New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-23


New-York
Dear Mr.. Reid: I have received your letter OF
the 9th inst. and am delighted that my study
on the true birthdate OF Columbus has interested
you. You observe very justly that. though
have succeeded in showing Columbus hid the
date of his birth. I have not clearly demon
strated what was the motive for this deliberate
reticence.
Others have also made the same observation.
and have expressed surprise that great atten-
ton has been given to question which at the
first blush seems only a matter Of very sec
ondary importance
Were t. indeed. only question Of establish
ing the exact year IN which Columbus was born.
I confess It would be a subject about which
there was no great cause for us to trouble our
heads-the game would not be worth the candle.
But behind IT there lies another question which
Is OF the greatest Importance. I refer TO the
good faith, the truthtuln~ss Of Columbus. We
are interested In the veracity Of Columbus 20
the very highest degree. for the story OF the
discovery Of America find II told IN all
the books as II is accepted by most folk. IS to a
very large extent based on the evidence sup
piled by Columbus himself. It is from the let
ters and notes that he has left; IT Is from the
two books written. one by hts son and the other
by the close friend Of the family, Las Casas-
books entirely composed from bis papers-that
modern writer's on this subject have primarily
drawn their information. and often all their In
formation
From these sources chiefly have been COM
piled all the histories we possess OF the discov-
cry Of America, from that OF Herrera, the first
in date to that OF the wealthy amateur OF
Brooklyn who has just given Us two sumptuous
volumes on Columbus. From these sources We
learn that Columbus came Of q nobls stock:
-. oSb Or,
their tombs at Piacenza; that there had been
admiraIs Of his name and blood: that his kins-
folk had always been connected with the sea;
that he himself had taken 70 the sea from his
earliest years: that he had commanded a royal
galley for King Rene and had fought beneath
the flag Of the famous Admirals Colombo, hts
relatives: that he had sailed IN every sea; that
during forty years Of seafaring he had studied
the secrets OF nature. and that his cosmOgraph-
teal speculatiOns had taught him that the mari
time space separating the extremitiss OF the
known world was not very great, and that by
crossing Il the Indies could be reached by a
shorter route than by the other way. This was.
indeed. the project. We are informed by him
self. that he proposed 10 the Catholic Kings. and
which they accepted.
So long as there existed reason 70 suspect
the authenticity Of these facts thus presented.
ono might ana even naQ 70 ACCEPT Lho NoCu-
ments which bore witness TO them; and thus. IN
time. the history OF Columbus. as it cams TO us
from Columbian sources. gathered such weight
and credit that the only Columbus who was
known was the one he himself and HIS intimates
had depicted whose career they had traced and
whose work they had explained.
But criticism. which Is no respeoter Of per
sons or things. turned at last her searching
glance on the Columbian legend and closely
scyutinized the sources whence II came. In ad-
dition - the documents OF Columbian origin
hitherto relied on. she discovered others OF an
independent character which were at singular
variance with the former. There were deeds OF
notaries long forgotten and buried beneath the
dust Of centuries in private archives; there were
writings Of contemporary Genoese. who had
never been Under the influence OF Columbus or
his family: finally there were Official docu-
meuts which cannot mislead. but which record
facts and dates with cold. businessiike imparti-
ality
BY studying these new sources Of information
II was found little by little. that many OF the
facts set forth by Columbian traditions were
controverted, and that II was necessary 20 sub
nit the tradition itself 10 close and severe IN
spectlon. At first this was done with great re-
serve-ons might almost say with timtdtty.
Such glory surrounded the figure Of Columbus.
beginning Il never occurred TO the critics that
amcng his own assertions there might be sons
which were lacking in candor. They contented
themselves with blaming his earliest biograph-
ers. and even when confronted with assertions
Of his own which were simply unacceptable. they
invented some explanation or found some plau-
sibIe excuse
The boldest among them. even Mr. Harrisse.
who has corrected so many errors which had he
come deeply Embedded In Columbia history, did
not venture 20 so further; and for authors. who
are most exactiug in all matters OF historical
research. Columbus still remains the great navi-
gator whose meditations suggested to him
stroke OF genius that led 20 discovery differ
ing from all others. In other words. the history
OF Colunbus-whIch is that Of the discovery OF
America-in all its fundamental features, and as
Il Is known 10 the world at large. remains even
to this day based above oil on the evidence Of
the person who was most interested therein.
Unfortunately 81 Is a fact. only too we'll estab-
lished now. that Columbus when he thought IL
was 10 his interest slnued against truth By
commission Just as freely by omission. He
talked as openly OF his sailor ancestors. or MS
relatives the admirals. Of his many years OF
navigation, as he was careful to Keep secret the
place and date Of his birth. This reticence. In
itself remarkable In so communicative man.
who was fond both OF talking and writing much.
did not seem important so long as the world
wes ignorant OF the true condition OF the Column
bus family; but. now that we are acquainted
Herewith, we are compelled to see things In
different light. and TO conclude that the silence
OF Columbus was deliberate. for had he stated
where he was born It would easily have become
known that CONTRARY TO his own declarationsl
bfa 20 r,gYx- " "