New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03

il was looked upon merely as barrer ~ VIZ
way to Asia. and the only object OF the eApoie.'
who entered its navigable streams was W ao
tain il some OF these streams might noo p,o'. y.
be arms of the sea separating the mass VI i" a..
tyro and SO leading 70 the lon5ed-for ha'en'
rist. en+er. into MANY controversies In these WI
| umcs but the most important ana lhesni
hts yipdicatisn of Americus Vespucius WINE, ,
,,+atipn he declares 70 have been sacnhceu ~ '
stupdity OF a commentator. This Is arasn'
niece Of exposition. and may be aid 10 pe nav ",
less in logical force and the chain OF proofs vi
course the author discusses the ocandinaViau ~
"vinland' hypothesis. and his conclusions SUN.
us nc euinenty sound. They are to the effect tha'
AZ. .,d0.nce for Nbrse visit TO America as re-
conut.d IN the Saga Of Enc the Red is rrefragaoe
In. that the landing and stay at Vinland cannot
ta conside,ed q discovery in any true sense
To tho objection that the Nsrsemen who went
IN Vino nd certainly discovered America In sense
In which Columbus never did, it is answered 'na'
the cepuinencss VI discovery Of new country Is
to be tested by its consequences. Now, the "orh
NJ Columbus resulted in the genesis OF the Cni'eo
States: whereas, the occupation OF Vinaha IT,
suited In absolutely nothing. As 70 the "Norun-
bega- hypothesis which has stirred some Americans
10 enthusiasm, Mr. Fiskr does not think the ar
ruments Of its champions deserving OF serious us
cuss,on. the whole matter being so shad0wy. Ill
skccbing the life and work of Columbus, to which,
according to the plan and scope OF this volume
no accords moderate space, he maintains the view
of that explorers character which most former
historians, with the notable exception OF RoseiIy
de LorQues, have taken. With the most recent
reactionary position, that of Mr.. Wnsor, he cannot
agree lie observes: 4" No one can deny that
Las Casas was a keen Judge of men, or that his
-.-lt z..1 IN
as any one has reached in our own time. lie had
a much more intimate knowledge of Columbus than
any modern historian ever hope to acquire,
and he always speaks of him with warm admra-
ton and respect But how could Las Cosas ever
have respected the feeble, mean-spiritcd driveler
whose portrait Mr.. Winsor asks us TO accept as
that OF the discoverer Of America p
The chapter entitled :" Mundus Novus" will be
found both interesting and inminativc. The
sketches of the Conquest of Mexico and Peru are
spirited and clear. iii one point alone do we
find it impossible to agree with Mr. FislSc and that
is his apparent disposition to justify or apologize
for the cruelty Of the Spanish conquerors. Even
making liberal allowance for the reality OF the
Spanish religious enthusiasm, the wanton and
hideous crueltics Of which they guilty appear
utterly inexcusable They may be explained per-
haps ON the hypothesis that the conquerors were
no less barbarous than the conquered; but II that
be answered. what becomes Of the authors theory
Of Spanish civilization? In truth, 1t is not until
the life and work Of Las Casas studied that any
appearance Of Spanish humanity is encountered
The chapter on Las Casas in the second volume
is an admirable ono but while it illustrates the
virtues and capacities Of an exceptional man, 1t
throws into deep shadow the shocking barbarities
he undertook TO oppose and put an end TO-
Las Casas was the apostle Of anti slavery prin-
cipes, and his work in IIspaniola would have
been as impossible as crusade by Garrison in
South Carolina but for his ecclesiastical position.
The Spanish slave holders were thorough runlans
as rule but they faithful and rsverrnt sons Of
the Church, and no one Of them dared raise "A hand
against one Of her princes Not that Las tasas
would have been daunted by the threat OF martyr
dom, for he had no fear in his composition. Span
ish slavery in the fifteenth century, however, VAS
so horrible that il might have stirred The blood
OF icss ENLIGHTENED and tcnder-htnrtct nan than
Las Casas. The life Of a slave was Of absolutely
no account since they were 70 be Ind FOR moth
ing To work them 10 death was held cconumi
cal, and commonly practised. and che punishments
inflicted upon them were nenfish, roasting 10 death
by slow fire appearing 10 have been a favorite
one. II was at that distant datc-four hundred
years ago-that the system WAS devised which. he
oueathed to the American people subsequently, be
came so decprooted and widespread that its cx-
tinction could only be accomplished with fear
full expenditure OF blood and treasure, few years
ago.
This comprehensive and carefully written work
concludes with sketch Of the work Of the TWO
hundred years following Columbus in exploration
and discovery. It's etT.iton is remarkable, lis
scope great it, style admirably lucid, vigorous ana
on occasion picturesque. 1t is most important
resume of the whole subject II is well furnished
with maps. fac.simcs. etc Founded upon orig
inal documents throughout its trustwOrthincSs
Is not to be doubted 1t is, in short, a sterling
piece Of work from beginning TO end
AN UNSATISFA Glory WORK.