 1880, and was
subsequently amended. It was the work of the labour party, passed at a
time of high discontent, and goes at great length into the details of
government, as was demanded by the state of public opinio