The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

In the Genoese territory in Italy Cristoforo Colombo was born. In the first half of the fifteenth century. The story of his life is the greatest romance of the old world. which is coupled with the new world. The present greatness of the western hemisphere makes It's discovery one of the supreme facts of history More than four hundred years have passed since Columbus fell upon his knees upon the soil of new world and kissed the earth. and gave thanks to God. More than four centuries since he discovered Cuba. '"The Gem of the Antilles" and since he drew his sword planted the royal standard, and took possession of this country, this San Salvador, In the name of Spanish Sover- eigns. In imagination we pass over the period of exploration and discovery, of colonization and conquest. of warfare and bloodshed for control of territory, the final triumph of the proud English man, and then the greater triumph of religious liberty and political freedom, won with a pledge of life. fortune and sacred honor. in the greatest revolution of the age. finding its truest expression in that great declaration. embodying the self-evident truth that All men are created equal. that they are endow- ed Dy tnelT "lIh CcItdlI lienable rights. that among these arc life. liberty and the pursuit of happi- ness"
 Turning from this survey to the first half of the nineteenth century. in the same Genoese territory in Italy. was born Dominica Ghio. receiving his Christian name in honor of Columbus father, Domenico Colombo. He spent twenty five years of his life in his na- tive land He was born amid the clash of resounding arms. amid the contest of meteoric Napoleon with the papacy, with the incidents fresh in the minds of Italians of the temporal power being taken from the Pope by decree of Ma poleon and the bull of ex-communica- tton against tho emperor issued by the Pope. Ghio opened his eyes to the light at the time when the Pontiff was Iibe- rated from his gorgeous captivity in the palace of Fontaineb1eau, and Ma poleon, "the somnambulist of a vanish ed dream" went to St. Helena. His boy hood witnesses the Austrian sway fin Italy, the execution of Murat and the struggle of the year 1920. Italian pa- triots and with all Italy. from the Ty- rolese Alps to the Southern shores of Sicily in a blaze of insurrection. Do- menico Ghio. sails from Leghorn, a sea port of northern Italy the city of the lazarettos. and with the dream of life to be spent in ''the land of the free and the home of the brave" he lands in New York City August IS, 1s4o.
 For six yetars he wandered over the continent of North America and in 1846 when the first aggressive movement of the Mexican war was being planned Ghio then in New Orleans. enlisted in the United States army in WGshington's battery and fought bravely at Monte rey. Buena Vista. Vera Cruz. cerro Cor do, Contreras. Cherubusco, MoIino del Rey. at the storming of Chapultepec, at the capture of the capital and with a victorious army marched fin the city of the Montezumas. He served under Gen Worth and under Gen. Winfield Scott.
 Having cast his lot in the sunny southland. and with loyalty to his adopted section. the outcome Of princi- pie born of love. he was ready to give his life for her defense. When the cry "to unite" and "to arms" went up from the Southland, that tale of submission might not be told. Domenico Ohio, vol unteered at Talladega, Alabama. to fight for Dixie and was enlisted in Co. R., commanded by Captain Shelley. in the fifth Alabama and in the Rhodes brigade. He followed the southern cross on many hard fought battlefield. He saw the star of the Confederacy rise brightly at First Manassess He f0llowr