Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-07-14
ON HIS ANCESTORS,
TIE DUKE OF VERAGUA WRITES
A MAGAZINE ARTICLE.
SPAIN RELUCTANTLY GAVE HON
eORARY TITLES.

Revenues to Maintain These Dignities
Diminish with Each Generation
Under u Moral Obligaion-The
! Duke Grateful to the American Peo-
ple-Not Made Vain by Attention.
I The July number of the North Ameri-
can Review contains an Interesting
article ON The Family Of Columbus
from the pen Of the duke Of Eerasua.
The duke calls attention to the fact
that though the festival of the quadro
centennial of the discovery Of America
has naturally excited interest in all
that related to the life of Columbus,
so that scientific works have been null
tiplied i'm all the centres Of eruditiOn,
and learned men everywhere have
labored to dispel the obscurity which
has enveloped the figure of Columbus,
no valuable data have been discovered
concerning his ancestors and the cir
cumstances Of his life on which TO base
a clearer conception of them than has
hitherto existed.
1.-The titles of nobility enjoyed by
Columbus descendants" adds the duke
were not given as a reward for the
services of the diScOverer, but, on the
contrary, were granted as a compensa.
ton for the Withholding from himself
and from his house those dignities and
benefits which were their due. The
discOverer Of the new world had a
solemn agreement with the sOvereigns
as to the reward Of his services. The
queen conceded to him the tenth part
of the revenues from the Indies, and
under the title of admiral and 'adelan.
tado mayor the authority he had de-
sired to obtain for himself and his
descendants.
But this agreement was never
carried out and when Columbus broken
down by years and sorrows
and physical sufrer1ngs, at last
succumbed In poverty, he left
as a patrimony to his family only
an immortal name, an example Of pa
tience and Christian resignation and a
wealth of expectations. His son, Don
Diego, did not obtain recognition Of
the rights stipulated for in Santa Fe,
but his grandson, Don Luis Colon
cardinal Garcia de LOaisa having
declared against the claims made in
his behalf by the widow of Don Diego,
received am estate of twenty five square
leagues on the coast Of Veragua, togeth-
er with property in land and cattle in
La Vega, of San Domingo, and at this
time the titles Of Duke of Veragua and
pfnr- him
Twenty years later the Veragua proper
ty and that which was granted in San
Domingo were taken back by the
crown, and in their place Don Luis
Colon received the island of Jamaica.
s'When Jamaica was coded to Eng
land in 1713 the descendants Of Column
bus were deprived Of all right i'll the
continent discovered by the founder
of their house-their rights from that
time being represented exclusively by
the honorary titles of admiral and ade-
Iantado mayor of the Indies, duke of
Veragua and Of La Vega, and Marquis
of Jamaica, and for the maintenance of
these dignities certain revenues were
granted to them which, according to
the laws now in force in Spain, have to
be divided among all the children, and
so diminish with each generation.
1'After the death Of Dom Luis Colon
the titles and estate became the subject
of Il protracted lawsuit between differ
ent branches of the family, which was
settled through the kindly offices of
D. Gaspar Melchor do Jovel1anOS, a
person Of great prestige, owing TO his
having contributed to the social and
political movement begun in Spain
during the reign of Charles Ill, under
the influence of those ideas which later
resulted in France in the great revolu-
ton.
.'The titles and estate being awarded
to Don Mariana Colon, he was succeed
ed by his son, Don Pedro. Brought UP
under the greatest hardships, Don
Pedro set out in the struggle of life
armed with his intelligence to procure
him a livelihood. His severe training
enabled him soon to restore to his
family some of its former splendor, by
rendering his country important ser
vices which were rewarded with great
honors. His name occupied place in
the political history Of Spain, and he
was considered to be one of the best
Informed on matters pertaining to
agriculture and cattle raising. He was
several times deputy and finally sena-
tor Of the kingdom.
"a short time before his death he
receievd the Order of the Golden Fleece.
one of the most highly appreciated OF
all decorations, and one which the
kings of Spain confer only in exception
al cases, the number of those who can
wear it being limited. I'm 1867 it was
my lot to succeed him through the sad
privilege Of Inheritance and to re-
ceive in my person the honors paid to
the name of Columbus in commemora-
ton of the discovery Of America.
ITO these mysterious workings of
Providence am indebted for the hos
pitality which the Ameican people have
extended to me. I shall never forget
the kindness which has been shown me,
nor my visit to this beautiful country,
where nature has been so prodigal of
her gifts and where man. by his labor.
has been able to increase his wealth
and attain degree of prosperity which
is truly marvellous
'These honors, however, will not
arouse in my heart feelings Of vanity
+, On the contrary, hope the remem-
brance of this important period will
increase in mo a sense of tha immense