Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-22

Il
holding IN his grasp the potential prom
ise and dominion of FL Dorado and
| Cathay, divided with the Moslem sur
render, the attention OF soyereigns and
Of bishops. France and England in
dictated desire to hear his theories
and see his maps, while he was still a
suppliant at the gates OF the camp
OF CASTLE and Aragon, the
sport OF its courtiers and
the scott Of its coufessors. His
unshakablo faith, that Christopher Co
lumbus was commissioned from Heaven,
both by his name and by Divine com
mand to carry Christ over the sea" to
new continents and pagan peoples,
lifted him so far above the discourage
ments OF an empty purse, and n con-
temptuous court that he was proof
against the rebuffs OF fortunes, or Of
friends. To conquer the prejudioes OF
the clergy, 10 win the approval and H.
nancial support Of the state, to venture
upon that unknown ocean, which, ac-
cording TO the beliefs Of the age, was
peopled with demons and savage beasts
Of frightful shape, and from which
there was no possibility OF return, re-
quired the zeal OF Peter the Hermit,
the chivalric courage OF the Cid and
the imagination OF Dante. Columbus
belonged to tina high order Of cranks
who confidently walk whore CANCELS
fear 10 tread" and often become the
benefactors Of their countro or their
kind.
II was happy omen of the position
which woman was 20 hold in America,
that the only person who comprehended
the majestic scope OF his plans, and the
tnvincible quality Of his genius, was
the able and gracious Queen Of CASTLE.
Isabella alone OF all the dignitaies of
that age shares with Columbus the
honors OF his great achievement She
arrayed her kingdom and her private
fortune behind the enthusiasm OF this
mystic mariner, aud posterity pays
homage to her wisdom and faith.
The overthrow OF the Mahommedan
power Ia Spain would have been a for
gotten scene in one OF the innumerable
acts in the grand drama Of history had
not Isabella conferred immortality
upon herself, her husband and their
dual crown by her recognition of Co
lumbus. The devout spirit Of the queen
and the high purpose of the explorer
inspired the voyage, subdued the mu-
tinous crew aud prevailed over the
raging storms. They covered, with
the divine radiance of religion and hui
manity, the degrading search for gold
and the horrors OF its quest, which
filled the first century Of conquest with
every form Of lust and greed.
The mighty soul Of the great admi-
raj was undaunted by the ingratitude
OF princes, and the hostility Of the
people, by imprisonment and neglect.
He died as he was securing the means,
and preparing a campaign for the res
cue OF the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem
from the inhdel. He did not know
what time has revealed, that viii lie the
mission OF the crusades, of Godfrey OF
Bouillon and Richard Of the Lion Heart
was a bloody and fruitless romance, the
discovery OF America was the salvation
of the world. The one was the symbol
the other the spirit; the one death, the
other life. The tomb OF the Saviour
was a narrow and empty vault, precious
only for its memories Of the supreme
tragedy OF the centuries, but the new
continent was to be the home and tenn
pie Of the living God.
The rulers OF the Old World began
with partitioning the New To them
the discovery was expansion Of Empire,
and grandeur to the throne. Vast ter
ritories, whose properties and possibili-
ties were little Understood, and whose
extent was greater than the Kingdoms
OF the sovereigns, were the gifts TO court
favorites, and the prizes OF royal APP
proval. But individual intelligence and
independent conscience found here
haven and refuge. They were the pas
sengers upon the caravels OF Columbus,
and he was unconsciously max.
ing for the port OF civil
and religious liberty. Thinkers
who believed men capable of higher
destinies and larger responsibilities,
and pious people who preferred the
Bible, TO that union OF church and state
where each serves the other for the
temporal benefit OF both, fed TO these
distant and hospitable lands from in
tolerable and hopeless oppression ut
home. II required 800 years for
the people thus happily situated to
understand their own powers and re-
sources, and TO break bonds which were
still reverenced or loved no matter
how deeply they wounded, or how hard
they CALLED
The nations Of Europe were so com
pletely absorbed in dynastic difficulties
and diplomacy and ambitions, that they
neither needed nor heard of the grow
Ing democratic spirit and Intelligence
in their American colonies. To them
these provinces were sources Of rev.
onue, and they never dreamed that
they We're also schools Of liberty. That
IL exhausted three centuries under the
most favorable conditions for the evolu-
ton OF freedom on this conti-
nent, demonstrates the tremend-
Gus strength Of custom and hered-
ity when sanctioned and sanctified
by religion. Tho very chains which
tottered, became ineXtricably interwo-
ven with the habits of life, the associ-
ntions OF childhood, tho tenderest ties
OF the family, and the sacred offices of
the church from the cradle to the
grave. IL clearly proves that II the PEG.
pie OF the old world and their descen-
dants, had not possessed the opportu-
mites Afforded by the new for their
emancipation, and mankind had never
experienced and learned the American
example, instead OF living in the light
and glory OF nineteenth century con
ditions, they would still be struggling
with medieval problems.
The northern continent was divided
between England, France and Spain,
and tho southern between Spain and
Portugal. France wanting the ca
pacity for colonization, which Fstill
characterizes her, gave up her western
possessions and left the English. who
have the genius Of universal empire,