St. Paul daily globe., 1893-10-13

squandered in conducting bull fights.
Carter Harrison, the distinguished
mayor of Chicago, would have avoided
the humiliation of abandoning his his
toric slouch soft felt and wearing tall
silk tile, with the Spanish princess
dangling on his arm, while the street
gamins made music by shouting:
Where did you get that hat?'
When it is further considered that
Gov Nelson's ancestor, Hon. Left
Erickson. got a scoop on Columbus by
antedating his discovery 400 years, it
seems to have been waste of raw ma
terIal for Here Domenico, the father of
Mr.. Columbus, to have married Susanna
FontanarosSa and brought Christopher
into the world at all.
The late Judge Aaron Goodrich, of
st. Paul, many years ago published an
elaborate book to prove that Gov Mel
sons predecessor. Mr.. Erickson, did the
real discovery act. and the claim of
Judge Goodrich is now acce pied by all
sayantS-includlng the GLOBE. The
blue blood of Boston'S Back Bay has re-
Gently erected, with much pomp, a
monument (On which a Goldfish rampant
Is carved) TO Left, partly on the ground
OF his explorations. and also to substan-
tiate the theory that he invented Goldfish,
from which the aristocracy of America
has sprung.
1t was Boston's thrift which added
large quantities of salt to the kits ex-
ported, in order TO increase the weight
nF tEn rrndnot u
Hence, even if Gov. Nelson's ancestor
invented Goldfish. he should not be held
responsible for the salt fraud which
has ever since been perpetFated upon
the guilelesS public.
1t is true that Chicago claims that
the Boston monument was erected in
lit of Jealousy when the Hub discovered
that the Garden city contained the most
gold; but that is mere sentimental
theory, adapted to the prehistoric gilded
age. Chicago also points with pride to
the ashes of Columbus on exhibition in a
casket in the monastery of La Rabida in
jackson park. This, too. is weak argu-
ment, for Chicago keeps two stalwart
Columbian guards, with drawn swords,
protecting the casket, and the public are
unable to determine whether or no the
ashes resemble Columbus.
To add indlgnity, and show a lack of
faith in their own theory that the
worlds fair is honoring the right man,
the management declined the supreme
test when Boston committee recently
invaded La Rabida, and asked to taste
the ashes to ascertain whether they had
real Christopher flavor. The commit
tee was ruthlessly thrust aside. and mar
rowly escaped alive from the Columbian
guards.
Aside from the present controversy
and complication between Chicago and
Boston, vast amount of trouble would
have been avoided if Colum bus had
kindly remained in a state of chaos, and
refused to have come into the world.
Isabella would not have been obliged
to deposit her jewelrv with her
uncle to raise $3.50 to supply Co
lumbus with funds to purchase
coonskins from the North Ameri-
can Indians. If he could have died
before ne was born, he would not have
been confined in a San Domingo dun
geon by BObadilla, or shipWrec ked
on the coast of Trinidad. He would not
have returned to Spain in chains and
disgrace for disobedience, and died a
blind and disappointed man because he
was not made king of his discoveries.
Taking consensus of the argument
and of history, it is beyond q uestlOn that
MIR. Columbus now regrets his birth. 1t
is true it is little late for his repent
ance for being inflicted upon the world;
but in view of his efforts, his battles,
his voyages and his trials, it seems only
generous to decline to cherish any NAL
ice against him for having existed.
1t is, therefore, merciful to ask, as
the GLOBE does in his behalf, a sus-
pension of popular Judgment against
Columbus until ali the facts in the ase
can be fully investigated and positively
ascertained.
If it should ultimately be proven that
Mr.. Columbus never should have been
born, we can then consider the pro-
priety of recalling the Columbian ex-
position and drop a tear Gin Back Bay)
to the memory of Gov. Nelson's an
cestOr, the Hon. the Mr.. Left Erickson.