River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-11
Judge Gco6rich's Chrisioplur CoI-
Ismbus Reviewed.
LFrom Do ChIeago frlLlme. ]

from the Chicago tribune
The world, which has for centurie,
I been trained to regard Chris Gopher Col.
umbus as one Of its grandest heroes
to admire his brave, original and dar.
ing genius to reverence his piety. pa.
thence and courage and to pity his un.
1 merlted trials, sorrows and reverses, !.
now called upon by an audacious and
/ hitherto unknown author to uproot and
cast ont every rudiment Of its faith in
the name, the goodness, tho capacity
and the achievements of tho honored
and yenerated discoverer o. America.
The very suggestion Of such demand
/ gives one shock Of a serious and dis.
trcSsing character. II IS like requiring
one to resign his religion, his belief in
the stability Of the universe, his trust
in the existence Of truth. 4 man s
whole nature rebels against such an as.
sault upon one Of his most cherished,
sacred and settled opinions. 1t threat
ems destruction to the whole frame,
work Of his faith, and promises "a
bring crashing in ruins about him the
round circle Of heroes and divinities
that it has been his comfort aud sup
port to eXalt ard reverence. IL we
may no longer believe in CHRISTOPHER
Columbus, pray whom may we continue
to believe in
1t is revolving to be made the sport
OF ignorant and inscription histor.
ians, and The dupe OF our own crcdullty.
As we read this surprising exposition
Of the life of a reputed worthy, which
contradicts all previous testimony, aud
completely upsets all our old ideas, we
are placed ina vcay unpleasant posi-.
tion Of skepticism. The old faith IS
rudely shaken, and the new faith IS not
strong enough 60 stand upright. We
have not opportunity TO 60 TO the bot
tom of the matter. and examine the
evidences of the true character and
career Of Columbus, as they lie seat.
tered amid the musty tombs and manu-.
scripts in the archives Of Spain, and
Portugal, and Italy. We must take
them at second hand, and remain at
the mercy Of the writers who have
made il a business to hunt them out,
and who interpre; them according to
/ the light possessed, and the direction
of prejudice or preP0saession. In any
case, whether or not we give credit TO
Mr.. Goodrich as thorough and able
compiler and manipulation Of facts, he
has dealt blow 20 our confidence IN
Columbus from which it will never re-
cover.
Mr.. Goodrich states, in his appendix,
that he has been for seven years accu-
inulating, in the libraries and reposi-
| tories Of State records in Western Eu-
rope, the materials for this new reading
Of the history Of Columbus. There is
testimony in its composition OF original
research; and there is display OF
some fresh matter. which, with an al
tered translation of much Of the evi-
/ dence heretofore presented. affords the
/ author considerable ground on which
/ TO rest his argument. Yet there Is a
/ lack of method and of skill IN the man
agement Of the details, and there is a
/ violent partisan spirit manifest in the
enunciation, which operate strongly
/ against the success of the writer.
The book Is, in the first place, too
/ bulky-its contents being Swellcd with
discussions irrelevant TO the main issue.
! The author has attempted to bring two
questions into the same debate which
have no connection, viz: the history Of
Columbus and the civilization Of ancient
nations. The second topic has no foot :
ing in q work ostensIbly devoted @ the
first. Mr. Goodrich has made room for
il merely that he might erect man Of
straw in order to knock him down again
lie AYERS that the present age does not
give due credit to the ancients for their
advanced knowledge Of the arts and
sciences, and attempts to set right by
briefly, but not very sagely, reviewing
the architectural achievements, the as
tronomy, geography, navigation, and
learning, Of the earliest nations. The
siNty-eight pages numbered with this
matter had better have been omitted
There is, contrary to Mr.. Goodrich
observation, pronounced tendency
am)ng current scholars to magnify the
intelligence and attainments Of the Pa.
can races Of antiquity, 4 the expense
Of the Christian enlightenment of the
existing century. And, if il were not
SO, his weak and iuopportune effort in
defense Of ancient civilization would 90
for very little His account Of the use
Of the magnet and the compass among
antique nations is pertinent, bur is liable
to the complaint Of awkward adjust.