The Irish standard., 1910-11-05
By Req. Michael O'Brien.

be convinced. And let it be remem-
bered that when all hope seemed lost
when the future of civilization was
in the balance-the Catholic priests
and monks so defended him and so
pleaded for his cause that the aid of
Isabella was gained.
Four hundred and eighteen years
ago, on the third of August, ere the
sun had fairly risen, three little ships
moved down the harpor of Saltez
amid the heart-rending cries of loved
ones. Columbus commanded the prin-
cipal one-the Santa Maria. You
know of his struggles with the des-
perate crew, how he kept in check
the disaffected sailors, how he re.
stored order when all seemed lost,
how he dispelled moral tempests more
terrible than those of the ocean, how
he showed amid all difficulties quail
ties so exceptional and so dissimilar
that they deserve to be ranked with
the superhuman; how the louder be-
came the cries of mutiny the firmer
his grasp on the wheel, and the fierc-
er the demand to turn about the
straighter did his Prov break the
eastbound crest. He triumphed over
every difficulty, and the twelfth day
of October witnessed his success. He
overcame every obstacle until now
at the head of the great army of navi-
gators he stands supreme, the glorious
leader of an intellectual host, a king
by the suffrage of science and the di-
vine right Of genius.
expression only in music and ideas
which poesy alone can convey. As
human speech, although one of Gre
atoms divinest works, is too weak to
voice the intensity Of love, so mere
oratory can never, in its cold analysis
fifty depict the feelings of Columbus
when he first caught sight of land
Is it any wonder that the sordid
lights of work day prudence should
pale before the glory of hope such
as his in the full splendor of it's fru
ition? There was the ecstatic rapture
of sight and sense-the mingling OF
all his being with the virgin life there
revealed amid blue seas and skies, rs
though it were the work of his owr
soul and the disqualification of his
great purpose. We seek in vain for &
comparison. Something like the feel
ings of Him who looked upon His
work and saw that it was good mus
!, have been in the mind of Columbus
wien, having planted the Cross ant
the banner of Spain on the islant
that he called San Salvador, he gazei
UPON the land, and in the ecstacy
of his joy, found it fair beyond tn,
, fondest imaginings of his fancy.
Thus was America discovered. AM
, tonight we are not honoring some
butcher called soldier, some will!
politician called statesman, some
robber called king. We are honor
, ing a man whose victories were
achieved for Christianity; who de
: stroyed ignorance and prejudice to en-
| throne knowledge and faith, and who
, without injuring anyone, contributed
, to the wealth and happiness of tn,
human race.
!, Yet when we look back over til,
| troubled life of this great hero ant
l note how he was rewarded we cal
2 scarcely repress our feelings of in
5 dignation and reproach. The ingrati
| tude Of Ferdinand stands unrefuted
!, There is dark shadow on his nam,
: which even time cannot remove. Tru,
: there was a contrast between his de
t parture from Spain and his return
> there. The humble stranger-pilot, tn
3 wandering Genoese, the daring dis
e coverer was received with royal wei
3 come. The penitential procession be
I fore his setting forth was change,
\ w q ~ AuhPAoA Po6CdAIAS ot Ills lC
turn; that requiem-like Mass by tn
solitary Padre Juan was dimmed b.
the eXultant TIE Deum' of the crowd
, that awaited him. The one was as tn
day of Calvary, the other as the da
:. of the Resurrection. 1t would be wei
for Ferdinand had Columbus missio
a ended here. But it did not. Thric
!. did he brave the sea and thrice di
he become the victim of envy. Tn
discoverer of a world he had not eve
= a bed whereon to die. He who oper
ed up home and freedom to million
:. breathed his last in public inn, wit
g the chains, his earthly reward, lyin
. beside him.
Of No disciple of the Homeric mus