New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
AN OLD SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE
CONTROVERSY.

It's First Chapter. I45s-iiss-l4st. BY Henry
Harrisse octayo Pr WI I Msad ,'S 3 Con "
It is q widely received belief that the early
partition Of our quarter Of the globe between
Spain and Portugal was settled by the POPE 10
the satisfaction Of all parties concerned. 10 'he
demolition Of this belief Mr.. Harrisse addresses
himself in the first instalment OF a series which
Is to be hoped he will continue. since IT is bound
to be a substantial addition to our literature
He fortifles his own hypothesis In the present
volume by chain Of argument as convincing
as IL IL picturesque When Columbus returned
to Europe after his discovery OF America ne was
compelled by stress Of weather TO cast anchor
at the mouth OF the Tagus Soon after, on the
invitation Of King Joao. Columbus met the
Portuguese monarch at Valparaiso, and was by
him Informed that In the light Of treaty signed
between Spain and Portugal. at Evora. In l4'3
the discoveries reported would seem to include
countries belonging to Portugal From thls
declaration Of Joao's the beginning OF our diplo-
matte history may be said to date. Columbus
disclaimed knowledge Of the treaty. HIS ORDERS
had been to steer clear Of st. George Of the COLO
Mine. on the coast OF Africa. and OF the whoie
Guinea-Ferdinand and Isabella recognizing the
sovereignty Of Portugal in those parts-but. az
for the rest. he had worked under the banner or
SPAIN and under that banner his discoveries
would remain We need not follow MT Har-
risse through his analysis OF the documents re-
Iating to the claims Of the two countries at that
time The main point Is that Spain puts the
wheels Of her diplomacy in motion. and that by
the bulls OF Alexander VI she was soon placed
in a position 70 advance strong arguments
against the pretensions Of her neighbor IL Is
interesting to pause here upon our authors ex-
clio OP authority
IN the matter Of newly discovered countries
Mr. Harrissc notes that those writer's were In
error who dismissed as ridiculous the appeal OF
the Venezuelans to ancient Papal DEGREES in re-
gard to those rights over Guiana which have
recently been in controversy between Great
Britain and the South American State IT is
evident" he says. that to Judge the question
with impartiality we must carry our thoughts
back TO the time when the donation was made TO
SPAIN and not consider IT with the ideas which
prevail to-day" At the close Of the fifteenth
century Papal authority In such matters was
universally recognized and Mr.. Harrisse cites
John Of Salisbury TO show that England herself
admitted It, Henry H. according TO the ancient
chroncler. acquired Ireland under Papal grant.
Other illustrations emphasize authors un-
Outstanding Of the situation which put Spain
and Portugal in opposition to one another. but
Having established this point Mr.. Harrisse pro-
oeeds to show howthe two kings nevertheless con-
trived to settle the difficulty between themselves.
They were not evenly matched. Joao II was
frank and chivalrous to such a degree as to be
called by Isabella herself the Perfect Prince. "
Ferdinand was. in our authors phrase. an astute
politician. Ambassadors passed between them
and between their courts and the Popes. and
ultimately. by the Treaty Of Tordeslas, the con-
tending Powers found themselves on a ground
Of common understanding. Here enters the mis-
understanding by which historians have been
controlled.
Alexander VI IN his famous bull OF demarca-
ton practically divided the globe into two parts.
giving one to Spain and the other to Portugal.
But under the Treaty OF Tordesillas. signed in
1894. the contestants agreed first upon theo-
retical line Of demarcation fixed after discussion
by their experts. and further consented to send
one or two caravels each. with pilots. astrono-
mers and mariners on board. to meet at the
Grand Canary and proceed thence to a certain
point which would be recognized by both Pow
ers as the boundary mark OF each others pos
sessions II land was reached a tower or some
other mark was to be erected. Their crafty
manner Of keeping the discussion from that
time out Of the hands Of the Pope, whom ordi-
narily they would have preferred to regard as
umpire in such disputes Is shown by the terms
Of the treaty The Pope was TO be requested to
confirm II. but the contracting parties swore on
the Holy Cross that in case they should ever
violate the articles OF agreement they would not
ask the Pope any prelate for absolution Of
the act. This oath may have been devised in
good faith as entailing fearful penalty. In 1t.
however. see that oophoe was left for in
dependent negotiations in the event Of any viola
ton OF the treaty Subsequently there were
more Papal bulls and more treaties between
Spain and Portugal. but the final settlement Of
the matter be traced back to the Treaty Of
Tordesillas. and hence to a source not purely
Papal The details OF Mr. HARNESSES exposition
Of all this OF course directly interesting
for the scientist and geographer. but a wider
public should appreciate the authors ingenious
gathering together Of the threads in a contro-
versy long since obscured by time and the
chances Of history. II is book TO read with
care and one that once read will be remem-
bered We trust that Mr.. Harrisse will continue
the task begun in Its pages. BY carrying the
diplomatic history OF America down to times
nearer our own he will earn and more
gratitude from a nation already In his debt for
studies OF profound value In its history.
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