davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
THE TRUE, COI.UMBUS-FACT VERSUS LEGEND

known lands IN the West he alone had
the energy and perseverance necessary
TO seek for and find them. and ii is "A
striking proof of the superiority of
Columbus over all the navigators OF his
time-who could but follow where he
led
1t matters little that in a moment OF
a alteration he believed he had done
what he did not do. His unique work
is not less great, and it must be main
tanned, even against himself, that when
he made known to the world the pres
ence Of a second hemisphere he did 1t
not by searching for a route To India,
as is generally believed but because his
own penetrating analysis of collected
data had revealed To him first of all its
existence.
am persuaded that have reinstated
Columbus in what is his right place,
with his true greatness undiminished.
Ii being my duty to tell the truth,
have not hidden his failings. | have
said that he could stoop 10 untruth
when il was to his interest, that he
was vain. violent and grasping, and
have stated with regret that one can
not trace in his life any of those marks
OF benevolence which are the ornament
of great souls.
But what of these blemishes? Column
bus possesses title To glory which
nothing can tarnish and which will
never be equalled. He discovered
America; and he discovered II, not by
chance or accident, but because. after
having prepared everything for its dis
coy.ry, he then sought for il until he
fouhd it. HENRY VlGNAUD.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

There is no doubt that Columbus felt
sure of finding the islands he proposed
To annex To the Town OF CASTLE lie
even thought he knew their position. at
least approximately. and was so posi-
tive upon the point that he was OF"
Tended because his mere word for ii
was not considered sufficient. But his
conviction did not come solely from the
indications furnished by the anony-
nous pilot, for up to the last moment
we see him stiH intent upon adding to
his information about the islands. On
the day before embarking on his great
venture he discusses the subject with
Pinzon and Vasquez de la Frontcra,
who had sailed into the parts where he
was then proposing TO go.
1t Is therefore certain that ii was not
upon the faith of what was told by any
one pilot whatever that Columbus
founded his great enterprise and pur-
sued it to complete success. Envy may.
at the time, have colored the story to
his prejudice, though there is scarcely
any trace OF that; but i'm any case
modern criticism Is not justified in such
a judgment. The data which Columbus
was able to obtain from one source or
another diminish in no way the value
of his discovery. His enterprise was
the work OF his lifetime: il did not
spring fully formed out Of another's
condolences; it was the result of pa
tlently collected material and deep
thought, and only an intelligence or
great ability could have drawn there
from his conclusions. Alone in effect
among the men of his time did he grasp
the probability Of the existence Of UNI
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
WILSON'S BROADER VISION.

Governor Wilson will enter the fresi-
dency unhandicapped by Mr.. 'leNeidhu
relatively narrow vision. lie Is a SOUTH
erner. transpanted. with the broadeneu
experience which comes from changed
surroundings. but still Southerner IN
his political training and instincts. lie
is mentally I'm touch with the ideas. now
dominant i'm the South and West, WHICH
constitute the body Of present day rau'-
calism I'm the academic world he came
into close touch with Eastern conserN"-
tism. But when he turned away INTO
notifies his native point of view reas-
serted itself
Mr. Wilson will hardly make the ms
take of undertaking the Progressive
r,ovament. as Mr. Cleveland underrateu
ponuIism. lie has already shown MS
alertness as a reader OF the signs OF tue
ttmes After his nomination last july
no seemed TO incline to the view that 1t
was polite TO drive middle course oe-
tween conservatism and radicaiism- Ills
eneech OF acceptance was an attefhoo"
10, affair. calculated not to CRATE OH
tho nerves of conservative Democrats
,rbrouehout the campaign he was vague
and even contradictory in his statement
az democratic intentions Time anu
AGAIN he east on anchor TO windward'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

Casas. nor any OF his contemporaries
make him appear before the celebrated
University Of Salamanca to support "A
scientific thesis before eminent doctors
! in theology.
Again, not 10 them must be imputed
that part of the legend which shows
Queen Isabella sacrificing her diamonds
to furnish the cost of the expedition OF
Columbus. At that time the crown
Jewels were already pledged; and we
know. besides. how the expense was
met.
All that is the work Of modern
authors We need say nothing of the
alleged poverty of Columbus, who left
by will millions which his heirs dis
puted; of the so-called ingratitude Of
the Spanish sovereigns who loaded him
with favors. or Of many other details
as inaccurate, met with almost every
where. Not one Of these imaginary
facts has its source in the writings of
Columbian origin or in contemporary
authors.
1t Is not only in errors OF commits
sion that modern writers have misrep-
resented the true story of Columbus.
thinking, in all good faith. to embelish
him with new features and magnify the
man. They have changed his character
also by sins of omission. Thus, all
without exception. put aside as deroga-
tory the story Of the pilot, who, ac-
cording to all the writers of the period,
commencing with Las Casas. gave use
single exception all the writer's of that
time believed tie story. and none of
them saw ANYTHING preJudiclal to the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
cLEvELAND'S REAL SERVICES.

Grover Cleveland did much in his day
to rehabilitate the Democratic party ana
IN make it more respectable. He enlarged
its horizon by manfully fighting the
spoils system and trying TO break down
the rule of ignorant. machine-maue
bosses He thus attached to himself a
large following of independent voters III
the boss-ridden states. lie could dear
courageously with problems with which
he was familiar. He stood always Ike Il
rock in defence Of the national credit
But as "a popular leader he failed 10 IN
,erpret the political unrest which had be
come acute in the last part Of President
Harrison's term and which played so
large a part IN his own second eIectloii'
He would barely have been able TO recoS-
nize the Zeitgest of the early 9Vs II ne
had met it strolling down Broadway III
. Xix topper and frock coat. ii was
entirely beyond his ken when IT disguised
itself i'm the wool hat and whiskers or
Popuism.
In his first term he had gotten along
fairly well with the Southern leaders OF
the older school. He was unable to see
that the South was becoming sWliu'
radicalized through the Populist agitation
and was ready to break It's traditloha'
alliance with New York in order To seen
n new association with the discontehte'
West. At time when New YORK was
anathema 10 most of the section south oil
the Potomac and west of the AlleShanies
he remained in his outlook decided'S
rigid New Yorker
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

preferences. although there is evidence to
show that the Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.. Carlisle suggested the restoration OF
a duty on sugar which would bring IN
about SiO.Wopp in revenue, sacrificed by
the House.
Mr.. German. the Senate leader. had ne
came bitterly hostile To the President and
entirely Indifferent To the views oil MI
Cleveland's followers in the lower branch.
He passed the scmi-proicctionist wilson
German bill and announced that the
House would have 10 take IT without the
dottng Of an ! or the crossing OF I.
The House fumcd and swore undying re-
slstance. hut after ten days or 80 aDJect-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

a decreasing scale for a limited number
of years. which practically AL tine Dem
ocrats in the Senate-pro-silVer as we'll as
anti-silver- agreed t. support. Nr. Cor
man was heartily FOR II. and 10 could
have been made caucus measure. li IT
had become law the silver agitation might
gradually have died away. Yet again 1t
might not Perhaps fight to finish
like that of 1886 was necessary 10 Kill
off the free silver heresy Influenced by
the embarIassments of business 90 the
panicky summer OF 1893. Mi Cleveland
stood fast for absolute repeal or nothing
Some OF the Democrats iu the Senate
finally yielded unconditionally and Joined
with the Republicans In voting for out
right repeal. But most of them signed
for an t,nplacable war against the adj
ministration, cost what II might 20 the
Democratic party as then organized.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
Continued from first page.

pired with the sad conviction that his
work was not understood
Columbus himself is, then, the first
author Of the legend which criticism
to-day has so much trouble to destroy.
But it must be said for him that he Is
not solely responsible for introducing II
into history, where it is SO sOlidly I'M
bedded. Modern writers, poets. paint
ers and sculptors have contributed,
adding numerous details out of their
imagination, and their share in the
creation Of the Columbus OF fantasy
which the world knows is greater than
could have been believed.
Not Columbus, nor his son. nor his
contemporaries place his arrival IN
Portugal in the year 14IO. This Is done
nv modern writer's. At that date
Columbus was barely twenty-one, and
was still weaving wool in Genoa.
Nor is It they who put forward that
from his early years, before going to
Portugal, he had conceived the design
Of discovering the East by way OF the
West for, on the contrarS they say
that IL was the reading of the papers OF
his father -in-law which decided his
vocation. This places the event only
two or three years before his applica-
ton to the King of Portugal They do
not say, as Harrisse, Ruge and others
have done, that he never had any other
design than that of going to the East
Indies and that the discovery OF new
lands left him Indifferent; they say just
the opposite.
Not his son, nor his biographer, Las
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
THE TARIFF FIASCO.

The President did not realize AZ first
the gravity of the enlargement which
the passage Of the Sherman repeal bill
had caused. He hoped for Democratic
unity at the following regular session. ~
which the task Of redeeming the Demo
cratic partys low tariff promises was 10
be taken up. But he was 10 be disap-
pointed The big majority in the House
Of Representatives put through the Will
son bill-a crude and reckless piece Of
legislation which would have upset indus
try and created an enormous deficit In
the revenues The Democratic majority
in the Senate remade the bill without any
regard to Mr.. Cleveland's opinions or
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
ELECTION BROUGHT HIM LIGHT =

put he was prompt enough to see after
the election was over that the sweep Vi Wv
ride WIS all toward radicaiism MS
sneech to the people of Staunton-hls
native town-was as aggressive In tone
and phrases as anything Mr.. Bryan mas
over said. even in the stress OF the Tree
silver campaign Of 1896. His subsequeh.
announcement that only progressive
Democrats would be accepted as MS couh-
sellers served notice on the country mat
hs had cast his lot definitely with radl-
calism as he understands H. lie Will
therefore begin his administration with
the party more soldly behind him than II
WAS behind Cleveland. and with his Lead
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

djscoverer of the New World in that
belief. Similarly one of the most Illus
trious descendants of the great
Gcnoese. Pedro Columbus, third Duke
OF Veragua and Niceroy of Mexico,
cites the fact as being To the honor OF
his ancestor. And thus. indeed. 1t must
be considered.
The indications given by this pilot
were not the only ones that Columbus
collected. Las Casas has preserved for
lis fragment Of "A memorial of the
discoyerer in which he enumerates
many others of the same kind. obtained
from mariners and Immediately sci
down In writing. Further, we know by
other documents that narratives re-
lating to new lands and islands whose
existence was suspected toward the
West were very numerous in the second
half of the fifteenth century. In seek
ing to form a sound opinion on the sub
iect Columbus neglected nothing which
could throw light upon it, and would
naturally weigh and compare all the m
formation which came TO him from diff
ferent quarters so as to reject mat
which seemed To him without value and
retain the rest. 1t is To be presumed
that among the latter was the informa-
ton of the pilot in question:; otherwise
contemporary writer's would not have
reasonable. or extraordinary I'm this
Was il not quite natural for him to act
thus, and should he not he praised for
his ability to select from all the papers
and facts he had collected those which
were Of real value and worthy Of be-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
Woodrow W11crOr ~

y surrendered. Mr.. Cleveland allowed
the act 30 become law without his sigma
turc and wrote the famous ''peitidy ana
dishonor' letter To Representative Catch
ings. That letter was the swan song of
his leadership IN national politics. II was
a reluctant confession Of his failure to
drive the Democratic party forward along
the paths which he thought it ought TO
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
GOING BACK TO MONROE.

General Harrison's defeat. at all events
left many Republicans Indifferent. and
that feeling of apathy inspired good
deal of talk Just before Mr. Cleveland
second inauguration of the imminence OF
another EZRA OF political good feeling
such as marked the administration OF
President Monroe Such talk is not 80
common now: vet there has been a mani
festation of friendly feeling toward Presi-
dent-elect Wilson which probably has
frmer basis than the too grandiose OK
pectation of twenty years ago that party
slisnmenis would be modified or effaced
after Mr.. Cleveland entered the White
House. Mr. Wilson probably looks Tor
such a miracle with even less faith thaIi
Mr. Cleveland did The latter, in fact
gave some countenance to the talk OF
return 10 the golden era OF Monroe cy
appointing as his Secretary of State-an
office then OF greater importance in the
strict political sense than il is now-an
ex-Republican who had hardly had time
to change his political clothes.
Walter Q. Gresham. Mr. Cleveland 5
premier" according 10 the lingo of that
day, had been a Stalwart of the Stai-
warts In the Republican camp. He had
served in President Arthur's Cabinet as
Postmaster General and as Secretary OF
the Treasury, and had been a prominent
candidate for the Republican Presiden-
tial nomination in 1883
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
FEW STINGS LAST NOVEMBER.

The election of 1912 left few stings.
Nearly everybody was able to find cause
for satisfaction the morning after. The
Democrats were jubiant because they
had elected Wilson. the Progressives were
elated because their candidate had out
run Taft and the Republicans were con-
soled because they had made impossible
q third term for Roosevelt. No consid-
cradle part Of the public spent November
last nursing a crouch.
very similar situation existed twenty
years ago. President HarrisOn's admin
js,ration had become unpopular He had
incurred the enmity Of many Republican
leaders. At least twenty invitations to
manage his campaign had been declined
and Mr.. CIeveland's election had been
generally discounted. although not so
boldly and Internationally as Mr.. VIII
sons was.
Colonel Henry Watterson is fond of
saving that General Harrison's chances
Of election were excellent until the
Homestead strike interviewed. But the
colonel labored under the necessity OF
having to find some shadow of substantial
ton for his famous prophecy that renom-
mating Cleveland in 1892 would be like
walking through a slaughterhouse into
an open grave"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
1E DEMOCRATIC RESTORATONS OF 1893 AND 1913 COMPARED
The Recounting Of Mr. Cleveland's Difficulties Some
Personal and Some Political-Directs Attention to
Various Ways in Which the Incoming President
Seems to Have an Advantage Over
His Democratic Predecessor, and
Also to Some Problems
Confronting Him.

ership far more acceptable to the con-
trolling Southern and Western element
than it was ever possible to make Mr..
Cleveland's.
Political conditions generally favor Mr..
Wilson much more than they did his inn
mediate Democratic predecessor in the
Presidency. The division in the ranks or
the opposition is more helpful now than
it was twenty years ago. Then Populism
was strongest in the Democratic states
and seriously threatened the Souths
solidity. The Progressive movement Is
strongest in the great Republican states
and negligible in the South. SO long as
anything like an equal division Of the
opposition continues the Democratic party
can continue in power despite its mistakes.
II could afford to lose 100000 votes
800 900 to the Republicans and 100000 to
the Prosressives-and still retain control
Of the lower house Of Congress and Of the
Presidency.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
EXECUTIVE POWER GREATER.

In the hands of competent leader the
power of the Presidency is greater now
than it was i'm Mr.. Cleveland's time.
Twenty years ago there was still soma
excuse for talking about the overshadow-
ing Senate" The power OF the Senate
reached its climax in Andrew Johnsons
administration. when the Presidency was
deliberately hobbled. Since then the bal
ance has steadily shifted the other way.
the Senate having grown weaker and this
authority of the President as party
leader having been exalted.
During Mr.. Cleveland's first term Re
publican Senate tried to bully him into
submitting to il the records and recon
mendations on which he acted i'm making
removals and appointments. The same
Senate dealt offishly with President Harri.
son. and when il became Democratic In
1929, openly defied Mr.. Cleveland
Such exhibitions of independence and ar
rogance were possible because the Sen
ate was then a much compacter body
subject 10 irmer party discipline.
In 1924 MIR German was the master
of a nearly fric.ionless machine and his
word was law on the Democratic side.
Later the Aldrich- Hale machine domin-
ateG the Republican membership IN
much the same way But President
Roosevelt gradually undermined the SEN
ate oliearchy, and the tradition OF popular
leadership which he set up finally crushed
it, The introduction Of primary elections
has made it easy for a President 10
appeal to the voters against obstructive
Senators and TO defeat them piecemeal.
The upper branch of Congress is to-day a
much chastened body and offers a poor
neld for successful revolt against the
leadership OF a capable politician in the
White House.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
AN EASIER TARIFF PROBLEM.

The tariff revision problem before Mr..
Wilson is also less formidable than was
that before Mr. Cleveland. There is less
fear NOWADAYS of the effects of tariff re-
auctions for people have come To recog-
nize that there are other influences more
powerful than tariffs In influencing prices
Were competition scientifically exact and
aIl-peryading the change OF per cent
in a rate would be felt Immediately But
II is often said nowadays. even by pro-
,ac,ionists. that removing the duty or
an article will not reduce its price to the
consumer The duties on shoes were re-
duced i'm the Payne law and hides were
put on the free list, yet the price oil
shoes went ND instead of down. IL Ia
being argued in Congress that putting
sugar on the free list will not lessen its
cost TO the ultimate consumer. Talk such
as this is partial recognition OF the
fact that tariffs play less of a part in the
economy of industry and commerce thar
they used to do.
IL must be admitted that the American
public will look with more indifference
to-day on moderate reductions in tariff
rates than il looked on such reductions
twenty years ago. The Wilson-Gormaf
act was moderately protective and wouie
be thought relatively innocuous now Bu
in conjunction with the panic or 1888 y
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
THE "CUCkOOS."

1t was a Southern Senator-Mr Morgan
who invented the opprobrous epithet OF
"cuckoos" for the Democratic Senators
who cast their lots with Mr.. Cleveland
Il notice" lie said. that every time the
clock strikes at the White House some
Senator puts his head out OF the cuckoo
compartment and tells us the time OF
day." The phrase stuck for the rest OF
the Cleveland administration. at the close
of which there were only three or four
Senatorial "cuckoos' left.
In securing through Republican aid the
repeal Of the purchasing clauses Of the
Sherman silver act lar. Cleveland per
formed patriotic service. but he there
by abdicated the leadership of his party
and made its disruption certain. A sup
pier politician or one more appreciative Of
the drift of sentiment in the South and
West would probably have found a way
to a compromise within the party. Most
OF the Southern Senators had long been
pronounced bimetallists Moreover the
rapid spread OF the Populist movement
i'm their states had made II Impossible
for them to retreat. They would not sur
render an issue on which they could beat
the Populists at their own game. To the
Southern Democrats the Populist revolt
was like an alarm bell rung at night
II had got completely on their nerves.
But Mr.. Cleveland ignored their Difficult
ties and made the way harder for them
instead of easier.
Few people know that compromise bill
was drawn near the end OF the extra ses-
sion Of 1893 retaining silver purchases on
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
NO MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

When Mr. Cleveland came into contact
with the men who represented the South
ern and Western Democracy at Washing
ton he was more or less at loss They
comprehended him as imperfectly as he
comprehcnded them. In his first admins
tration. having no responsibility for leg
slation he managed To avoid serious frlc-
ton with them. lie was overpersuaded IN
December. 1857. TO write his famous tarih
revision message as a sop TO Western anu
Southern Democrats. But he never shared
or understood the destructive spirit which
underlay the Southern and Western att-
iude toward protective tariffs lie trled
10 run away from his message IN
1883. Just as he tried 10 run away from
the tariff plank in the Democratic ma
tional Dlatform Of 1S92-insertcd by the
convention against the vehement protest
of his managers He was by nature a
conservative with a lawyers deep respect
for things as they are. and he was IN
capable Of approaching the extremist atu-
tude Of the Southerners and WesterneTs
whom he found i'm control OF Democratic
policies in Congress either toward IN"
tariff or toward the single gold standard.
Mr. Cleveland began his second admin
istration with the idea that he could sue
Cessfully use patronage to win over Demo-
cratic Senators to his Interpretation OF
the ambiguous money plank in the plat
form Of 1892. He did succeed in convert
ing Daniel w VOORHEES,. Of Indiana. long a
sonorous ringer of changes on the Crime
OF 49," To the gold standard policy. But
when il came to influencing men like Vest.
Daniel. Blackburn. Harris. Morgan. Pugh
and Jones. of Arkansas. talking patronage
was like blowing a penny whistle. They
repelled such advances with scorn and had
only contempt for those who. in theit
Judgment. had sold their convictions for
postmasterships. consulates. foreign mis-
sions or even seats in the Cabinet.