The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-21

"a man OF Hon heart and dauntesS cOur
| age. Such men the world produces as ex-
ceptions only, and we may well honor their
memories. A hundred years from to-day the
| world will have forgotten who is now Presi-
dent of the United States, but the name OF
Columbus will live forever and remain a
household word
mink OF the ships we now have and COM
pare them with his Consider the present
condition OF the great science of nayiga-
tlon and then what it was in 1892! Under
canvas, ships OF 5000 tons are constructed
so that they will stand the most violent
gales. provided with life-saving devices
which are the result of the inventive genius
OF all maritime nati0ns-rigged so that they
can work to windward in the teeth of gale
OF wind. Steamships of 5000 or even 10000
tons are built of steel or iron, with colossal
engines and high-pressure steam. Go into
one of the eDgne-ro0ms in gale and you
forget the raging storm outside. The mon
ster machine moves on with steady impulse
and regards not the tumultuous ocean.
The science of shipbulding has furnished
fabric which appears to bid defiance to the
elements. Mechanical thought and scier-
tine adaptation are apparent on every side.
Compare these fabrics with the ships of
Columbus time and we begin to appreciate
his nerve and courage. to realize the great
ness OF this man who overcame all fears and
threw aside all the superstition Of his age in
his search for Cathay.
Still, the Almighty is greater than human
ity Old ocean to-day, as always, bids de-
fance to human skill and human courage.
And we may justly doubt If to-day we have
any better sailors than In the time of the
great discOverer. Ships founder at sea,
they run ashore, they break down their ma
chinery, and they lose their spars and sails.
The hurricane is greater than human
power, and no man will ever live who can
combat the almighty force OF the Almighty
Being who rules the tempest. At best the
handiwork of man is but sport for the ocean
in its angry moods. But we may admire
the pluck. the energy and the persistence of
the great Genoese who took his life in his
hands and went forth to discovery or an
ocean grave-he knew not which. He was
what men to-day might call "a navigation
crank" But of such "cranks" heroes are
made-mankind and the world have none
too many such men to spare. All honor to
Columbus He hOn0rs the human race; he
h0nors the seamen's arduOus calling; he
honors the great science which has grown
since bis day-the navigation of the bound
less ocean.
Navigation to-day leads the path to en-
pire as it did then. A maritime people are
always brave, vigorous and hardy people;
full of energy and the love of liberty.
AS the ages roll on the great name of
Columbus will acquire renewed luster.
When ocean shall be united to ocean in the
western as we'll as in the eastern hemis-
phere. when the ocean steamship or the
electric ship shall cover the waters of the
Pacific as we'll as of the Atlantic, the name
Of Columbus will be all the more h0nored
because the comparison, here too crudey
drawn, will be still more striking and ap-
parent.
All honor to this great sailor, whose fame
and achievements belong to the world.
They deemed him an enthusiast at home
and he had to go to foreign country for
support. He was greater than his country,
and his memory belongs to the world, more
especially to those great nations that strive
for wealth, power and renown upon the
ocean.
Same as creations dawn beheld. thou rolest now.
Every wave that beats upon the shore
beats a requiem to Columbus, and from
the history of this great navigator our
youths will ever learn the lesson of courage
and perseverance, combined with sublime
trust in the Almighty Being, who rules the
waves and controls the destinies of men.
WILLIAM l.. MERRY.