Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-06-18
COLUMBUS CENTENARY.
Mighty Contest Over the Great Nav
gators Birthplace.


4 Mighty Contest Over the Great Navi-
gators Birthplace.
Seven cities contended for the honor
cf having given birth to Homer. There
IRE as many claimants for the glory
Of Christopher Columbus-Ge
Oneglia, Boggiasco, Savona and sew
eral others. Posterity, however, has
not as yet granted definite possession
to any of them; but in presence of the
discovery of very recent and very au-
thentic titles, it inclines more and
more to admit the claim of new
conner for the Inheritance of honor.
This new pretender is none other than
the town of Calvi, Corsica, Christie
pher Columbus was not then Genoese.
but Corsican, 1t is to the Able Casa
nova, a learned Investigator, that the
honor is due of having called halt to
what threatened to soon become the
prescription of the ages. This nine
teenth century Benedictine has con-
secrated his whole life to the accom-
plishment of this great work; the old
archives of the Italian republics, the
dusty registers of the libraries of the
Renaissance have at last yielded up the
secret that race spirit has kept hidden
so long. Even the Italian historians,
staggered and convinced in spite of
themselves, now only ask for a brief
delay of grace to make the ane,,de hon
cradle to the little country so long
robbed of her great son. The origin of
this historical error is easily found.
Corsica, subjected or rather in a state
of rebellion against Genoese domina-
ton before, during and after the fif-
teenth century, sought no other glory
than to be found on the battlefield,
under its heroes, the Ornanos and
Sampieros, while Able Casanovas of the
day taught their countrymen that their
highest good was to die bravely. These
poor people lived fighting. and so could
give no attention to the glory of dis
covery.
The most serene republic, always on
the lookout for gain, appropriated
Christopher Columbus. ibis jewel
was an ample compensation for the
tribute which little Corsica stoutly re.
fused to pay. The piece of robbery
passed unobserved, all the more easily
as the town of Calvi, to which Genoa
had left its magistrates, it's customs
and certain autonomy, had ended by
contentedly accepting Genoese domi
nation. Whence the famous inscrip
ton still carved over its gate, "Civita'
Calvi semper fidelis." A citizen o
Calvi, especially if he brought an,
prestige to the republic, was appropri
ated without ceremony, and the confis
cation of the great sailor, by letter
patent so to speak, chimed in harmo
niously with the character of that com
mercial and speculative people.
The little town of Calvi, now maxim,
preparations for the celebration of thi
great centenary. will at last see it
name redeemed from an unjust oh
livion. Perched on a rock, on the ives
coast of the island, Calvi was lon,
deemed impregnable. Nelson though
it worth his while to come and attac
it in person, and lost an eye for hi
pains. The English succeeded in cap
turing it, but the Corsicans beat ther
out of it again. In the clear autumn
evenings one can see from the SUNNI
of its citadel the dim outlines of tn
shore of the continent and the spurs {
the Maritime Alps.-Paris Figaro.