here should not
only be a waste of the fruit obtained in so long a time and by so
great constancy; but also that, scorning and repelling for the future
a cooperation as efficacious as economical, the attempt should be
made purposely to destroy the royal regulator, the principal wheel
of this machine. Such is, notwithstanding, the deplorable upheaval
of ideas that has conduced in these latter times to the adoption
of regulations diametrically opposed to the public interest, under
pretext of restraining the excessive authority of the parish priests.

"The superior government does not content itself with having
despoiled the ministers of the power of themselves prescribing
certain corrective punishments--which although of slight importance,
contributed infinitely, when applied with discretion, to strengthen
their predominance, and consequently that of the sovereign. But,
in order more effectively to exclude them from and deprive them of
all intervention in civil administration, the attempt has been made
directly to destroy their influence, by arousing the distrust of
the Indian, and by separating, when possible, the latter from their
side. In proof of this, and so that my statement may not be taken as
an exaggeration, it is sufficient to cite substantially two notable
measures which, by their tendency, were obviously intended to weaken
the influence and good reputation of the spiritual administrators.

"By one measure it is decreed that, for the purpose of preventing
the abuses and notorious maladministration of the fund of the saints
(especially attached to the cost of the festivals and the worship
of each parish, formed from the principal and medium parishes--which
are contributed by each individual tributario for that purpose, and
are collected and administered privately by the cura), it should
thereafter be kept in a box with three keys, one of which was to
be in the possession of the alcalde-mayor, another in that of the
gobernadorcillo of the respective village, and the other in that of
the parish priest. By the other measure, it is declared, as a general
point, that the Indian who is or has recently been employed in the
domestic service of the parish priest is disqualified for being chosen
to any office of justice.

"It is surely superfluous to make comments upon measures of such
a nature, and which so clearly speak for themselves. The only thing
that ought to be said is, that means could not more intemperately h