Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-18
CHARACTER OF COLUMBUS.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,

1t is dangerous thing for any but good
looking people to stand in a strong light.
Even the saints are apt to suffer a little
when honest people write their biographies,
while the politicians, when they are ex-
posed to the fierce radiance which beats
upon a party platform. fare sadly indeed.
Christopher Columbus, If he were alive,
might regret the approach of the anniver-
sary Of his great discovery. For no Presi-
dental candidate, from Washington to Har-
rison, has been assailed with more abuse.
Nobody has been found as yet, however, to
deny that Christopher Columbus discovered
America; though there have been no lack of
carping people who declare that America
had already been discovered several times
before Columbus ever looked in this direc-
tion. Others say that if the explorer had
but waited year or two, somebody else
would have done that great deed just as well.
In the year 1900 Portuguese fleet, making for
the Cape of Good Hope, was driven by con-
trary winds upon the shores Of South
America. So we might have got along with
out Columbus.
Columbus had hard time of it while he
lived. That garniture ofiron chains was not
the only bitter load he had to carry. And
about ever since. Even the land itself was
called by another name than his.
Columbus Wanted Too Much.
ONE trouble, perhaps the chief trouble,
with Columbus was that he wanted-the
earth, 1 was about to say, and might have
said with literal accuracy. He wanted too
much. He nearly lost his chance, even after
the royal patrons had consented to help him,
by his extraordinary demands. He must be
admiral and viceroy and have a tenth part
pf oil ho Mi L nd Of
good deal for reformed pirate, whom
nobody knew, to ask of Ferdinand and 1sa-
bella. They granted him his wish. Happy
Is it for most of US that great proportion OF
our wishes go unheeded. The most unlucky
thing that could happen to US would be TO
have the fairys benediction and to get all
that we want. Don Christopher's avarfcious
ambition got him scant money, and meagre
glory, but much envy, and hatred, and NAL
ice and all uncharitableness.
On Friday Ito the confusion of the super
stitious) the Sd of August. 1892, the little e1-
pedition set sail across the unknown sea.
He would be brave man who would to-day
venture out into the deep with such an
equipment. The largest ship was but 65 feet
in length and 20 feet in breadth. The Santa
Maria, in which the leader of the expedition
had command, was the only one of the three
ships which had q deck. The others were
covered only at the PROV and stern. There
is a skeleton of a boat about the size of these
in Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, which made its
perilous way over in 1880. Stout hearts they
had, in those days of adventure!
The crews of these three little sail boats
numbered 1eO, as many as were gathered
once in an upper room in a famous oriental
town upon a memorable occasion. There
was some difference in character, however,
~ <,F
for volunteers. The gracious sovereigns,
anticipating the difficulty in getting mari
ners for such an uncertain venture, made
advertisement that 'every person belonging
to the crews of the fleet of said Christopher
Columbus should be exempt "from arrest
OF detention on account of any offence of
crime which may have been committed by
them up to the date of this instant, and dur
ing the time they may be on the voyage, and
for two months after their return to their
homes" Surely a most extraordinary invi-
tationi The first emigrants to these shores
were of a kind which we are now trying to
keep out. They belonged to the Malta! Who
ever will sail with the admiral of the ocean
sea may do whatever owl thing he will, and
we will let him off from punishment. 1t
was an advertisements for criminals.
Wanted. Thieves and cut-throats who
know something about salt water! Thus
they started out.
Bound for India's Golden Shores.
THEY had an interpreter who could speak
Arabic, and metallurgist who knew gold
from pyrites, and a surgeon and a doctor,
and no priest. They were bound for the
golden shores of India.
They were forced to make a stop at the
Canary Islands by reason of the unshipped
rudder of the Pinta; whence they again
set sail September 6, which fell, also, as it
happened, on Friday. The expedition of
the great discovery was Friday expedition.
Not only did Columbus leave Palos on
Friday, and the Canaries on Friday, but it
was on Friday that they discovered land,
being the 18th of October; and on Friday
also that the discoverer with his great good
news dropped anchor after his marvellous
journey in the harbor OF Palos.
1t is not true that the crew, reprobates
though many of them must have been,
mutinad on the journey. They did not
to throw the Admiral into the At
lantic Ocean. They did find the journey
long, but the sea was placid, and every day
some new bird came in sight, or some
strange plant was picked up floating on the
sea. They were continually in expectation
of land. Once they believed that they be-
held the shore, and said a thanksgiving; but
the land like our castles in Spain was made
of cloud. At last Columbus thought he saw
a moving light, bobDing up and down in the
dark night, and the next morning Rodrigo
de Triana, of the Pinta. called out at last
from his watch aloft that there was land.
The wide ocean had been crossed.
1t is unfortunately true that Columbus
cheated this poor sailor out OF the reward
which was promised to him who should first
see the other shore.
1t is also true that Columbus in this voyage
did not find the continent, only the islands
which lie at the entrance of the great gulf
The one on which he landed is now thought
to be that called Watlins's.
A Mission Of Destruction.
IT is sadly true that Columbus kept ask
ing anxiously for gold, and that, finding
little, he contented himself as best he could
by stealing certain of the gentle inha bitants
for slaves. The white man when he came
over here was greeted with hospitaple well
come. The pagan Indians had no desire to
do him harm. But the Christian white men,
with Columbus at their head, came to steal
and to kill and to destroy.
We must put that down, I suppose to an
imperfect conversion. These ruffians were
not Christians. They went to mass, and
made confessions, and sang TIE Deums, and
named islands after Christian holidays, and
were quick in the midst ofa fierce storm to
VOW pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Mary
of Guadalupe with a wax taper OF five
pounds weight: but, after all, they were only
baptised heathen and savages veneered with
a thin film OF civilization. But it has taken
US even till Wand we have not learned it
that the only really damnable
heresy is the heresy of Cain, and he only is
Christian who lives like a Christian.