Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-05-07

"
W twenty others on
board, hove to at
the end of hard passage from Bristol,
with the coast line of the American
continent clad in the pleasing verdure
of the short-lived summer, in full view
before him, says the Independent.
They were, as the olden historians, Mr..
Bancroft among them, believed, the first
Europeans to set eyes on the continent
al shore of the new world; and what
ever doubts have been raised since by
the conflicting testimony Of the maps,
whether Cabot's landfall was on Cape
Breton, on an eastern projection OF
Newfoundland, or on the coast Of Lab
rador, his exploit created for England
her claim on the North American con-
tinent. In the marvellous events OF
the all but 400 years that have since
rolled away It has become the narrow
opening for the English language,
English law and English civilization to
enter and spread over the continent.
What John Cabot had done he did not
himself know. The whole theory OF
his voyage was based ON series OF
geographical Misunderstanding. The
fame of his discovery was never great
enough to profit him much and soon
died away altogether The facts as to
his landfall are in dispute. Not line
has reached us of his journals or
maps. He and his history remain as
"the sphinx of American history for
over 300 years" For sixty years the
story of his discovery was unwritten
in England. His son, Sebastian, was
an old man living in London when
Richard EIDE began to stir up his coun-
trymen with the thought that Cabot
had found for them great world to
conquer and colonize. England was
then waking up to the conception Of
America as neither an island on the
path of Cathay nor mysterious ex-
tension of Asia, but an independent
continent, worth owning and coloniz-
ing on it's own account. Richard Hak-
luyt, one of the greatest of all geog-
raphers, appeared on the scene with
his tireless energy and contagious en-
thusiasm, and proved the truth of
Sidney's saying: Your Mr.. Hakluyt
hath served for very good trumpet"
Then came Raleigh, Gorges, John
Smith, the pilgrims, the puritans, the
capture of Quebec, the collapse of New
France in America, the expulsion o.
Spain and the establishment of the
English-speaking people from the Arc.
tic ocean to the peninsular boundaries
behind which Mexico has retreated'
with her Spanish civilization. John
Cabot and not Christopher Columbus
was the pioneer Of all this proud and
advancing civilization. The 400th an
! niversary of his landfall on our north
ern coast has vastly more significance
for us than the Spanish admiral's had
on San Salvador. This anniversary is,
near at hand-next June. We cannot
afford to let 1t pass without some
worthy recognition. 1t should be large
enough and dignified enough to be rep
resentatlve and national in it's char
acter. 1t will be celebrated next May
in Bristol, England, the port from
which Cabot sailed, and in Halifax, NJ
s., as representing in a general way
the coast on which his landfall was
made. The greater and more digni-
fed commemoration should be in New
York or Boston, as representing the
people to whom the greater benefit of
his dicovery was accrued. The facts
of the history have been collected and
admirably presented by Justin Win
sor in an address before the New York
Historical society in November last.
At present the American Historical as
ISOLATION is assembling at Columbian
university for the annual meeting Of
the National society. The presence Of
this oganization calls to- mind the be-
ginnings of history on this continent
and our debt to, John Cabot. The cele-
bration of Cabot's landfafl would be a
truly American anniversary. Such a
celebration would advance popular in
terest in American history by many
long steps, 1t would turn the atten-
ton of students away from Spanish
romances and cruelties to the whole
some and instructive facts of our own
national development. It would dis
close the true sources OF our national
power and the greatness, the lines Of
growth and the principles of national
cohesion and national Expansion and
progress and awaken interest in the
more characteristic lines and features
of our national history.