Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
HIS EFFORT
CONTINUED from Tenth Paga)

natives were subjected to cruelties and
suffering growing out of the cupidity OF
those who succeeded Columbus until the
natives faded away and disappeared.
The controversies over those who are
responsible for his success, and those
who are to be charged with his defeats.
are interesting. but not, 1t seems to me.
full Of the Importance which the writer's
ascribe to them. The main and greatest
factor in the life and history Of Column
bus Is, first, his confidence in his geo
graphical theories: second. his power Of
responsiveness in respect to them and
the communication of the faith he had in
them to those with whom he talked: and.
third, his never-failing determination to
expend everything he had of effort. prop
erty and life In the pursuit Of his pur-
pose. He was human and had many
periods of encouragement He was
human and used some arts to invite pub
lie sympathy and public interest. He
was human and loved the exercise of
power. and reserved to himself and his
family an hereditary claim to political
control in the new world which he was
about to open. He was human and had
some weakness as to acqusitiveness,
but all these defects only served to en-
phasize and bring out In greater relief
his intense devotion to one idea. and that
idea the one which developed under him
and those who came after him, doubled
the world to the knowledge OF civilized
mankind. and made possible the four
he sowed-a growth which we typify in
this monument Of today under the shadow
Of tho Capitol which represents in its
highest degree the progress Of Christian
civilization, the advance OF human hap
piness the development OF popular gov
eminent and the maintenance and pres
ervation OF humans rights.
Struggles Make Him Hero.
Tho struggles Of Columbus present the
basis OF a truly epic poem and make him
a hero whose great and exceptional vir-
tues command respect and veneration.
TT 1s interesting to note that now, as
We celebrate the memory Of Columbus.
We are nearing the completion Of that
great enterprise. tho Panama canal, which
opens the passageway to the East Indies
at the very place where Columbus
sought 1t as q natural waterway and
found It not. In the narrow isthmus be-
tween the north and south continents.
and where 400 years ago Charles v. the
successor of the sovereigns Of Columbus.
projected such q passagoway. which the
world has waited all this time since to
see constructed.
Columbus little realized the immense
expanse Of that wide ocean that sepa-
rated him and this land he had discovered
from the East Indies that he sought, but
his theory was right. however lacking in
of geographical distances and
details the fact has shown him to be.
1T 10 most appropriate In this beautiful
place IN which the visitor to the coun-
trys capital first sets foot upon the soil
OF the small District that is the only
territory in which this great government
exercises exclusive Jurisdiction. that he
should be confronted by q statue of the
great mariner whose genius and daring
opened this half world to progress and
In front Of a railway ter
minal station combining utility and art in
the highest degree, and brilliantly illus
trating the progress Of the human race
in transportation. and In plaza that by
a graceful sweep leads the eye up to the
home Of liberty and popular power, CO.
lumbus may we'll have his greatest and
most fitting memorial"