Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
PRAISES HIS EFFORT
Taft Says Human Man Over
came Human Obstacles.
GIVES HISTORICAL FACTS
President Speaks at Unwilling Of Co.
lumbls Statue.
REFERS TO PANAMA CANAL
Says Great Waterway Is Amos at
Spot Where Explorer Hoped
to Find Passage.
REFERS TO PANAMA CANAL

ealing attention TO the fact that the
ranaiaa canal is about TO open the way
10 the East Indies at almost precisely
the spot where Christopher Columbus
hoped TO find natural water passage
TO the magical isles OF the orient. Pres
ldent Taft spoke yesterday afternoon
at the unwilling OF the Columbus memo
rial The Presidents speech was a hap
py combination OF fact as related by his
tory and an appreciation OF very human
man by the head Of a nation which yes
terday paid signal honor to the great
and interchangeable explorer.
The President said.
My Fellow-Countrymen:
20 arc gathered here today 10 ded-
cate this beautiful memorial TO the
greatest mariner OF history. who four
centuries and two decades ago opened TO
the possibilities Of Christian civilization
rearly one-half OF the geographical world
The story of his struggles Is dimmed
by tho lack OF details as to his early
career. and by those disputes which nat
urally arise over the humble and appar-
entity unimportant life OF one whose sub
sequent achievements give intense In
terest to every circumtance leading to
his ultimate success.
Tho history OF the voyage OF the hf-
teenth and sixteenth centuries 10 as full
OF courage. enterprise and daring as that
OF any century in which civilized man
has taken part. and there is no voyage
OF any of the brave navigators Of Spain.
Italy. Portugal, England or OF the
Scandinavian sailors that involved great
er faith, greater self-sacrifice and the
overcoming of greater and we'll founded
fears than the voyage OF Columbus in
1902 The struggle that he and his friends
made with the monarchs OF Europe. and
in the vestibules of palaces, with the
frequent disappointments and discourage
ments, only emphasizes his real inspira-
ton, and the confidence that he had
in the theories as to the form or the earth
and as to the result of his sailing west
ward in order to reach the East Indies.
Solved Great Problem.
TT Is most difficult for US by any effort
OF the Imagination to take In the problem
which Columbus solved. The erroneous
ideas that were held OF geography ana
Of the physical characteristics OF tho
earth, the exaggeration OF the dangers-
great az they were-whch superstition
and legend promoted. made the plan or
Columbus to set sail out into the "a !.
ocean, as the Atlantic was then called,
to the eastern shore OF Asia. on the the
ory that the world was roLnd-an instance
OF courage that finds few parallels. lie
knew. as every mariner knew. the tremen-
dous power OF nature In tempest. ana
he could not but fully realize the impeno-
ing and constant danger to vessels or the
size of his cocLleshells In an ordinary
struggle with the usual winds ana STORMS
SIX times did he cross the ocean alive
twice were his bones taken from one SIDE
to the other to find a resting place. me
story OF his life reveals defects OF tenn
permanent and the existence OF some mo-
tives under temptation that snow MIN NJ
man, but the impression left after
study Of his character, leads 70 ruli
recognition OF the greatness and dignity
Of the man. the high ideals that prompted
his almost superhuman efforts, the pa
thence and tenacity that attended every
encouragement, the loyalty to his SOW
ereigns when put to grievous test. ana the
final resignation to the will OF God in the
sad ending Of tried. tenpestuous. out
most notable and useful life.
1T is true that there were other mari
ners as skilled as Columbus. as brave In
exposing themselves to danger as he was.
in that heyday OF Italian, Spanish ana
Portuguese manhood, and the risks tfay
ran, the dangers they encountered and
survived. arouse In the reader or the
present day amazement and profound ad-
miration But the supreme merit was HIS
to do first that which, until he did IL, pre-
scented unknown terrors to the ADVENTURE
"A few years after Columbus came
Magellan Balboa, Easco da Cana, the
Cabots and many others. The circum-
navigation of the globe In vessels In
which 1t took months and years TO make
the voyage. show a spirit of adventure.
desire for knowledge. q willingness To
sacrifice everything for IL that make
real, distinct period in the worlds his
tory Columbus was the first.
His Greatness as . Mariner.
He was much greater as mariner
than as an administrator and governor
OF native peoples. His failure In this re-
eard was doubtless due to a lack OF
preparation for the difficult problems
which an assumption OF control over the
natives involved. He little understood
the nature of the Indian. He had but
few resources. and he was beset by 1sai-
ousies and treachery at home and In the
islands. His brother, Bartholomew. seems
TO have been a much more successful ao-
ministrator, but intrigues in spain de-
feated his purpose. The loyalty OK the
brothers to the sovereigns who sent thenl
out brought them back in chains to their
adopted country. while the West Indian
CONTINUED on Eleventh Page