The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-07-05

tary. A credulous world heard with
wonder and astonishment of regions
peopled by innumerable multitudes, Of
palaces of kings whose very roofs were
of solid gold, of country whose wealth
in sweet spices and precious stones was
like the sands on the shore, or the leaves
and without end.
To reach India by some route other
than the one across the burning sands
of the trackless desert, became an all
absorbing problem, a problem at the
time extremely difficult of solution.
Christopher. Columbus, Genoese mar
iner. learned in the science of naviga-
ton, but who, poor, ragged, penniless
and advanced in years. were obliged to
support himself by making and selling
mariners charts; conceived the idea
that the eartk was round instead of be-
ing fat, as was then universally be-
lieved, and that India might be reached
by sailing due west. He spoke to all
that would listen to him of the scheme
dearest to his heart. He spoke of it
with so much earnestness, that men re-
garded him as visionary fellow, crazy
indeed from much brooding upon one
subject, and even the children pointed
to their foreheads in derision as he
passed them in the street. But Column
bus was q man OF genius, a man not to
ne discouraged or disheartened by the
insults Of the ignorant, the sneers of the
scoffers, or by the scorn of the proud.
For twenty long and weary years he
wandered from court to court asking
assistance. The king of Portugal
listened to him, but would not help him,
For seven years he implored the aid of
Ferdinand, king of Spain, but without
avail. Finally when his heroic courage
and perseverance had nearly forsaken
him, and cruel disappointment seemed
inevitable, Queen Isabella promised to
furnish him ships for the venture, and
so, on the third day of August, 1892, he
set sail from the harbor of Palos in
Spain, crossed unknown and stormy
seas, and on the 18th day of October,
1879, discovered the land in which we
live, the land that we love SO we'll
When Columbu returned triumphant,
TO Spain, and told of land blessed with
a mild and delightful climate, of land
possessing mines of inexhaustable riches
and what was more than all to him of a
land peepled by myriads of savages who
might be taught the religion of Christ,
all that was brave, noble, and romatic /;
all that was base, cruel, and av-
aricious in the characterbf the Spaniard,
was kindled into madness. Thousands
fiocked to the new world in an eager
scramble for gold. The power OF the
Montezumas in Maxico fell before The
conquering arm of the invincible Cortez
and the crafty and cunning Pizzaro
usurped the power and squandered the
wealth of Peru. Spanish settlements
were established in the West India
islands, and on the main land from
Florida to Patagonia; but the gold $50
eagerly coveted and. so cruelty and mer-
cilessly obtained, sapped the vitality of
the Spanish character, and became one
OF the proximate causes that led to the
decline and fall OF the Spanish Mon
archy.
The French, like the Spanish, were
not slow in perceiving the immense adj
vantages that would flow from the pos
session of territory in the new world, and
accordingly planted colonies in that
part of North America known as Canada
Of the three great European nations,
the English were the last to come, and
the last to stay; and the influence of
Britain on the character and destiny of
the people of America, will be felt till the,
last syllable of recorded time.
The first English settlement within
the limits OF the United States, was
made at jamestown, Virginia, in the
year 1907, and Virginia enjoys the proud
distinction OF being the mother of the
colonies. and the land that gave birth to
Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, John Marshall; and above all
and beyond all to George Washington,
the father of his country.
In the year 1920, the Pilgrim Fathers
landing from the Mayhower at Piym-
outh rock, formed settlement after
ward incorporated under the name of
the colony of Massachusetts. The de-
scendants of those pilgrims have become
famous throughout the world for their
proficiency in the arts and sciences, in
law aud polite literature; and today our
country glories in the names of their
illustrious sons, the patriots John and
Samuel Adams, Joseph Warren, the
hero of Bunker Hill, the orator Web
ster, the philosopher Emerson, and