The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
NOvUM MUNDUM DEBIT.
THE ISspIRArrox OF oozUMBua


THE INsPIRA TIoN OF CoLUMBUs
InterestisE Indications OF the Religious Mo-
tivcs That stimulated HE Great Voyages.
WASHINGTON. July 3o.-The assertion Of Pope
Leo, In the encyclical which he has Just Issued
touching the Columbus celebrations. that the
great navigator was primarily inspired by the
Catholic faith. is fully borne out by tho hstor-
ical records. Quite different lie the question
Of canonization. There are episodes in the
life OF Colum bus that have hitherto interfered
with this purpose. so often entertained Per-
hans thcy will always continue to Interfere
with 1t. unless. as Mr.. Brownson has argued.
In his preface to Tarducci's life Of the great
discoverer. we are not to expect, even in the
canonized. q life free from blemish. since such
objections might be made even to David.
the man after Gods own heart, between
whom and Columbus there is a very marked
resemblance OF character" Columbus him
self in his will speaks OF one Beatrlz Enrioueg.
whom he commends to the cnre Of his son.
Don Diego that he furnish her with decent
livelihood; this is to be done to ease my con-
science. for 1t weighs heavy on my soul" And
Mr.. Justin Winsor. who presents Columbus
to us AS q sort OF pirate. has dwelt on all the
flaws In his character and career or course
his shipment OF the poor natives OF the Now
World to Europe to be sold as slaves will
always be an indelible stain on his fame.
But all this does not touch the question
whether It was not the Catholic faith that In
spired Columbus to his ilustrious deeds. And
certainly OF the deep and fervent piety at the
foundation Of his character there can be no
doubt. One OF the most familiar scenes in his
history is the little monastery OF Santa Maria
de la Rabida, where Father Juan Perez. friar
OF profound religious devotion. would hardly
haya fnk ap nd otod
voyage to the undiscovered Indies had
he not perceived in Columbus gem
uine zeal to spread the Gospel. We
also find tho Dominican friar. Father Diego
Dcza, his enthusiastic protector at Salamanca,
whore Columbus. when he found his maps and
charts unavaling in the conference called to
consider his project. met his opponents on
their own ground. pouring forth. as Irving has
said. magnificent texts OF scripture and mys.
terious predictions Of the prophets" which
showed his study OF Holy Writ. Still moro re-
markable is his knowledge OF the history Of
the Church and the Fathers. as afterward in
dictated by references and quotations aboard
ship. when he had not the books at command.
On the eve OF his great voyage We find Column
bus making his confession to Father Perez and
strengthening his soul by holy communion
for his task. His diary during the voyage Is
full OF pious memoranda and calculations. and
on one occasion his devout mind ascribed
sudden rough sea to the special Intervention
OF providence In his behalf for specific pur-
pose. When he landed in the New World he
erected q cross " to leave sign that possess
sion had been taken OF that land in the name
OF Christ" This emblem OF the redemption
he also raised In every other land; and to the
first island he gave tho name San Salvador.
In writing to King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella about his discoveries In Cuba. Column
bus expressed wish that they would
promptly send persons to unite SO many
people with the Church and convert them to
he h Id eeares f hst h e s
taken these voyages only for the purpose OF
aiding in the progagatieenI q, and glory Of the
to bring him through The terrible storms
com forted BY my belief that our Lord God
Rursh To s Of
Sss shs nth gt5e5 hSSnd
scrutabie degree OF His, wisdom. wish to de;
bqeu % the sGFiyh s
on the return Of the expedition to Palos ths
5 CT ns Sh Els Sailors 1'HaF to
sion. to offer thanks for his discovery and his
on ont their Knees in prayer and Thanksgiving, 50
Tho first printed publication We have on tho
discovers. OF the New World: letter Of Colu m
bus to Rafael Sanchez. written at sea IN the
last days OF the return voyage. concluded with
those words:
Let then. the King and Queen. the prnceR and thsu
happy kingdoms unite with all Chrstendom In return"
Ing Saviour Jesus Christ for granting NJ
such victorious Let them mako PROFESSIONS.
and ornament the temples
with palms and and lot Christ exult with Joy
on EARTH In heaven at tho prospect OF salvation for
so many nations heretofore destined only TO perdiion
And let us also rejoice at the same time not only -
the of our faith but also at tho increase OF
temporal goods of which Spain and christendom WILL
gather the fruits"
The will OF Columbus begins n this ways
I'm the name OF the Most Holy Trinity who
inspired in me the idea ana at that Eeh
sail and reach the indies from Spain: crossing
the Ocean to the west bis sban,d o1r cSMr
ever ere Class s or condition should attempt de-
s sRond ias at the feet the supreme Pontf
his person. his power. and his wealth. To- e1.
tns and
He ais also directs his heirs to ma,ntsin fep.
the &c tho indies tec
t ssS Dssa a sns h
heirs heirs v were to, show this testamenb
to the coniessor at each confession: IN order
andass In p prSP%SsiRnE fourth yoyasS t32
declared: II hope In our Lord to spread His
holy and GGspsl oyer al the x91ds
cover the holy sepulchre. risking all his fame
and fortune In this endeavor. The last words
attributed to him were those OF Christ ex-
The motives Of Columbus were complex.
Ike those from which other men sct; his
character shared side bv side greatness and
weak ness. as Is true, Of 80 many others; but
that tho encyclcal which ascribes his primary
Inspiration as we'll as his support In sufierlngs
and trials to his religious faith is founded on
the historic facts there can be no doubt.
Texas Sheriff. Nerve.
FSom he s. Losts Globe Dsmo~at.
A tall. wiry man. with railing moustachs,
good -humored eyes and q pleasantly modus
lated voice. sat In the gallery Of the Binkley
House at sherman: He IL the sheriff 81 Gray
voted to his duties. Lee McAfee has Just made