New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-07
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
JOHN CABOT OR COLUMBUS?
REASONS FOR BELIEVING THAT THE f""N''
WAS THE pIscovERER OF AMERICA

WAS THE DIscOvERER OF AMERICA
To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: John Cabot was the dscoverer OF the Coh''-
,ant ~ North America and Christopher Columbus
was not Strange indeed. is the ignorance oi .no
American people regarding their own history ""
boast OF the education Of the masses we Do'',
our free school system. which Is justly resa'u."
the cornerstone Of the Republic Nevertheless, ~
dav II asked who discovered the North american
Continent 30 per cent of the inteiliseh' Po'' w" -
the community would answer Columbus ""ele
Is historical students know that 1t was Caoo" i"'
substance Of this statement IL contained III an a.
ticle written by and published III Inc
tury Magazine" Of May, 1887. Far play Is So
fng trait OF the American people. ana "hs" 80
clearly understand the case they VIII no' '. AZ,
10 place the laurel the brow OF MN WIZ
.erves H. Let us look at the facts IL - "'"'
nccessarv 70 cite a few OF the many authorities "i
the subject. -, ,he
We read in George Bancrofts History VI wy
United States from the Discovery OF the <i'.e'
Continent" (nineteenth edition, Boston i''
1853 Vol l. pp i0-lD a quotation from the com
,ni.son of King Henry VII OF England. empower
ing John Cabot and his son. Sebastian 'ao''' ~
sail into the Eastern Western ana Nor'he'" %
in search OF islands. provinces or regions
hitherto unseen by Christian people ana u a",>
the banner OF England on city, isiand' OF eo
and az vassals OF the English Crown to possess anu
croft then SAYS: Under this patent john
Cabot taking with him his son Sebas'ia''' en-
barked. After sailing prospercusiy' as ne ''po -,
for seven hundred leagues, on June ~ 1891 cary AZ
the morning. almost fourteen months peio'o
lumbus on his third voyage. came in sght Oh .nr
Main and more than two years Defore Ai''''s
yosnucci called west of the Canar!es. ne discovered
tho Western Continent probably in the latitude vi
about g degrees among the dismal Gins OF LAURA
dor He ran along the coast for many ieHs"os' "
is said even for three hundred. and iahdeu' :.
He planted on the land large cross Win inc ''aS
az England" etc. AS cumulative evidence WI,
also quote from Wnsor's Narrative ana .,,'.ea,
History OF America" Vol. III. p 3D. az ioio"s'
"We now know that John Cabot was the
,,o,oror ., America" No language can be
palmer than this. On the other hahd ""h' u'
Columbus do? He discovered the small insis"n'
cant island OF San Salvador Can that De caneu .,'e
American Continent? Certainly not Neither t,ie
most ardent partisan nor the most ihoSicdi a.,
will urge such claim prcdess SvoI ION D. s
ss II 6 Sse to that aav What
shorter route than the Portuguese II IS rue uhas
his third voyage CoumpG G.% n'nr,can Con,
nent but this Bancroft says was long AFTER oOnh
nent and taken possession Of 1t In the name VI
TbIs John Cabot is proved to be the dscoverer OF
the North American Continent and he made II
known the World y n4 rs S sea lnas tne
reached San Salvador. but their discovery wd1
fr,,itIcss Seba sian Cabot had evidently tne sou,
Of an explorar and after his return to Ensaniu
with his father that first great voyage ne
crossed the ocean in search OF flrtheI discoveries,
for Bancroft tells that Sebastian taBot d
native OF Bristol his second voyage sileu il4l,.
England in May liyS with three hundred men LOT
Labrador by way OF Iceland and reached tne COT
tinont in the latitude of SO degrees ana. naVins
proceeded along the shores OF the Cniten States
10 the southern boundary of Maryland or per
to The latitude of Albemarle Sound. want OF pro
visions induced him to return 10 t1nsIanu Sn
croft Boston edition of 1871. Vol. /. p ID oepns-
tian 10 whom many consider the credit TOT the us
covery Is due more than TO his father. was porn
probably In li74 at Bristol. England, ana 'hsy
sailed together their memorable voyage III IN me
shin Mathew Of Bristol. We also read thar Eu-
| ward VI made him inspector OF the navy ana sasc
him q pension. IN 1853 he was the prime move.
and director of the expedition of merchant an-
ycnturers which opened 10 England an impor hai
died in London " l55,." tSee cabot IN Ranu'
WcNall; & Co s Encyclopedia and Gazetteerl
When therefore the glory of the discovery OF the
North American Continent belongs TO England ana
the Ango-Saxon race why should we ignomlni,,
o,lsy weld tho honor to the Spanish or Portuguese
Let these facts sink deeply into the hearts an5
minds OF e. Try man. woman and child In the tnltsu
states and when the four hundredth anniVersarI
June o. 1870 shall Cabots discovery Sho9i,
be celebrated throughout the length and Dreadtmi
of the land and statues should be erected III az!
the chief cities Of this country 10 Cabot me tt"'
dscoyerer Of the North American Continent $50,
J HOOKER HAMERSLEf.
Beverly Mass, May %. 1897.