POPULAR FEELING IN CENTRAL AMERICA—EFFECT OF EVENTS IN SPAIN—RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN EQUALITY—REPRESENTATION IN THE SPANISH CÓRTES—DELUSIVE REFORMS—END OF SARAVIA'S RULE—PRESIDENT JOSÉ BUSTAMANTE—HIS DESPOTIC COURSE—DEMANDS IN THE CÓRTES—CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES—OFFICIAL HOSTILITY—CAMPAIGN IN OAJACA—REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN SALVADOR—WAR IN NICARAGUA—CONSPIRACY IN GUATEMALA—TREATMENT OF THE INSURGENTS—DISRESPECT TO THE DIPUTACION—THE CONSTITUTION REVOKED—ROYAL DECREES. The opening century was pregnant with important events both in Europe and America. By 1808 affairs in Spain culminated in the French emperor's detention of the king and other members of the royal family at Bayonne, where he forced them finally to resign in his favor their rights to the Spanish crown. The circle surrounding the captain-general, audiencia, and archbishop of Guatemala was made up, not only of European Spaniards, but of Guatemalans belonging to the so-called noble families. Popular displeasure was manifested both against the Spaniards and against the provincial aristocracy.[I-1] The oligarchy was hated throughout the province of Guatemala proper, and still more in the other provinces of the presidency. However, when the news of Napoleon's usurpation reached America, it caused a strong revulsion of feeling in Central America, as well as elsewhere in the Spanish dominions, even among the large class which had hitherto secretly fostered a warm desire for independent national existence. Creoles of pure Spanish descent, though yearning to be free from the old thraldom, could not bring themselves to discard the country which gave them blood, religion, and civilization. As to the educated Indians, who were also among the wishers for independence, like all of their race, they looked up to the ruling power with reverence and fear. Thus arose a struggle between the old veneration and the love of freedom; a struggle which was to last in Central America a few years longer, though the people were becoming more and more impatient, while leaning to the side of independent nationality. Circumstances seemed to demand that the old connection should not be ruptured till 1821, when decisive results in New Spain brought on the final crisis here. When the news of Napoleon's acts of violence and usurpations reached Guatemala, popular loyalty was aroused, and showed itself in various ways. Manifestations by the authorities, expressive of fealty to the mother country and the royal family, met with an apparently hearty response from the people.