New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12

the causes perhaps the most important CAUSE
for Columbus's failure as an administrator IN the
New World. In the highest fense columbus was
a man Of action. but In the ordinary meaning VI
the term he could hardly be so called ohe must
imagine him with many OF the traits OF great
inventors a class Of men who are very frequently
the victims Of their contemporaries and the idols
Of posterity As long az he was uhaDie 10 oa'i'
ont the purpose upon which he was intent ne
could be looked upon as a harmless but vexatious
lunatic hut as soon as he had achieved that pur-
pose he became an obstacle In the way Oh NE"
without genius but far more capable than ne IN
nroc,,caI affairs His worry absorption for years
in the one great thought OF his life made II I'M
nossib,e for him TO act and speak with uniform
wisdom respecting smaller matters Almost IN
vor,ah,v such a man Is the last to be conscious
~ his defect The habit which he had acquired
~ snoaking and writing endlcssly on one subject
followed him throughout his life. IL by some
miracle he could have become. after his nrst Noy-
nee silent OF speech and indifferent to the peh'
vet ouick and sternly immovab.e In his decisiohs'
n. would have been as great In politics as IN the
annals Of discovery.
Little Imagination Is needed 10 make one ieei
that some of these characteristics are reVeaieo "
the three autograph letters reproduced IN 'n'S
volume The handwriting is hasty and Irregular
but the style Is that OF a man accustomed 10 put
ting his thoughts on paper. TWO OF the letters
are addressed to an intimate frtnd, Nico'o oue-
rico In the year 1901 after Columbus had re-
turned from the New Word. Oderigo was sent oy
Genoa TO Spain as a special envoy 10 rerui''""u
and Isabella In the hope OF depressing depre"a-
tions committed on Ligurian vessels by Catalan
and Majorcsn seamen The embassy was w''"-
out result but Oder.go met Columbus al Grehaoa
,,d IN the FREQUENT conversations that followed.
Oderigo came to know more of Coiumbuss AFFAIRS
,han he did himself Perhaps Columbus dreamcd
OF returning In honor to the city which ne cia'Nhen
as his home. At all events. gays MT. tiar'Ns''
Tho chief tonic discussed was the intention or
the part Of Columbus to assign perpetua"y 10 'he
Plank Of s.. George one-;enth Of his income aris-
ing from ali his rights and privileges In the We"
World. The objec, Of the intended gift was 10 re-
duce the customs duty or tax laid upon pro'i-
s,ons brought into the city Of Genoa Doubtless
Columbus then also informed the Genocse am
bassador OF his desire to intrust 70 him for safe
booming n certified copy Of the privileges granted
nv their Catholic Majest!es as n reward Tor the
discovery Of the Transatlantic regions" OderRo
soon returned home. and the TWO men never mot
again. But the affection that existed between
them Is revealed In the very hrsi me OF the "rS'
letter In the series here printed. Inc ""e"-
ness" exclaimed Columbus. I'm which you nave
left us cannot bc told" He goes on 10 tell no"
he has !ntrusted book NJ his writings u Messc'
Francesca dl Rivarola. who Is 10 SEND IL TO ooe''-
20 and he promises 90 send another copy aE s'""
as II Is finished The letter boirays the eHthus'-
asm OF the man. Il am on the point OF setting
out" he writes. in the name OF me Holy lr'h"''
with the nrst fine weather. with great equip
men;" Thl. on March a. 1907 on Ap'h
OF the same wear ne wrote Il letter n relation 20
the other topic which Mr. Hnrrisse mentions
Again his sangure disposition defles restraint.
-. f. NOW writing not to "A man admitted 20 hs
ir,t,re,. confidence but To the ON "as IN control
OF the Bank Of 81 George. lie prcfaces matter
Of business with an apostrophe that SOUNDS IKE
a hymn Of Thanksgiving. Although my body
zoo. III, here. my heart - over tn re coH'ihun'-
IT, our Lord has conferred IN mo the greatest
favor that since David. ne has conferred on any
one The fruits Of my undertaking are alr'aiy
NANTES. ana would make great show II the o.
security " the government DID not "Vrfshad""
them" Then he adds: II am going again 20 the
Indie. in m. name Of the Holy Trinity with the
intention Of returning ~ once; and since am
mortal leave II to Don Diego. my son that o.
the entire revenue which shal. BE- received. NJ IL
IN nav Won over there the tenth OF II all yearly,
forever toward the reduction OF the dues on corn
and wine AMI other eatablc provisions. II TINS
tenth shall amount 10 anything. accept IT, and
II not, accept the good will which bear" The
man who could write 81 we'll should have been
SHARED the niseres which he suffered.
In the Hight Of the simplest and hnidcs' hiog-
raphy tina: could be written the documents IN
Columbus's Book - Privilege" furnish record
Of magnncen, promises. every one Of which was
broken. Among all thu reasons that could be
given for this bad faith-and they are innume'a-
ble-there is one which suihces for all. The 'act
the, Columbus was not n Spaalard was deemed
n legal excuse for repudia,lng all his claims. In
IN. judicial proceedings agains; Diego Columbus,
wben he attempted 10 enter INTO possession OF
the rights and privileges which he had Inherited.
the law officers OF the Spanish Crown. citing a
law known as the Ordinance of Alcalh. declared
that las the said Don Christopher Columbus was
n foreigner and not native or denizcn. and
Possesses besides no domicile in the kingdom. ac-
cording to the terms Of the said law. this grant.
although made 10 him and his heirs forever. Is
not valid. and should not be observed" In the
light OF this formal advice the group OF docu
ments which Columbus preserved With such care
read Ike n satire on the honesty 81 kings. To
this day the heir Of Columbus has the right 10
CAL himself High Admiral Of the Indies Il is an
empty honor now. 1t wa, worse than an empty
honor to Columbus. but many pages In this VOL
urpc are devoted to document which placed
Columbus on the same footing the High Ad-
rn,ral OF CASTLE BY It's terms he was entitled
TO one-third OF all the gains arising from every
maritime expedition carried out by any one With
in his admiralty. and to original Jurisdiction.
civil and criminal over Its entire extent Other
documents follow increasing to fabulous limit
the rights and authority OF the discoverer. Even
II these promises were meant 10 be kept they
we're vitiated by single decree (also included Ia
Coumbuss book which permitted the migration
to Hispanola Of every sort OF criminal except
those who may have been guilty OF hcresy. trea-
son caunterfeitlng murder by fire or sword. and