Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-06
VII, Were the Real DISCOVERIES?


The unsolved pr )blem of the original
d,scoverer Of this continent is given
j.. new interest by the contribution of
an able and interesting article to the
Irish world by Daniel j. Dwyer, in
which the writer advances the theory
that long before the NOrsemen crossed
the Atlantic. this continent was discov-
cred by irish explorers. While all
conce,le that Columbus was the instru-
ment through which this continent
was opened to the commerce and col
onization of Europeans, and that the
Norscmen in all probability visited
America centuries before Columbus
and his little fleet sailed from Genoa.
there has still been much evidence of
earlier visitors from the Old World
than the Eorsemen. Mr.. Dwyer con-
! tends that these earlier visitors We're
from ireland, and quotes authorities
and cites documentary facts which at
least lend a romantic interest and
plausible coloring to his theory.
In later years. as everybody knows.
thousands and scores of thousands of
I Irish people have flocked from their
own unhappy island to this land of
! liberty and opportunity. but the idea
that the Irish we're the original dis
coverers of this continent is some-
/ thing new to most readers. OF course,
Mr. Dryers theory rests largely upon
legendary evidence and upon the al
legged Irish origin Of ruins and remains
which admittedly antedate the known
occupation of America by white men.
j He finds it recorded in ancient Irish
chronicles that a great island to the
West was known as Greater Ireland"
with colonies established upon its
shores and with some degree of civil
= izatiOn attained there. He asserts that
the remains of Il European civilization,
the civilization that was associated
with the principles of Christianity,
were yet to be found in America when
, Columbus and his immediate success
ors landed on its soil. Celtic crosses
found within the sphere of the alleged
influence Of the original discoveries
are asserted to be irrefutable proof of
the claims of the Celtic race to the
discovery of the continent. The ira
ditions of the Mexicans that "a great
white chief from the land from across
F, the water" introduced religion, art,
science and agriculture among the peo-
' pie is quoted in defense of Mr.. Dryers
claim.
While Mr.. Dryers article may fur
nsh the pert photographers juicy text
it is nevertheless worth while recog-
! niZins the fact that there are some
ton on this hemisphere which have
never yet been satisfactorily calculated
, and one of them has been the discov-
cry at various places in the ruins Of
! Central America, at Palcnque and
iChitZen-Itza, of Il cross similar to the
, Celtic cross so familiar among the
archaeological remains of Ireland The
discovery has puzzled Mexican arch
acolOgists. and the fact dcduced by Mr..
Dwycr may serve as Il working basis
for clearing up this mystery. The APP
pcarance of the Irish as the dscovercrs
and first colonizcrs of American soil
! need not, necessarily. awaken surprise
The virility. pcrtinacity and adventure
| Gus character of the race is a matter
' of remote and modern history. The
part that Ireland's sons have played in
the politics. religion. art, science and
industry Of the worlds history may
we'll confirm the belief that if any ma
ton Of Western Europe can claim pre-
Columbian hOnors on this continent it
is the Irish race