The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
SECOND PAPER, JAN. II.

Il 4. ". q,
| tors?
| SIXTH PAPER, FEB. y.
| l. How did America get its name?
2 Where were the first Spanish. the first Dutch,
| the first English colony planted in America?
5. Tell something of why they came and what
| their history?
| wAsHINGToN's BIRTHDAY PRIZES.
"Irving's Life of Washington " will be given for
each of the best contributions bearing upon WASH
| ngton's birthday, follows: For the second best
| of each a copy of National War Songs" and for
the third best of each copy of Worcesters Pocket
Dictionary.
All articles must be Of fair standard OF excel
| lenee and original with the writer.
| For Washington's Birthday poem.
For washngton's Birthday essay.
For Wssbington's Birthday short story.
For Wsshington's Birthday sketch.
For Washington's Birthday sentence.
Mail all articles on or before JAN Is TO Mrs. Kate
B. Sherwood. Canton, o.
FIRST PRIZE PAPER.
In order that may fully comprehend the
motives which prompted Columbus to undertake
this voyage, condemned as il was by the wisest
geographers of the world as a foohardy attempt,
i Is necessary that go back of his time and
briefly notice few of the more prominent features
of European history within two or three centuries
immediately preceding the time of which we
| write
Making hasty review of history we notice the
| greatest events happening In the Church. 1t was
| about the beginning of The 10th century when
Peter the Hermit began his preaching against the
| nfidels who held Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Through his and vivid portrayal of the
wrongs he had seen perpetrated upon Christian
| pilgrims 10 the birthplace of Jesus. lie ct length
succeeded in arousing the nations of Europe to a
| sense of their duty, and in convincing them that
they should at once take steps looking TO the pro-
lection of Christians who wished TO visit the
country where the author of their faith formerly
| lived, moved, and had LlS being.
As a result OF his preaching the Crusaders were
| naugurated. While they defended by the
Pope and the Church generally. yet from this time
there were continuous dssensions in the Church
which, in spite of her efforts to SUPPRESS them, kept
gnawing her yitai- until finally they broke forth
| in the open eruption known as tile Reformation.
We will go back now and bring up another point
OF American a. well as European history. About
the year 1000 A. u. OF the Morse Vikings, im-
PEELED by that irresistible desire for conquest which
characterized his countrymen. sailed TO the south
| west from Greenland in search of prey. Instead
| OF finding ships to capture and plumber he found
| new country.
The place reached was the coast of Labrador, but
he sailed far south Rhode Island. This
country. from the vast number of vines found
growing. he called yinland.
Sailing back home. hes transmitted the intelli.
gence of his discoveries to his ccuntrymen. They
determined TO know more of this new country. aud
accordingly, in the beginning of the iith century,
planted colony here, which. under the fostering
care of the Roman Church. maintained its exist
| ence for about 300 years.
The reports from this colony to the head Of the
Church were zeslOusly guarded from the public
and were not revealed until the Church ia its own
good time made them public by opening to his
| torians the valuable library OF the Vatican.
We noticed that from the time OF the Crusades
| there were continuous dssensions in the Church
Through these she slowly but surely losing her
prestige with the sces of northern Europe. but
more especially with the Teutonic races. As q
natural sequence to the loss OF power came the loss
of territory.
Noting this weakening in the power OF tho
Church in Europe we can see why She in the 18th
Century began casting her eyes about in search Of
some one 10 whom she could intrust the high
privilege of bringing the Western Continent openly
before the gaze of man.
Now to bring up ons more branch, and we will
have done with branch roads; and having
solidated all into line. we hope to make rapid
progress in the advancement of this article
In the year 1875 or 1895 A. d. a child was born ia
the town of Genoa, Italy, who was destined, when
be had attained To manhood's estate. to achieve
through the aid OF his Church, glory and fame
more grand and enduring than is vouchsafed TO
many.
This was none other than Christopher Columbu.
When boy his father sent him a all academy
| where his chief studies were mathematics and
worked some time In his fathers shop, then fol-
| lowing the natural inclination Of his mind. he
became a sailor.
Possessed of q daring and courage curiously and
well blended. united with his knowledge of nauti-
cal science, he soon rose to prominence. and
| ioyed the honor of being conceded AS the most
| skilful see-captain OF southern Europe.
When we remember that with his skill and
| daring a sailor he united as whole souIed and
| answering devotion 10 the Church mortal ever
| gave, need no. wonder that he the cne of
all the devotees of the Church. selected to
the western continent.
| Having once chosen its agent In this, the Church
| spared pains 10 give him all possible nforma-
ton In regard to the country he was to find. and
| even far TO recommend a voyage to
Iceland In order that he might acquaint himself
| with certain documents preserved in that diocese
| THIS voyage Columbus made in 1477; and imme.
distey after his return he began propounding the
theory of the rotundity of the earth and to inn
perfume the powers OF Europe for aid in fitting out
| an expedition to test the validity of his views
1 1t was not for some time. however, that he So
| cured the coveted aid; but finally he succeeded in
eniisting the sympathy OF Queen Isabella, who M
| influenced by TWO motives; first, the aggrandize-
ment of Spain; second the edfyng Of tie Church.
Columbus having at last succeeded in obtaining
the coveted aid, LOST time In idle dreaming but
| went work at once making preparations for his
voyage. He had trouble in obtaining vessels
but 10 obtain sailors to man them was another
| matter.
| Al length, however he overcame all dificuties
and the morning of Aug. 8. 1892 his little squad
consisting of the PiDtn the Nina. and the Santa
| Maria, Columbuss flagship sailed out OF the har-
Dor Of Psios Spain, and began it's eyeatful VOYAGE
| across the trackless deep
| Everything went well until they entered the
| trade winds. when his men, who shared the gnor.
| ant superstitons of the day, became mutinous
| Columbus had an explanation for every fear 80
| that through command, entreaty and deprivation
| OF fear he enabled TO keep them In their
| places. and thereby 10 keep the ships on their
| course. which he knew would Ut length end In .
| triumph for him.
Finally, after two months and more of confirm.
| Gus sailing, they were rewarded by seeing land on
| the night Of Oct ii. 1884, On The morning of the
| 18th Columbus, In a proud and joyous mood bear
| ing The banner of CASTLE and Leon, attended by
| bis officers landed and took formal possession OF
| the country for the Spanish crown.
| The land reached was one OF the Bahama Islsnds
| But Columbus supposed that he had reached The
eastern cosst of Asia, and because Of this belief he
named the natives Indiana He retained this be-
| lief until his death. Those who gave him his pre-.
| vious knowledge Of this country seem to hnye
had no idea Of It's being other than eastern Asia,
| or India.
| The results OF this voyage too great for the
| puuy mind OF man to comprehend. Out OF il have
| grown The partial Development Of Asia Africa ana
| Australia, the fuller development Of the America
the advancement Of civilization 70 Q plane com.
| n,ensurste @ith its surroundings. In the advances
| of civilization forms of Government have been
| greatly modified, until. crowning triumph OF
tl.is species Of evolution. The United States Of