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not seen the mainland or found mines of gold or silver。
He landed in Spain； in 1496； to find that his popularity had
declined and the old enthusiasm had grown cold。 With him landed a
feeble train of emaciated men； who had nothing to relate but
sickness； hardship； and disappointment。 The sovereigns； however；
received him kindly； but he was depressed and sad； and clothed
himself with the habit of a Franciscan friar； to denote his
humility and dejection。 He displayed a few golden collars and
bracelets as trophies； with some Indians； but these no longer
dazzled the crowd。
It was not until 1498 that Columbus was enabled to make his third
voyage； having experienced great delay from the general
disappointment。 Instead of seventeen vessels； he could collect but
six。 In this voyage he reached the mainland；that part called
Paria； near the mouth of the Orinoco； in South America； but he
supposed it to be an island。 It was fruitful and populous； and the
air was sweetened with the perfumes of flowers。 Yet he did not
explore the coast to any extent； but made his way to Hispaniola；
where he had left the discontented colony himself broken in health；
a victim of gout； haggard from anxiety； and emaciated by pain。 His
splendid constitution was now undermined from his various hardships
and cares。
He found the colony in a worse state than when he left it under the
care of his brother Bartholomew。 The Indians had proved hostile；
the colonists were lazy and turbulent； mutiny had broken out；
factions prevailed； as well as general misery and discontent。 The
horrors of famine had succeeded wars with the natives。 There was a
general desire to leave the settlement。 Columbus tried to restore
order and confidence； but the difficulty of governing such a
disorderly set of adventurers was too great even for him。 He was
obliged to resort to severities that made him more and more
unpopular。 The complaints of his enemies reached Spain。 He was
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