Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-06
A QUESTION.
Have the spaniards Obtained the
Body of Christopher COlumbus:

|
Body of Christopher Columbus:
R'or the Dispatch, by R. r. Howison)
Your semi-weekly issue of the 9th in
slant inserts an article saying that on
Monday, the 18th instant. the Spanish
! Captain-GeneraPs body guard would at
tend. with military honors, upon the cere-
! mony OF removing from the vault under
/ the CathedTal of Habana, the mortal re-
| mains OF Christopher Columbus in order
! to their retranSfer 10 the soil of Spain
! states that the United States Will make
no objection to such removal.
OF course not.t Why should the people
of the United States object TO the re-
moval from the New World back 10
Spain of every trace of the body or de-
scendants Of Christopher Columbus? The
historical researches of the half century
Just passed have thrown food of white
light on his person. his character, and
his life. The idol has been cast down
and shattered, and will never besrestorod
And although our school histories"
North and South. now in use. continue 20
mislead and deceive the poor innocent
children and young people Of our land as
to Columbus and many subjects germane
TO him, yet the light will soon be too
strong for such receptions
But Spain has been for four hundred
years always half century behind his
return To his country, has truly said that
Spain has been in dream" Yes. In a
dream horrible and CHASTITY and murder
fraught and deluding. IL Is this dream
That has brought her down from her posi-
ton In the sixteenth century. when she
was the most powerful, wealthy. influ-
entail, and formidable OF all monarchies |
or Europe TO her position in the present |
,lme; wnen she stands, peninsula OF |
barely 100000 square miles, and with bare |
ly 100000 of population, the most illite-
rate and cultureless OF our day in pro |
portion OF white numbers. without colo
MES, without Islands subject to her sway.
without provinces or dependencies with
out money, poor. insolyent. distracted I'm
civic and military councils. without
stable government. without even the
shadow OF civn and religious freedom
IN snort, with nothing that can mfnIstor
70 the welfare and happiness OF her peo-
PIE save an unyielding pride and scIf-
assertion. The best that can now H.
hoped for Spain is that she has come ~
!, poine eniinently favorable to A begin
ing OF repentance and reformation
Spain has kept herself SO entiroi,, o..
- tne chahnel OF historic research and
=, ' Js iess mat she seems ignorant Of The
Sg'.louhued doubts as to where the NOR
az pTuuy OF christopher Columbus really
hese: o' inns point are simply
columbus died In Valadolid. I'm snair
~ lne Zoth OF May 1906. His remains
s ',e a. ntst deposited In the vaults of
ne carthusian Monastery in SEVILLE
'here King Ferdinand erected n,onu,
nent bearing the gracious inscrin,ion
10 CASTLE and Leon Colon Gave a
,ew World" Afterwards his bodv and
nat OF his legitimate son. Diego Comm-
us were carried to Hispaniola and en-.
ombed alongside OF each other. i'm The
aults or the Cathedral OF St Dominro
hen the Island OF San Domingo m. the
est part OF It, passed from the sover-
,Ehty OF spain 10 that OF France In
'SI spain naturally desired to retain tho
nuns of co'nphus Negotfations for I
nat purpose were successful. France
o.ise..sed, and Spain entrusted TO her 1
nicers-reliEious. military. and ciyil-the
uty OF uniting with French officers and !
knowing the body of Christopher colum- c
US 10 The vaults under the cathedral s
Habana. In Cuba. But By a mistake, II
Try remarkable and yet not unnatural 2
pr unprecedented. the body OF Diego y
oiumous In It's metallic casket was the '
'oy actually removed 20 the Habana y
iuns. There II has reclaimed since up =
the 9TH day OF September 1875 And :
y body OF Christopher Columbus has :
manned IN the vaults OF ST. Domingo
,thedral. where II now Is =
Doubts on this subject arose MS early I
1871 And Spain, by her officers. made
me superficial Investigations. and pro- 4
ssed 70 be satisfied that the body of Z
'hristobai Colon was under the Ha-