Part Six of Six*. Part Five can be found here. Source: History of San Diego by William E Smythe. All quotes are from this book.
Transcribed by John Lawrence / From the original San Diego Free Press, circa 1969.
Las festividades del se gundo centenario de California se iniciaron en la ciudad de San Diego con toda la pompa y alboroto disponibles. El proposito de dichas festividades se supone que es el de con memorar la fundacion de California en San Diego. Aquel historico evento fue efectuado por Fray Junípero en 1769.
Eso fue por allí, cuando el territorio de Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, nuevo México, Texas, y Utah eran a un parte de Mexico. Sin embargo en 1846 un tal Capitan John C. Frémont se encontraba en California al mando de una al “expedicion de exploracion”. Con tales fines hacía y a tiempo que se encontraba construyendo guarniciones y patrullando, la region. Asu debido tiempo, o sea al estallar la “guerra” entre Estados Unidos y México, el explorador Frémont y sus expedicionarios llevaron a cabo la “Bear Flag Revolution” con la diligente asistencia de los residentes Norteamericanos. Y fue así como California vino a ser propiedad de los Estados Unidos.
Mas ni modo. Los tiempos han cambiada y son ahora los gabachas los que parten el queso. Quizas sea por eso que en los programas iniciales, de la celebracion predominaban cosas como la banda musica Marino-militar. Y el sonido del banjo se oia mas que la guitarra Espanola, Será quizás porque el espíritu patriotíco Norteamericano se exalta más con los acordes de la banda Marina, por traer recuerdos de la ocupacion Naval de Monterey, California, durante la “Bear Flag Revolution”. O quizás serár porque las notas del banjo traen recuerdos de la “fiebre del oro” la cual sirvió para poblar California con gabachos en 1849. Tan efectivo fue el proyecto que en 1850 ya habia suficientes de ellos como para dar a California el numero requerido para su incorporacion la Union American como un estado hecho y derecho.
En fin, a menos que la historia nos falle el ambiente de las fiestas de centenario parece estar honrando la incorporacion de California en vez de su fundacion. Pues el “Yankee Doodle”, “Dixie”,”California Here I Come”, y “Anchors Away” no tienen nada que ver con la fundacion de California.
Total… Vamos a festijar a Fray Junípero Serra o a Capitán John C. Frémont?
English translation by John Lawrence
The festivities celebrating the second centenary of California began in San Diego with all the pomp and fuss available. The purpose of these celebrations is supposed to commemorate the founding of California in San Diego. That historic event was staged in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra.
At that time the territories of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah were a part of Mexico. However, in 1846 Captain John C. Frémont was in California at the command of a “scouting expedition”. Since that time he had garrisons and patrols in the region. In due time, i.e. the outbreak of the “war” between the US and Mexico, Frémont’s explorers and expeditions carried out the “Bear Flag Revolution” with the diligent assistance of US residents. And that’s how California became the property of the United States.
But in any event, times have changed and gringos are now the Big Cheese. Maybe that’s why in the initial programs of celebration we had things like “Marine military band music,” where the sound of the banjo is heard but not the Spanish guitar. This is perhaps because the American patriotic spirit is exalted by the chords of the Navy band which brings back memories of the Naval occupation of Monterey, California, during the “Bear Flag Revolution.” Or maybe it will be banjo notes that bring back memories of the “gold rush” which served to populate California with gringos in 1849. So effective was the project that in 1850 there were already enough of them to give California the number required for incorporation in the American Union as a full-fledged state.
In short, unless history fails us, the atmosphere of the centenary celebrations seems to be honoring the incorporation of California instead of its foundation. For the “Yankee Doodle,” ” Dixie,” “California Here I Come ” and “Anchors Away ” have nothing to do with the founding of California.
In conclusion … Should we celebrate Father Junipero Serra or Captain John C. Frémont?
*Editor’s note: Originally, there were thought to be seven articles in this series; please note, there are only six.
John Lawrence
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