The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-10-22
COLUMBUS AND THE COUNCIL.

His Grand Enterprise Carried Through In
the Face of Vigorous Opposition-Queen
IsabeIIa's Trust In the Navigator.
The great picture, Columbus Before
the Council of Salamanca" by Barabi-
no. is in the orsini palace at Gcnoa, the
birthplace of its subject
The scene is one of the most humanity
interesting in the history of the long
struggle which Columbus had to con-
vince those in authority of his sanity.
While he was following the court of
Ferdinand and Isabella like n mendi-
cant he was introduced TO the notice of
the great Cardinal Pedro Gonzalez de
Mendoza ut Salamanca. The cardinal,
who was rather pleased with his idea,
though he said it savored of heterodoXy,
obtained for him an audience with the
king. His majesty referred him to Fer
nando de Talanera, who summoned 4
iunta of astronomers and cosmograph-
ers. mostly cc~clesiastics.
They met his arguments with Biblical
texts and quotations from the great
theologians, and finally ridiculcd him
and walked away from him, after indi-
eating their belief in no polite way that
he was of unsound mind.
They reported that his project was
foolish, and that it did not become the
king and queen to have anything to do
with it. The junta met him in the
church of San Sebastian at Salamanca.
Their view of the prophet WAS suS-
tanned by the king. but Isabella, more
gentle, of higher and more dcvOut ma
ture. regretted that she might II o give
TO the church of God new converts
from new races, which might be Sc
cured in Asia, which land Columbus
was % reach by sea.
But, rs it happened. she had no money
at hand. Her war with Granada, just
concluded, had cost Il prodigious sum
She found herself in debt Y to Eei
own servants. But finally the means
we're raised by pawning her jewels ant
borrowing money, and at last the life
cherished dream of the discoverer was
realized.
His fleet. the Santa Maria, the Nina
and the Pinta. set sail on Friday, An
gust 5, 1892. After n long and perilou.
VOYAGE, not the least danger of which
was the threatened mutiny of his
sailors, as has since become historical
land was first sighted on the evening
of October II, 1872.
This date is according to the old style
calendars; in the new it was h 2isi
of October, which latter date was
chosen for the opening of the great ex'
position. to be held ia his honor foul
hundred years later.
After n bcwildcring and enchanting
voyage of three months, the great nd
miral, leaving a fo:t on the Bay "f Car
racola, sailed January 4, 1895, fol
Spain, in the Nina, taking with him
number of natives and abundant prod
nets of the new land which .hc hat
found.
His royal reception in Spain, his tri
umphal march to court when lie re
turned, weather-bcaten and almost il
rags. the thanksgiving of the gooC
queen and the widespread wonder of al
Europe have all become matters of his
tory.
lie made three other voyages t
America, but he was doomed to suffer
n {, disappointment, loss of royal fave
and attacks by the cnvious.
To the eternal infa.ny of Bohadilla
Il Spanish commissioner, C"lumbu
wa sent home in chains at the clos
IF his third voyage. The king dis
claimed this outrage and freed him
but the great navigator was wounde'
to the quick, and he preserved tn
chains, as he said, las relics an
memorials of the reward Of his serv
ices" They were in his chamber il
Seville when he died.