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most cruelly misrepresented and slandered； and in the general
disappointment； and the constant drain upon the mother country to
support the colony； his enemies gained the ear of his sovereigns；
and strong doubts arose in their minds about his capacity for
government。 So a royal commission was sent out；an officer named
Bovadilla； with absolute power to examine into the state of the
colony； and supplant； if necessary； the authority of Columbus。 The
result was the arrest of Columbus and his brothers； who were sent
to Spain in chains。 What a change of fortune！ I will not detail
the accusations against him； just； or unjust。 It is mournful
enough to see the old man brought home in irons from the world he
had discovered and given to Spain。 The injustice and cruelty which
he received produced a reaction； and he was once more kindly
received at court； with the promise that his grievances should be
redressed and his property and dignities restored。
Columbus was allowed to make one more voyage of discovery； but
nothing came of it except renewed troubles； hardships； dangers； and
difficulties； wars with the natives； perils of the sea；
discontents； disappointments； and when at last he returned to
Spain； in 1504；broken with age and infirmities； after twelve
years of harassing cares； labors； and dangers （a checkered career
of glory and suffering）；nothing remained but to prepare for his
final rest。 He had not made a fortune； he had not enriched his
patrons；but he had discovered a continent。 His last days were
spent in disquieting and fruitless negotiations to perpetuate his
honors among his descendants。 He was ever jealous and tenacious of
his dignities。 Ferdinand was polite； but selfish and cold； nor can
this calculating prince ever be vindicated from the stain of gross
ingratitude。 Columbus died in the year 1506； at the age of sixty；
a disappointed man。 But honors were ultimately bestowed upon his
heirs； who became grandees and dukes； and intermarried with the
proudest families of Spain； and it is also said that Ferdinand
himself； after the death of the great navigator； caused a monument
to be erected to his memory with this inscription： 〃To Castile and
Leon Columbus gave a new world。〃 But no man of that century needed
less than Columbus a monument to perpetuate his immortal fame。
I think that historians belittle Columbus when they would excite
our pity for his misfortunes。 They insult the dignity of all
struggling souls； and make utilitarians of all benefactors； and
give false views of success。 Few benefactors； on the whole； were
ever more richly rewarded than he。 He died Admiral of the Seas； a
grandee of Spain；having bishops for his eulogists and princes for
his mourners；the founder of an illustrious house； whose name and
memory gave glory even to the Spanish throne。 And even if he had
not been rewarded with material gains； it was enough to feel that
he had conferred a benefit on the world which could scarcely be
appreciated in his lifetime；a benefit so transcendent that its
results could be seen only by future generations。 Who could
adequately pay him for his services； who could estimate the value
of his gift？ What though they load him to…day with honors； or cast
him tomorrow into chains？that is the fate of all immortal
benefactors since our world began。 His great soul should have
soared beyond vulgar rewards。 In the loftiness of his self…
consciousness he should have accepted； without a murmur； whatever
fortune awaited him。 Had he merely given to civilization a new
style of buttons； or an improved envelope； or a punch for a railway
conductor； or a spring for a carriage； or a mining tool； or a
screw； or revolver； or reaper； the inventors of which have 〃seen
millions in them；〃 and been cheated out of his gains； he might have
whimpered over his wrongs。 How few benefactors have received even
as much as he； for he won dignities； admiration； and undying fame。
We scarcely know the names of many who have made grand bequests。
Who invented the mariner's compass？ Who gave the lyre to primeval
ages； or the blacksmith's forge； or the letters of the alphabet； or
the arch in architecture； or glass for windows？ Who solved the
first problem of geometry？ Who first sang the odes which Homer
incorporated with the Iliad？ Who first turned up the earth with a
plough？ Who first used the weaver's shuttle？ Who devised the
cathedrals of the Middle Ages？ Who gave the keel to ships？ Who
was the first that raised bread by yeast？ Who invented chimneys？
But all ages will know that Columbus discovered America； and his
monuments are in every land； and his greatness is painted by the
ablest historians。
But I will not enlarge on the rewards Columbus received； or the
ingratitude which succeeded them； by force of envy or from the
disappointment of worldly men in not realizing all the gold that he
promised。 Let me allude to the results of his discovery。
The first we notice was the marvellous stimulus to maritime
adventures。 Europe was inflamed with a desire to extend
geographical knowledge； or add new countries to the realms of
European sovereigns。
Within four years of the discovery of the West India Islands by
Columbus； Cabot had sailed past Newfoundland； and Vasco da Gama had
doubled the Cape of Good Hope； and laid the foundation of the
Portuguese empire in the East Indies。 In 1499 Ojeda； one of the
companions of Columbus； and Amerigo Vespucci discovered Brazil。 In
1500 Cortereal； a Portuguese； explored the Gulf of St。 Lawrence。
In 1505 Francesco de Almeira established factories along the coast
of Malabar。 In 1510 the Spaniards formed settlements on the
mainland at Panama。 In 1511 the Portuguese established themselves
at Malacca。 In 1513 Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Darien and
reached the Pacific Ocean。 The year after that； Ponce de Leon had
visited Florida。 In 1515 the Rio de la Plata was navigated； and in
1517 the Portuguese had begun to trade with China and Bengal。 As
early as 1520 Cortes had taken Mexico； and completed the conquest
of that rich country the following year。 In 1522 Cano
circumnavigated the globe。 In 1524 Pizarro discovered Peru； which
in less than twelve years was completely subjugated；the year when
California was discovered by Cortes。 In 1542 the Portuguese were
admitted to trade with Japan。 In 1576 Frobisher sought a North…
western passage to India； and the following year Sir Francis Drake
commenced his more famous voyages under the auspices of Elizabeth。
In 1578 Sir Humphrey Gilbert colonized Virginia； followed rapidly
by other English settlements； until before the century closed the
whole continent was colonized either by Spaniards； or Portuguese；
or English； or French； or Dutch。 All countries came in to share
the prizes held out by the discovery of the New World。
Colonization followed the voyages of discovery。 It was animated by
the hope of finding gold and precious stones。 It was carried on
under great discouragements and hardships and unforeseen
difficulties。 As a general thing； the colonists were not
accustomed to manual labor； they were adventurers and broken…down
dependents on great families； who found restraint irksome and the
drudgeries of their new life almost unendurable。 Nor did they
intend； at the outset； permanent settlements； they expected to
accumulate gold and silver； and then return to their country。 They
had sought to improve their condition； and their condition became
forlorn。 They were exposed to sickness from malaria； poor food；
and hardship； they were molested by the natives whom they
constantly provoked； they were subject to cruel treatment on the
part of royal governors。 They melted away wherever they settled；
by famine； disease； and war； whether in South or North America。
They were discontented and disappointed； and not easily governed；
the chieftains quarrelled with each other； and were disgraced by
rapacity and cruelty。 They did not find what they expected。 They
were lonely and desolate； and longed to return to the homes they
had left； but were frequently without means to return；doomed to
remain where they were； and die。 Colonization had no dignity until
men went to the New World for religious liberty； or to work upon
the soil。 The conquest of Mexico and Peru； however； opened up the
mining of gold and silver； which were finally found in great
abundance。 And when the richness of these countries in the
precious metals was finally established； then a regular stream of
emigrants flocked to the American shores。 Gold was at last found；
but not until thousands had miserably perished。
The mines of Mexico and Peru undoubtedly enriched Spain； and filled
Europe with envy and emulation。 A stream of gold flowed to the
mother country； and the caravels which transported the treasures of
the new world became objects of plunder to all nations hostile to