There was much friction between him and the Spanish officials; he complained bitterly to the home government of the insolence and intrigues of the Spanish party.

He also portrayed in scathing terms the gross corruption of the Spanish authorities.

As to this corruption he was borne out by the American observers.

Almost every high Spanish official was guilty of peculation at the expense of the government, and of bribe-taking at the expense of the citizens.
The Creoles not Ill-Satisfied with it.
Nevertheless the Creoles were far from ill-satisfied with Spanish rule.
They were not accustomed to self-government, and did not demand it; and they cared very little for the fact that their superiors made money improperly.

If they paid due deference to their lay and clerical rulers they were little interfered with; and they were in full accord with the governing classes concerning most questions, both of principle or lack of principle, and of prejudice.