West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-21

But because self.in,erest would keep hi,
mouth shut. the historian preposterousi,
assumes Columbus never heard of them.
As We are further told. he supposed
Japan to lie 5000 miles west of Europe.
The actual distance Is four times as great.
IL is hardly possible collumbus could have
been honest in thus grossly over-ra,ing the
breadth of Asia. even Il olgh all estimates
OF the width of that continent were
excessive. There would no, have been
room Tor the ''immense land" of which the
aneien,s wrote. II was aeedful to his pur.
pose TO set the distance at the lowest posi-
bic hSure. lie would as soon have though,
OF going to the moon as of Is,ooo miles
across possibly unbroken waste of unknown
waters. The Spanish sailors were ready 10
pitch him overheard before he was I.ooo
miles from land.
Whatever the distance 20 Asia, the fire..
quent mention of western world in
ancient and medieval sources did not indi.
cate any greater voyage than some Of the
eoastwise trips of European sailors.
We are also told the Spanish king gave
the navigator letter intended for the
emperor of China. But we further learn
that Columbus was appointed governor of
all lands he might discover. Could the
Spanish king expec, to take auo her mans
possessions, and still keep on good terms
with him Now China and Japan were
known countries. The concession, as un-
derstood by the king OF Spain. could refer
only to possible islands in the neighborhood
OF China. But as understood by Columbus,
II referred to lands whose existence the King
did not seriously suspect. The crafty ruler
though, he was granting little the equally
crafty navigator felt sure he was securing
much. II was case of diamond Gu,
diamond.
Well pleased with the land he saw,
Columbus does not seem To have tried
very hard to seach out those great Chinese
cities he pretended to he SO near. BY the
terms of his contract with the Spanish
government, he was virtual monarch of all
the lands he had found. As for the way to
Asia, that could wait until he had firmly
secured his possessions.
We read that when Columbus arrived al
Rabida, he found an influential friend in
the person OF Perez, the ex-confessor OF
Isabella. We also read that Columbus was
on his way to France when the Spanish
court suddenly resolved to grant hi.
demands. Righ, here, an historical secret
has been laid open. In 1888, Cousin, a
French sailor, discovered through accident
the mouth of the Amazon. His lieutenant
was one of the Pinzons who af,erward sailed
with Columbus. Pinzon was trained b,
Toscanell, an eminent scholar Who ad
vised Columbus TO sail westward. Rabids
Is close to Palos, and Perez was acquainted
with Pinzon. Spain was then Jealous oi
France, and the Spanish court was not willing
the French king should become sponsor tc
the schemes of Columbus. The navigator
was therefore turned back, and the desirec
aid promptly given. Even then, Columbus
had much trouble to procure ships and
crews, although Pinzon furnished ship a
his own expense and manned it, On TN,
way TO the Bahamas, he very naturally ad
vised his commander to steer to the south
west. After finding land, Pinzon wa
treacherous to his admiral, because h,
sought TO secure the real glory to himself
He did not succeed, because he had I,
admit that Frenohman was the prior dis
coverer. So the Spanish government sup
pressed the facts
But Columbus had talked with anothe
man who beheId American soil with hi
own eyes. Sanchez, Spanish pilot bounc
for Madeira, was driven by storm TO tho
shore Of IIayti. Columbus gave him
shelter, and he died ia his house. In fact
the American coast had several times beer
visited and described perhaps during every
century of the Christisn era.
Though Columbus was not the first to Sc,
the Western continent in the fifteenth cen
tury, he was the FIRST TO publish the fact tC
Europe. Unlike the other discoveries, III,
own was not the result Of accident. 4, wa,
the outcome Of plan carefully thought out,
pursued with unrivaled patience, fortified
with evidence that was more than circum
stantial to his mind, and pressed even to the
point OF annoyance upon the government
of Europe. II came, also, at most oppor
| tune moment. The time was ripe for In,
recognition Of such a deed. He aroused
the attention of Europe the other men did
not. Between their achievements and tha
of Columbus, there is much the sam,
parsllelsm as there is between the voyage,
Of the Norihmen and the FIRST voyage of the
Genoese navigator.
After a lapse of nearly fifteen centuries
the times were ready for the fulhlmcnt OF
Senaca's prophecy. II the more enlightened
among the contemporaries Of Columbus had
not shared his belief in the hidden CONT.
nent, he would have been thought a hope
less crank. Had he not sailed when he
did, some other navigator would very soon
have lifted the veil from America.
The Spaniards we're greedy for gold and
so was Columbus. India was known 10 b,
| rich the hidden land was represented a,
being rich. Whether he found the one o
the other, he would be opening the way Il
wealth. but in finding India, ne would h,
/ opening ohestnuis for the merchants oI
/ Europe. In finding America and In skill
fully concea'ing its true character, he woui,
more surely aggfandize himself In work
/ ing upon the cupdiiy Of the Spanish court
and iu assuming the guise Of very de
/ voted man, he exhibited all the craft Of IN,
/ politician. The game was we'll worth ih,
/ trouble ne had 10 secure IL. lie had ever,
reason to maintain his secret 10 the las
/ possible moment. II did no come to Hgh
until seven years after Columbus had passe,
away not until Balboa had gazed upon lhr
/ South Sea.
There Is nothing in this that need sur
/ prise anyone. The age Of Columbus wa,
an age Of popular ignorance. Learning wa
/ not held IN esteem by the governing classes
/ So late as 1859, the Duke Of Newcastle.
| then in CHARGE ~ Urfffet. A A,,e,tr.. Ill