The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-01
Americas Real Discoverer.

The fact that the people of Bristol, on
the west coast of England, are prepar-
ing to celebrate, on June q, 1897, with
fitting pOmp, the four hundredth ami
versary Of TIE completion of the first
of the voyages of western discovery un-
dertaken by John and Sebastian Cabot,
the practical result Of which was that
North America became a possession Of
progressive England instead of de-
pendency of retrogressive Portugal or
Spain. Is of more than casual interest
to the people of the United States.
While Columbus antedated the Cabots
in the honor of finding land in the un-
known western seas. it is pretty well
conceded by modern historians that it
was the Cabots who first set foot upon
therefore, we owed to Columbus. four
years ago, the sentimental debt which
was SO magnificently liquidated by the
commemorative dedication of the Chi
cago Worlds fair, shall it be said that
we are ready to ignore the more prac-
tical obligation under which we as a
nation rest to the two intrepid marin
ers of mother England?
Our consul at Bristol, Lorin w. La
throp, well says upon this subject:
1t should be for the United States to
take the initiative and not Bristol. a res
ident of Bristol. in a Bristol ship manned
by Bristol crew, pre-empted the conti-
nent OF North America for the English
speaking race. The primary end funda-
mental title of the people of the United
states to the soil of their country rests se-
curely on the Cabot voyages. 4 vast ter
ritory was reserved for the expansion OF
England by these Bristol expeditions, and
the great nation that We have built up IN
these pre-empted lands should seize next
years opportunity to honor the Cabots
ana to pay Il graceful compliment to B.'is-
tol. l make no foolish claims for che
Cabots. What they actually accomplished
was to take possession of the country in
the name of the king of England, and
their action was tacitly recognized by
Spain and Portugal in the most practical
ana effective way. In spite of the fact
that neither of these two countries ever
attempted to found a settlement In North
America. they claimed between them iii
the New World. The famous bull Of Pope
Alexander VI, issued in 1i93 divided all
the New World between Spain and Por-
tugal England, though a Catholic conn
John Cabot asked Henry VII for permits
sion to sail on his first expedition the
Spanish Ambassador at London advised
his sovereigns of the circumstance. He
received from Ferdinand and Isabella,
however. instructions to inform Henry
that England was free to hazard the pro-
Ject, but must take care that the enter
prise should be carried out without prej,i-
dice to the rights of Spain and Portugal.
AS subsequently set out, these rights were,
under the Pope's bull. as defined by the
treaty Of Tordesillas. that Portugal
owned Labrador and Newfoundland, ana
that Spain owned the mainland to the
SOUTH but no attempt was made to enforce
these barren rights. England was left to
develop the discoveries of the Cabots as
she would.
Consul Lathrop believes that there
could be devised no better way Of COM
memorating the deeds Of the Cabots
than by the presentation to the city of
Bristol by the United States of q statue
Of Sebastian Cabot, of whom an excel
lent likeness has been preserved. He
suggests that 1t be erected In Bristol
by the bank Of the river whence the