The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-02-04
COLUMBUS CENTENARY.
A MIGHTY CONTEST OVER THE GREAT NAvI-
GATORS BiRTHPIACE,

GATORS BIRTHPLACE.
Paris Figaro: Seven cities contended
for the honor of having given birth to
Homer. There are as many claimants
for the glory of Christopher Columbus
Genoa, Oneglia, Boggiasco, Savona and
several others. Posterity, however, has
not as yet granted definite possessions to
any of them; but in presence of the dis
covery of very recent and very authentic
titles, It inclines more and more to admit
the claim Of newcomer for the inner
itsnce of honor. This new pretender is
none other than the town of Calvi. Cor
sica. Christopher Columbus was not
then a Genoaese, but Corsican. 1t
is to the Able Casanova, learned in
vestigator, that the honor is due of hav-
ing called halt to what threatened to
soon become the prescription of the ages.
This nineteenth century Benedictine has
consecrated 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 20
long. Even the Italian historians, stag
gered and convinced in spite of them
| selves, now only ask for brief delay of
| grace to make the amend honorable to
the little country so long robbed of her
| great son. The origin of this historical
error is easily found. Corsica, subject
| ed or rather In state of rebellion ag ainst
| Genoese Nominations before, during and
after :he fifteenth century, sought no
other glory than to be found in the bat
tle-field, uudel its heroes, the Ornanos
and Sampicros, while the Able Casano-
vas of the deg taught their countrymen
that their highest good was to die brave
| ly. These poor people lived fighting,
and 80 could give no attention to the
glory of discovery.
The most serene republic, always on
the lookout for gain, appropriated Chris
TOPPER Columbus. This jewel was an
ample compensation for the tribute
which little Corsica stoutly refused to
pay. The piece of robbery passed unob-
served, all the more easily as the town OF
| Calvi, to which Genoa had left its mags
trates, its customs ard certain auto
nomy, had ended by contentedly accept
ing Genoese Nominations. Whence the
famous inscription still carved over its
gate, "Civitas Calvi semper fiidelis." A
| CltlLcli Va SdiNls ObpoCldiiy IL uo DIOuSut
any prestagc to the republic, was appro.
priated without ceremony, and the con.
fiscation of the great sailor, by letters
patent SO to speak, chimed in harmonious
ly with the character of that commercial
and speculative people.
The little town of Calvi, now making
preparations for the celebrations of this
great centenary, will at last see its name
redeemed from an unjust oblivion
Perched on rock, on the west coast o.
the island, Calvi was long deemed i'm
pregnable. Nelson thought it worth his
while to come and attack it in person
and lost an eye for his pains. The Eng
lish succeeded in capturing it, but tn,
Corsicans beat them out of it again. Ii
the clear autumn evening one can Sc,
from the .t,...' its citadel the din
outlines OF tne s!,c-e of the continent ant
the spurs oi INC Maritime Alps.