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derogate from the character we have been taught to admire and
venerate； they may even point out spots； which we cannot disprove；
in that sun of glorious brightness； which shed its beneficent rays
over a century of darkness；but this we know； that； whatever may
be the force of detraction； his fame has been steadily increasing；
even on the admission of his slanderers； for three centuries； and
that he now shines as a fixed star in the constellation of the
great lights of modern times； not alone because he succeeded in
crossing the ocean； when once embarked on it； but for surmounting
the moral difficulties which lay in his way before he could embark
upon it； and for being finally instrumental in conferring the
greatest boon that our world has received from any mortal man；
since Noah entered into the ark。
I think it is Lamartine who has said that truly immortal
benefactors have seldom been able to accomplish their mission
without the encouragement of either saints or women。 This is
emphatically true in the case of Columbus。 The door to success was
at last opened to him by a friendly and sympathetic friar of a
Franciscan convent near the little port of Palos； in Andalusia。
The sun…burned and disappointed adventurer （for that is what he
was）； wearied and hungry； and nearly discouraged； stopped at the
convent…door to get a morsel of bread for his famished son； who
attended him in his pilgrimage。 The prior of that obscure convent
was the first who comprehended the man of genius； not so much
because he was an enlightened scholar； but because his pious soul
was full of kindly sympathy； showing that the instincts of love are
kindred to the inspirations of genius。 It was the voice of Ali and
Cadijeh that strengthened Mohammed。 It was Catherine von Bora who
sustained Luther in his gigantic task。 The worthy friar； struck by
the noble bearing of a man so poor and wearied； became delighted
with the conversation of his guest； who opened to him both his
heart and his schemes。 He forwarded his plans by a letter to a
powerful ecclesiastic； who introduced him to the Spanish Court；
then one of the most powerful； and certainly the proudest and most
punctilious； in Europe。 Ferdinand of Aragon was polite； yet wary
and incredulous； but Isabella of Castile listened more kindly to
the stranger； whom the greatness of his mission inspired with
eloquence。 Like the saint of the convent； she and she alone of her
splendid court； divined that there was something to be heeded in
the words of Columbus； and gave her womanly and royal
encouragement； although too much engrossed with the conquest of
Grenada and the cares of her kingdom to pay that immediate
attention which Columbus entreated。
I may not dwell on the vexatious delays and the protracted
discouragements of Columbus after the Queen had given her ear to
his enthusiastic prophecies of the future glories of the kingdom。
To the court and to the universities and to the great ecclesiastics
he was still a visionary and a needy adventurer； and they quoted；
in refutation of his theory； those Scripture texts which were
hurled in greater wrath against Galileo when he announced his
brilliant discoveries。 There are； from some unfathomed reason；
always texts found in the sacred writings which seem to conflict
with both science and a profound theology； and the pedants； as well
as the hypocrites and usurpers； have always shielded themselves
behind these in their opposition to new opinions。 I will not be
hard upon them； for often they are good men； simply unable to throw
off the shackles of ages of ignorance and tyranny。 People should
not be subjected to lasting reproach because they cannot emancipate
themselves from prevailing ideas。 If those prejudiced courtiers
and scholastics who ridiculed Columbus could only have seen with
his clearer insight； they might have loaded him with favors。 But
they were blinded and selfish and envious。 Nor was it until
Columbus convinced his sovereigns that the risk was small for so
great a promised gain； that he was finally commissioned to
undertake his voyage。 The promised boon was the riches of Oriental
countries； boundless and magnificent；countries not to be
discovered； but already known； only hard and perhaps impossible to
reach。 And Columbus himself was so firmly persuaded of the
existence of these riches； and of his ability to secure them； and
they were so exaggerated by his imagination； that his own demands
were extravagant and preposterous； as must have seemed to an
incredulous court；that he； a stranger； an adventurer； almost a
beggar even； should in case of success be made viceroy and admiral
over the unexplored realm； and with a tenth of all the riches he
should collect or seize； and that these high officesalmost regal
should also be continued not only through his own life； but
through the lives of his heirs from generation to generation； thus
raising him to a possible rank higher than that of any of the dukes
and grandees of Spain。
Ferdinand and Isabella； however； readily promised all that the
persistent and enthusiastic adventurer demanded； doubtless with the
feeling that there was not more than one chance in a hundred that
he would ever be heard from again； but that this one chance was
well worth all and more than they expended；a possibility of
indefinite aggrandizement。 To the eyes of Ferdinand there was a
prospectremote； indeedof adding to the power of the Spanish
monarchy； and it is probable that the pious Isabella contemplated
also the conversion of the heathen to Christianity。 It is possible
that some motives may have also influenced Columbus kindred to
this；a renewed crusade against Saracen infidels； which he might
undertake from the wealth he was so confident of securing。 But the
probabilities are that Columbus was urged on to his career by
ambitious and worldly motives also； or else he would not have been
so greedy to secure honors and wealth； nor would have been so
jealous of his dignity when he had attained power。 To me Columbus
was no more a saint than Sir Francis Drake was when he so
unscrupulously robbed every ship he could lay his hands upon；
although both of them observed the outward forms of religious
worship peculiar to their respective creeds and education。 There
were no unbelievers in that age。 Both Catholics and Protestants；
like the ancient Pharisees； were scrupulous in what were supposed
to be religious duties；though these too often were divorced from
morality。 It is Columbus only as an intrepid； enthusiastic；
enlightened navigator； in pursuit of a new world of boundless
wealth； that I can see him； and it was for his ultimate success in
discovering this world； amid so many difficulties； that he is to be
regarded as a great benefactor； of the glory of which no ingenuity
or malice can rob him。
At last he sets sail； August 3； 1492； and； singularly enough； from
Palos； within sight of the little convent where he had received his
first encouragement。 He embarked in three small vessels； the
largest of which was less thou one hundred tons； and two without
decks； but having high poops and sterns inclosed。 What an
insignificant flotilla for such a voyage！ But it would seem that
the Admiral； with great sagacity； deemed small vessels best adapted
to his purpose； in order to enter safely shallow harbors and sail
near the coast。
He sails in the most propitious season of the year； and is aided by
steady trade…winds which waft his ships gently through the unknown
ocean。 He meets with no obstacles of any account。 The skies are
serene； the sea is as smooth as the waters of an inland lake； and
he is comforted； as he advances to the west； by the appearance of
strange birds and weeds and plants that indicate nearness to the
land。 He has only two objects of solicitude；the variations of
the magnetic needle； and the superstitious fears of his men； the
last he succeeds in allaying by inventing plausible theories； and
by concealing the real distance he has traversed。 He encourages
them by inflaming their cupidity。 He is nearly baffled by their
mutinous spirit。 He is in danger； not from coral reefs and
whirlpools and sunken rocks and tempests； as at first was feared；
but from his men themselves； who clamor to return。 It is his faith
and moral courage and fertility of resources which we most admire。
Days pass in alternate hope and disappointment； amid angry clamors；
in great anxiety； for no land appears after he has sailed far
beyond the points where he expected to find it。 The world is
larger than even he has supposed。 He promises great rewards to the
one who shall first see the unknown shores。 It is said that he
himself was the first to discover land by observing a flickering
light； which is exceedingly improbable； as he was several leagues
from shore； but certain it is； that the very night the land was
seen from the Admiral