The Irish standard., 1898-10-08
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
\ Mr. SIMPLE. Denies That lie Discov-
cred America.

intending to remove the bones OF Column
bus from their resting place and transfer
them to Europe the following may be of
interest:
Is the claim that Christopher Column
bus discovered America founded on fact?
John b. Shipley, an American citizen
now in Europe. says it is not. Mr.. Ship
ley has uncarthed a mass of correspond
encc hitherto unknown. winch is start
ling in its disclosures. 1t contains many
letters between the holy see and the
archbishop of Dronthcim, who was at
| that time the metropolitan regarding the
government of the church in America.
Inc correspondence dates back even to
the twelfth century. II embraces the
views OF the anccnts regarding the
rotundity of the earth, the views of sci
entists upon the location of this western
world, whence warm currents and ia
voring breezes had brought whispers of
new life and conquest and adventure; it
deals with visions and astrology and oc-
cultlSm of the East. with stories from far
Siberia of the mainland beyond the chain
OF islands, and finally with those discov-
cries which are vital to the prccsnt uucs.
ton.
This most important find" says MIR.
Shiplcy, proves that the discovery of
the western hemisphere was fully known
to the heads of the Roman Catholic
! church before Spanish expeditions ever
reached our coast, and establishes be-
You'd dispute the discovery of America
by the Anglo Saxon race.
FOUND IN THE VATICAN.
Setting forth in the brllcf tina, there
once existed and still exists in the vati-
! can archives at Rome a mass of docu-
mcnts which would prove that the carly
discovery of America was not an isolated
my wife and | have disclosed the fact
that what by most historians is believed
TO be true is not true; that tho heads OF
the Roman church Il, home and abroad
were well posted as to the existence of
our land, and even had within their pos
session fifty years before the Columbian
expedition Il map showing the location
OF New England and the eastern coast.
The logic of this is evident. Prcpar-
ed with these. maps. this general infor-
nation concerning the country they
wished to control, it WAS not difficult for
them to find their way across the 'un-
known seas and claim the honor of the
deed Subsequent to this Information
followed long occupation OF American
territory. extending over hundreds of
years, by the church of Rome, whose au-
thoritics were forcwarncd and knowing
ly equipped. Little wonder is it. then,
that Columbus. who was really sent ont
to recover possession of lands formerly
under the dominion of the church. sue
cceded in his quest
we have received intelligence also of
supplementary documents discovered hy
a European scholar who has been of the
same impression as ourselves, sustaining
the evidence already found
''ln view of the recent difference of
opinion on such trivial subjects as NOR
ality and humanity. the United States
may well be proud of IL more reputable
ancestry. and Americans will now be
prepared to appreciate as they never did
before and to the fullest extent the Of
forts which have been made to put them
In possession of their own, their most
glorious ancestry. which, dating back Il
thousand years. and romantic and pic
turesque to degree. frees them forever
from such tyranny.
DISCOVERY MADE A. d. 1000.
"Thcy will appreciate this the more
because OF tho approaching occasion
when they can cclebratc-n l90O-thc
exact date of the discovery the 9ooth
anniversary of the landing of Left Erik
son in the year 1000
Time, the clear reflector of the ages,
has divulgcd her establishments care
fully hid and scrupulousIy concealed
And the close of this cvcntful century
will, in truth, mark the beginning of u
new era, for we have at last the nlthcn-
ITCHY of our ancestry, and know that to
no mongrcl nation do we owe our pres
cnt, past or future"
Surely in no more fitting time could
this information have come to light than
at this present moment.
Alive with the enthusiasm of AN awaIi-
cned and united country, welcomed as
the champion of liberty by the oppressed
the United States claims her right Of
birth, not through theory or suppusilion
but through absolute, tangible proof in
black and white
II is not surprising TO learn that gov
eminent officials in Washington have
given hearty support to the furthcrance
of Mr. ShipIry's researches.
"'rhc nation is aroused he writes.
land has urged that not a moments de-
lay be made in bringing these documents
to light and presenting to the world
proof positive of our Inheritance"
I.IIIF ERIkSON'S VOYAGE.
One turns now with new interest to
the stories of Left Eriks sons bold sailing
through unchartcd seas to "Vinland' of