New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-05
IN TIE MATTER OF cRISToBAL COLON


ISABELLA IMPLEADED-CASE FOR APPELLEES.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
have only lately seen Mrs. shipley's article In
The Tribune Of July o. trust 1t is not too late for
brief rcply. which would have been sent earlier
had sooner seen the article alluded TO-
We are NO longer, It seems, to be permitted TO DO
Hove that Columbus discovered America. as We had
ben taught from scnOol-days upward, or that
Isabella aided him in the noble enterprise On the
contrary, America was discovered by Pinzon or ny
the CsbOts BY the Nogsemen but which OF the three
10 not quito clear. Tho Queen did not aid Columbus
to discover America by fitting out TWO vessels
Those vessels were fitted out BY Others at her COM
mand. She did not pay the money; it was paid by
certain debtors Of the Queen. The money was not
nst formally paid into the treasury and then pad out
again by the proper disbursins officers or proper
vouchers Surely this Is fine point upon which TO
overthrow q structure Of such long standing.
And Columbus. too. must 50. though haliowed by
the sanction four hundred years for now there arc
stories OF earlier discoveries. stories which Navercte
himself the very author relied by the fconocasts.
says have not been authenticated.
Tho statement that tho Golfers Of Spain wero then
we'll filled Is great mistake. On the contrary, the
treasury depleted BY the long wars with the aoors
which were not even yet concluded Ferdinand re-
monstraed against rendering assistance to Columbus.
pointing to tho exhausted treasury. This was the
occasion the memorable response by the Queen 10
which all tho historians attest: VIII assume the
undertaking for my crown OF Castillo ana am ready
TO pawn my Jewels to meet the expenses OF the expe-
dion tho funds Of the royal treasury do not suf'cc
1t not denied that she said this but 1t is denied that
she did actually pawn her Jewels And so THIS image
y to be broken.
No one proposes to erect statue to Isabella be-
cause she pawncd her Jewels. No ono knows or cares
whether she did not The statue Is to be erceteo
because se really did aid Columbus in his first voyage
Is wen as in all Of his subsequent voyages II Is
nv all Tho ",
who had evidence before them. well as by the
royal orders, still preserved.
The fact that Mr.. Aaron Goodrich has made so
prominent in regard to the Emo inflicted upon Palos
has no logical bearing upon the controversy Goodrchs
work purports to be life Of Columbus but It Is filed,
nom BEGINNING TO end with pictures representing tho
crueltes fortunes inflicted by the spaniards upon
the natives though nearly all these events II they
occurred OF all happened long after the death OF Coln'
bus. II was impossible for such man to write with
impartality fairness in speaking OF Columbus or
Isabella. Everything bearing against them IS
exaggerated or distorted, while every fact in
their favor IS bettled suppressed. For
instance he makes prominent the fact that
the people Of Palos. in payment Of fine
equipped two caravels these two wero scuttlcd ana
sunk in the harbor whether Palos furnished two Of
those which actually sailed does not appear. but he
supprcsscs the fact, which appears from the samo
author in the volume that large sums were paid
before the vessels sailed and after they returned in
payment Of expenses which had been incurred thus
Showing that those who had Furnished money had ad-
Vanccd Il on the faith Of the Government
Goodrich would deprive Columbus OF the honor
OF having first discovered land, claiming that was
PinzOn who in the foremost vessel and who first
saw land. Though the question is not very I'M.
portant one. 1t may lie decided in favor Of Columbus
upon tho testimony Of the Spanish Government ITSELF
which in MAY, 1883 granted TO Columbus pension Of
10000 marsveds annually during his lf0 for having
been tho first who saw and discovered land CviO y
descubriO Ia TERRA the first voyage
We may therefore proceed with the Worlds Fair in
the confident conviction that not PM suing q
willo' wsp but celebrating real event: that
Columbus really did discover America: that Isabella
was not a monster but very worthy and noble queen,
and that she really did aid Columbus In his enterprise
CHARLES Is. WAITE.
Chicago Aug. o5, 1870.