New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09
THE COLCMBCS WEEK.

| The observance of Columbus week began
Yesterday and will be continued to-day IN inc
churches The great hero was -emihehtiy
an instrument for promoting the ends OF ChriS-
tan civilization Ills faith in the supreme
| idea which Rad first fascinated his lmagl-
nation and then taken complete possession OF
his mind was as potent force in swaylng the
destnies of the world as the awakened con-
science of Luther or the inspired teaching OF
Paul. His voyage was happily timed so that
his discoveries could fit into providential
scheme for the revival Of the intellectual and
moral forces of Europe after the exhihisthH
struggle against the Saracen and the darkness
and torpor OF the Middle Ages The sighting
of San Salvador was the sign OF coming
renaissance which was to convert an old WOfld
into new Europe with the promise OF the
potency of Christian progress IL opened the
way for the settlement of new world des-
tined TO bear the impress of Catholic ana
| Protestant civilization. and to work out under
republican institutions north and south inc
supreme ends of moral government OF the race.
The figure of Columbus rs it looms up IN the
perspt Give of four centuries towers In ethlcai
dignity above the little men OF his time as the
great missionary and evangel OF Christian en-
lightenment.
1t is this aspect of his character and work
which will be appropriately concentrated IN
the impressive services to-day in churches of
every faith 1t is unique revelation OF the
essent al unity of Christian teaching. For one
day differences Of organization. ritual and doc-
trine are put aside. and Christians, con
| sciously or unconscously, unite in service OIL
Thanksgiving for the life and achievements OF
Columbus. and all the blessings OF National
development and world wide progress which
have followed the discovery OF the New World
The memory OF Columbus, devOut Catholic aS
he was will be hOnored in Protestant churches
with as much fervor as in temples OF his own
| faith and this can easily and naturally De
done for men have learned since the storm ana
stress period Of the Reformation and the In
uuistion the lessons of Christian tolerance ana
religious liberty, and have discerned in the
/ history of the last four centuries the lines of
divine purpose in the moral government OF the
universe
| Tomorrow the festivities ard town shows will
open with the school parade, and this will also
| be unique demonstration. Columbus. the
Genoese sailor, was es'e ntially sef-educatod
man. Rough as his life OF adventure had been
| and coarse as were his associations on land ana
sea, he had mastered all that Toscanelli and the
medieval photographers could teach, and had
learned to plead his cause with courtly grace
at the Spanish Court. While deficient in aca-
demic scholarship, he was free from the mar
rOwness OF mOnastic pedantfy, and he had an
| intellectual force and breadth OF view which
made him the best educated man Of his age
| There can be no better type FOR the ambitious
youth of our day than this sef-taught Gcnocse
navigator whose mind had been emancipated
from conventional trammels, and whose faith
| in great idea carried him across the sea to
new world If his was Il triumph OF educa-
ton, so also the main glory of the age which
now commentaries his fame lies in IFS common
schools and in the enlightenment OF the masses
which govern progressive America.
The naval. military and civic parades which
are 80 bring the celebration to close in this
town will be pageants deliberately planned for
the enjoyment of hundreds of thousands OF
spectators Never has the metropolis had
finer opportunity Of showing what it can do in
the way of organizing a popular fete; and
never. perhaps, has the town been arrayed so
richly and arlistically in holiday attire as it
displays this October morning in preparation
for the festival San Salvador is now neg
lected island tenanted by few scores OF negro
planters and fishermen. 1t was the threshold
of discoveries and movements OF population
which were to change the face of the world,
but it has ceased to be anything but remnis-
cence of a great event in history. Newly DIRK
is the real threshold, which millions OF Eu-
ropeans have crossed in entering prosperous
America Ii is in New-Yorl that the interests
OF the New World are centred and massed and
it is here that the Columbus festivities are
appropriately held.