The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-10-05
AN HISTORICAL REV

fOrJuRal tnat the rivalry between tnem
ended. Da Gana's discovery of an &C.
tual ard easily traversed ocean route TO
India, and Columbus failure to reach
that country, though 1t was supposed
that he had touched the verge fit, made
the eastern, or Portuguese, route more
popular than the western for time, yet
SPANS subsequent discoveries began to
turn Europe's attention more and more
to the region west of the Atlantic, Colum-
bus landed in South America in 1893
Americas Vespucius found the north
coast OF South America in 1899
Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in
1913 Bilboa crossed the Isthmus of
Darien in 1913, and was the first Euro
pean to get glimpse of the Pacific
Ocean. Magellan, in 1918, sailed through
the straits at the southern end of South
America which bear his name, pushed
boldly westward across the Pacific, pass
ed India, reached Spain by wav Of the
Cape Of Good Hope. He had circum-
navigated the globe, proving that the
earth was round, and proving, also, the
error OF Columbus assumption that there
was q short western or southwestern
ocean passage from Europe to India.
These great achievements OF Spaniards,
or Of persons in the Spanish service, to-
gether with Pineda's exploration, in
1919, of the gulf coast of North America,
from Florida to Mexico, Cortez's landing
in Mexico that year, and his conqu est OF
that country, Pizarro's conquest Of Peru
in 1912, and the landing OF other Span
iards around the same time or soon alter
ward in other parts Of the continent-in
North, Central or South America-furn-
ished Spain a title to most of the new
World, and gave her decided pre-emi-
hence among the great nations.
That was SPANS golden age. Between
1892 and 1888 Spain was at the height Of
her power. She had in those success
sion OF the ablest rulers in her history.
Ferdinand and Isabella, who, by mar
riage, united the crowns of CASTLE and
Aragon, were the rulers at the beginning
of that period. Isabella died earlier than
Ferdinand, and Ferdinand's successor
Charles l., known'in history as Charles
V as he was elected Emperor OF Ger
many under the latter title three years
after he became King of Spain. He was
the ruler Of both countries until his
abdication in 1866, forty years after he
became King Of Spain and thirty-seyen
years after he became Emperor of Ger
many. Charles territory was larger in
area than Alexander's, Traian's, Charlie
magne's or Victoria's. 1t comprised
about half OF Europe, and nine-tenths of
all the New World, which had been ex-
plored or visited. When Scott said that
"the sun never sets on the immense
empire of Charles w." he put into con-
else form an assertion OF very obvious
physical fact Spain, with its domain in
Europe and America, constituted by far
the larger and more important part Of
this empire. At Charles abdication he
gave the imperial crown TO his brother.
Fer iinand, and the sovereignty over
Spain, the Netherlands and other OF his
hereditary possessions in Europe, as we'll
as OF all his realm in America, he con.
ierred on his son Phillip ii. Phillip
ruled from 1866 until 1888 Until 1888
he was the most powerful and conspicu-
GUS OF Europe's monarchs. The year
1888 was the year OF the defeat OF
invincible armada by the Brit
ish From the discovery OF America, in
1892, TO the defeat OF the armada, Spain |
was the mightiest Of the worlds nations.
Her decline and fall began when Drake,
and the rest OF Elixabeth's sea
fighters destroyed most Of his feet and |
defeated forever all SPANS chances to
invade England. With the defeat Of the |
armada SPANS decline and fall began.
SPANS decline, however, which dates
from the latter part OF Phillip lis reign,
did not mean England's immediate rise. /
England, through her defeat Of the i'm
armada. did much 20 bring
SPANS head low among the nations, but
there was another country which had 10
be taken into the account. This was