A constant espionage was maintained by the police by way of intimidation. Informers and spies seemed omnipresent. Jose Bustamente, of Guerra, the newly-appointed captain-general, adopted stringent measures to stem the rising tide of insurrection. No intelligent native was free from suspicion which frequently resulted in his imprisonment or exile. A long memorial sent to the Spanish Cortes setting forth the causes of discontent resulted in the adoption of an organic code which promised reform and for a few months had a beneficial effect.
It was on the 15th of September, 1810, that the patriot-priest Hidalgo issued his famous _pronunciamento_ declaring the sovereignty of Spain at an end in Mexico. The news of his success again stimulated the germs of independence in Guatemala and they began to germinate in secret among the more intelligent of both Creoles and natives. The government used every means to keep the people in ignorance of the real events in Mexico and South America and spread reports of great government successes in putting down the insurrections. Restiveness and despair fell upon many and the hopes of a better government by Spain evaporated. Men were unwilling to live longer under such despotism, and they began to look upon even death as a relief.
In 1811, _pronunciamentos_ began to appear in a number of cities in the Kingdom of Guatemala, and on November 5th of that year the first blow was struck for freedom by the capture of several thousand muskets and a large sum of money in the Salvador treasury. The Archbishop granted eighty days indulgences for those not participating in the revolutionary movements, but this promise had little effect among the thinking classes. The masses, on the other hand, were in a degraded condition, socially, intellectually and morally, and controlled by an ignorant fanaticism. The most absurd doctrines and miracles were implicitly believed in, and fealty to the sovereigns, so they were taught, was a high virtue.
Spain was practically helpless because of her troubles in Mexico and South America where formidable revolutions were in progress. Because of this no large armies were sent and there was no great war for independence. During the years from 1811 to 1821, however, there were thousands of victims to the cause of independence throughout all of Central America and Chiapas—men who sacrificed life, liberty and freedom. Even if there were no great bloody fields of carnage or brilliant feats of arms, as in Mexico, there were tragedies in abundance, and the lives sacrificed upon the sacred altar of patriotism were as precious as those slain in battle in other countries. The Betlen conspiracy, in 1813, led by a patriotic priest, gained considerable headway, but the conspirators soon found themselves in prison through a betrayal of their plans. In 1814, a national constitution was proclaimed by Spain through her representative, Bustamente, but few believed that it was in good faith. The desire for separation from the galling yoke of Spain had taken too strong a hold to be appeased by a little sop.