This country of ours; its history and achievements from the earliest days of discovery and settlement to the present eventful year ...

Front matter

THIS COUNTRY

OF OURS

HISTORY AN i^Hl€¥ElV!eNTS m

Chapter I. Discovery And Exploration

PAOI

Tie Visits of tlie Northmen to the New "World — The Indians and Mound Builders — Christopher Columbus — His Discovery of America — Amerigo Vespucci — John Cabot — Spanish Explorers — Balboa — His Discovery of the Pacific — Magellan — Ponce de Leon — De Narvaez — De Soto — Menendez — French Explorers — Verrazzani — Cartier — Ribault — Laudonniere — Cliamplain — La Salle — English Explorers — Sir Hugh Willoughby — Martin Frobisher — Sir Humphrey Gilbert — Sir Walter Ealeigh — The Lost Colony — Dutch Explorer — Henry Hudson 33

Chapter II. Settleivient Oe The Thirteen Original

STATES.

Virginia, — Founding of Jamestown — Captain John Smith — Introduction of African Slavery — Indian Wars — Bacon's Rebellion — Forms of Government — Prosj)erity — Education — New England, — Plymouth — Massachusetts Bay Culony — Union of the Colonies — Religious Persecution — King Philip's War — The Witchcraft Delusion — New Hampshire, — The Connecticut Colony, — The New Haven Colony, — Union of the Colonies — Indian Wars — The Charter Oak — Rhode Island, — Different Forms of Government — New York, — The Dutch and English Settlers — New Jersey, — Delaware, — Pennsylvania,— Maryland, — ^lason and Dixon's Line — The Carolinas, — Georgia 47

Chapter III. The Intercolonial Wars And The French

AND INDIAN WAR.

King William's War — Queen Anne's War — King George's War — The French and Indian War — England and France Rivals in the Old World and the New — The Early French Settlements — The Disputed Territory — France's Fatal Weakness — Washington's Journey Through the Wilderness— The First Fight of the War— The War Wholly American for Two Years— The Braddock Massacre — The Great Change Wrought by William Pitt — Fall of Quebec — Momentous Consequences of the Great English Victory — The Growth and Progress of tlie Colotiies and their Home Life 75

Chapter IV. The Revolution— The War In Nev/

ENGLAND.

Causes of the Revolution — The Stamp Act — The Boston Tea Party — England's Unbearable Pleasures — The First Continental Congress — The Boston Massacre — Lexington and Concord — The Second Continental Congress — Battle of Bunker Hill — Assumption of Command by Washington

— British Evacuation of Boston — Disastrous Invasion of Canada .89

Chapter V

THE REVOLUTION (.CONTINUED). THE WAR IN THE IVEIDDLE STATES AND ON THE SEA.

PAGB

Declaration of Independence — The American Flag — Battle of Long Island — Washington's Retreat Through the Jerseys — Trenton and Princeton — In Winter Quarters — Lafayette — Brandywine ami Germantown — At Valley Forge — Burgoyne's Campaign — Fort Schuyler and Bennington — Bemis Heights and Stillwater — The Conway Cabal — Aid from France — Battle of Monmouth — Molly Pitcher — Failure of French Aid — Massacre at Wyoming — Contincntnl ^Toney — Stony Point — Treason of Arnold — Paul Jones' Great Victory . . 103

Chapter VI. The Revolution In The South (concluded)

Capture of Savannah — British Conquest of Georgia — Fall of Charleston — Bitter Warfare in South Carolina — Battle of Camden — Of King's Mountain — Of the Cowpens — Battle of Guilford Court- House — Movements of Cornwallis — The Final Campaign — Peace and Independence . . . 131

Chapter VII. Organization Oe The United States

The Method of Government During the Revolution — Impending Anarchy — The State Boundaries — State Cessions of Land — Shays' Rebellion — Adoption of the Constitution — Its Leading Features — The Ordinance of 1787 — Formation of Parties — Election of the First President and Vice- President ............... . 143

CHAPTER VIII. ADMINISTRATIONS OE WASHINGTON, JOHN ADAM:S, and JEEEERSON— 1789-1809

Washington — His Inauguration as First President of the United States — Alexander Hamilton — His Success at the Head of the Treasury Department — The Obduracy of Rhode Island — Establishment of the United States Bank — Passage of a Tariff Bill — Establishment of a Mint — The Plan of a Federal Judiciary — Admission of Vermont, Kentuck}', and Tennessee — Benjamin Franklin — Troubles with the Western Indians — Their Defeat by General Wayne — Removal of the National Capital Provided for — The Whiskey Insurrection — The Course of "Citizen Genet" — Jay's Treaty — Re-election of Washington — Resignation of Jefferson and Hamilton — Washington's Farewell Address— Establishment of the United States IMilitary Academy at West Point — Tlie Presidential Election of 1796 — John Adams — Prosperity of the Country — Population of the Country in 1790 — Invention of the Cotton Gin — Troubles with France — War on the Ocean — Washington Appointed (,^ouimander-in-Chief— Peace Secured — The Alien and Sedition Laws — The Census of 1800— The Presidential Election of 1800— The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution— Thomas Jefferson — Admission of Ohio — The Indiana Territory — The Purchase of Louisiana — Its Immense Area — Abolishment of the Slave Trade^War with Tripoli — The Lewis and Clark Expedition — Alexander Hamilton Killed in a Duel by Aaron Burr — The First Steamboat on the Hudson — The First Steamer to Cross the Atlantic — England's Oppressive Course Toward the United States — Outrage by the British Ship Lenndei — The Affair of the Leopard and Chesapeake — Passage of the Embargo Act — The Presidential Election of 1808 153

Chapter IX. Adtviinistrations Ok Iviadison, 1809-1817

THE WAR 0¥^ 1812.

PAQE

James Madison — The Embargo and ihe Nuii-lnteroourse Acts — Revival of the Latter Against I'^ngland— The Little Belt and the /^/■es«/e/t(— Population of the United States in 181(1— Battle of Tippecanoe — Declaration of War Against England — Comparative Strength of the Two Nations on the Ocean — Unpopularity of the War in New England — Preparations Made by the Government — Cowardly Surrender of Detroit — Presidential Election of 1812 — Admission of Louisiana and Indiana — New National Bank Chartered — Second Attempt to Invade Canada — Battle of Queenstown Heights — Inefficiency of the American Forces in 1812— Brilliant Work of the • Navy — The Constitution and the Guerrih-e — The Wasp and the Frolic — The United States and the jMacedonian — The Constitution and the Java — Reorganization and Strengthening of the Armj' — Operations in the West — Gallant Defense of Fort Stephenson — American Invasion of Ohio and Victory of the Thames — Indian Massacre at Fort Mimms — Capture of York (Toronto) — Defeat of the Enemy at Sackett's Harbor — Failure of the American Invasion of Canada — The Hornet and Peacock — Capture of the Chempeake — "Don't Give Up the Ship" — Captain Decatur Blockaded at New London — Capture of the Argus by the Enemy — Cruise of the Essex — The Glorious Victory of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie — Success of the American Arms in Canada — Battle of the Chippewa — Of Lundy's Lane — Decisive Defeat of the Enemy's Attack on Plattsburg — Punishment of the Creek Indians for the Massacre at Port Mimms — Vigorous Action by the National Government — Burning of Washington by the British— The Hartford Convention 181

Chapter X

ADrvUNISTRAXIOISIS OK JAX4ES IVIGNROE AND JOHN QUINCY ADAjVIS, 1817-1829.

James Monroe — The "Era of Good Feeling" — The Seminole War — Vigorous Measures of General Jackson — Admission of Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri — The Missouri Compromise — The Monroe Doctrine — Visit of Lafayette — Introduction of the Use of Gas — Completion of the Erie Canal — The First" Hard Times" — Extinction of the West Indian Pirates — Presidential Election of 1824 — John Quincy Adams — Prosperity of the Country — Introduction of the Railway Locomotive — Trouble wita 'le Cherokees in Georgia — I>eath of Adams and .Jefferson — Congressional Action on the Tariff— Presidential Election of 1 828 . . 205

CHAPTER XL

ADJVIINISTRATIONS OK JACKSON, VAN BUREN, W. H. HARRISON, AND TYLER, 1829-184.5.

Andrew Jackson — "To the Victors Belong the Spoils "—The President's Fight with the United States Bank — Presidential Election of 1 828 — Distribution of the Surplus in the United States Treasury Among the Various States — The Black Hawk War— The Nullification lixcitement — The Seminole War — Introduction of the Steam Locomotive — Anthracite Coal, McCormick's Reaper, and Friction Jlatches— Great Fire in New York — Population of the United States in 1830 — Admission of Arkansas and ^lichigan — Abolitionism — France and Portugal Compelled to Pay their Debts to the United States — The Specie Circular, John Caldwell Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster — Presidential Election of 1836 — Jlartin Van Buren — The Panic of 1837 — Rebellion in Canada — Population of the United States in 1840 — Presidential Election of 1840 — William Henry Harrison — His Death — .John Tyler — His Unpopular Course — The Webster- Ashbnrton Treaty — Civil War in Rhode Island — The Anti-rent War in New York — A Shock-

PAQB

ing Accident — Admission of Florida — Revolt of Texas Against Mexican Rule — The Alamo — San Jacinto^Tlie Question of the Annexation of Texas — The State Admitted — The Copper Klines of Michigan — Presidential Election of 1844 — The Electro-magnetic Telegraph — Professor Morse — His Labors in Bringing the Invention to Perfection . . . . . .215

Chapter XII. Famous Presidential Caivipaigns Previous

The Origin of the " Caucus "—The Election of 1792— The First Stormy Election— The Constitution Amended — Improvement of the Method of Nominating Presidenti^il Candidates — The First Presidential Convention — Convention in Baltimore in 1832 — Exciting Scenes — The Presidential , Campaign of 182U — "Old Hickory "—Andrew Jackson's Popularity — Jackson Nominated — "OldHickory" Defeated — The "Log-Cabin " and " Hard-Cider" Campaign of 1840 — "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too " — Peculiar Feature of the Harrison Campaign 239

CHAPTER XIII. ADIVriNISTRATION OE EOLK, 18-45-1849

James K. Polk — The War with Mexico— T^he First Conflict — Battle ofResaca de la Palma— A'^igorous Action of the United States Government — General Scott's Plan of Campaign — Capture of Monterey — An Armistice — Capture of Saltillo — Of Victoria — Of Tampico — General Kearny's Capture of Santa Fe — Conquest of California — Wonderful INIarch of Colonel Doniphan — Battle of Buena Vista — General Scott's March Toward the City of Mexico — Capture of Vera Cruz — Ajnerican Victory at Cerro Gordo — Five American Victories in One Day — Santa Anna — Conquest of Mexico Completed — Terms of the Treaty of Peace— The New Territory Gained — The Slavery Dispute — The Wilmot Proviso — "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight" — Adjustment of the Oregon Boundary — Admission of Iowa and Wisconsin — The Smithsonian Institute — Discovery of Gold in California— The Mormons— The Presidential Election of 1848 251

Chapter XIV

ADIVIINISTRATIONS OE TAYLOR, FILLIVIORE, EIERCE, AND BUCHANAN, 1849-1857.

Zaohary Taylor — The "Irrepressible Conflict " in Congress — The Omnibus Bill — Death of President Taylor — Millard Fillmore — Death of the Old Leaders and Debut of the New — The Census of 1850 — Surveys for a Railway to the Pacific — Presidential Election of 1852 — Franklin Pierce — Death of Vice-President King — A Commerical Treaty Made with Japan — Filibustering Expeditions — The Ostend Manifesto— The "Know Nothing" Party — The Kansas-Nebraska Bill and Repeal of the Missouri Compromise ... 269

Chapter XV. Administration Oe Lincoln, 1861-1865

THE WAR EOR THE UNION, 1861.

Abraham Lincoln — Major Anderson's Trying Position — Jeff'erson Davis — ^Inauguration of President Lincoln — Bombardment of Fort Sumter — War Preparations North and South — Attack on Union Troops in Baltimore — -Situation of the Border States — Unfriendliness of England and France — Friendship of Russia — The States that Composed the Southern Confederacy — Union Disaster at Big Bethel — Success of the Union Campaign in Western Virginia — General George

B. McClellan— First Battle of Bull Run— General McClellan Called to the Command of the Army of the Potomac — Union Disaster at Ball's Bluff — Military Operations in Missouri — Battle of Wilson's Creek — Defeat of Colonel JIuIlijraii at Lexington, Mo. — Supersedure of Fremont — Operations on the Coast — The Trent Affair' — Summary of the Year's Operations . . . 285

Chapter XVI. Adiviinistration Ok Lincoln (continued)

1861-1865.

WAR FOR THE UNION (CONTINUED;, 1862.

Capture of Forts Henry and Donelson — Change in the Confederate Line of Defense — Capture of Island No. 10 — Battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh — Capture of Corinth — Narrow Escape of Louisville — Battle of Perryville — Battle of Murfreesboro' or iStone River — Battle of Pea Ridge — Naval Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac — Fate uf the Tvto Vessels — Capture of New Orleans — The Advance Against Richmond — McClellan's Peninsula Campaign — The Mrst Confederate Invasion of the North — Battle of Antietam or Sharpsbvrg — Disastrous Union Repulse at fredericksburg — Summary of the Wars Operations — The Confederate Privateers — T/ie Emancipation Fmclamation — Greenbacks and Bond Issues ....... 301

Chapter XVII. Admlinistration Ok Lincoln (continued)

1861-1865.

VS^AR KOR THE UNION (CONTINUED), 1863.

The Military Situation in the West — Siege and Capture of Vieksburg — The Mississippi Opened^ Battle of Chickamauga — "The Rock of Chickamauga " — The Battle Above the Clouds — Siege of Knoxville — General Hooker Appointed to the Command of the Army of the Potomac — His Plan of Campaign Against Richmond — Stonewall .Jackson's Stampede of the Eleventh Corps — Critical Situation of the Union Army — Death of .Jackson — Battle of Chancellorsville — Defeat of Hooker — The Second Confederate Invasion — Battle of Gettysburg — The Decisive Struggle of the War — Lee's Retreat — Subsequent Movements of I^ee and Meade — Confederate Privateering — Destruction of the Nashville — Failure of the Attacks on Charleston — The Military Raids — Stuart's Narrow Escape — Stoneman's Raid — Morgan's Raid in Indiana and Ohio . . . 333

Chapter XVIII. Adiviinistration Ok Lincoln (concluded)

1861-186.5.

VS^AR KOR THE UNION (CONCLUDED), 1864-1865.

The Work Remaining to be Done — General Grant Placed in Command of all the Union Armies — The Grand Campaign— Bank's Disastrous Red River Ex|)edition — How the Union Fleet was Saved — Capture of Mobile by Admiral Parragut — The Confederate Cruisers — Destruction of the Alabama by the Kearsa.r(]e — Fate of the Other ('onfederate Cruisers — Destruction of the Albemarle by Lieutenant William B. Cashing— Re-election of President Lincoln — Distress in the South and Prosperity in the North — The Union Prisoners in the South — Admission of Nevada — The Confederate Raids from Canada — Sherman's Advance to Atlanta — Fall of Atlanta — Hood's Vain Attempt to Relieve Georgia — Superb Success of General Thomas — " Marching Through Georgia" — Sherman's Christmas (Jift to President Lincoln — Opening of Grant's Final Campaign — Battles in the Wilderness — Wounding of General Longstreet and Death of Generals

Stuart and Sedgwick — Grant's Planking Movements Against Lee — A Disastrous Repulse at Cold Harbor — Defeat of Sigel and Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley — " Bottling-up " of Butler — Explosions of the Petersburg Mine — Early's Raids — His Final Defeat by Sheridan — Grant's Campaign — Surrender of Lee — Assassination of President Lincoln— Death of Booth and Punishment of the Conspirators — -Surrender of Jo Johnston and Collapse of the Southern Confederacy — Capture of Jefferson Davis — His Release and Death — Statistics of the Civil War — A Characteristic Anecdote , 367

Chapter XIX. Administrations Ok Johnson And Orant

Andrew Johnson — Reconstruction — Quarrel Between the President and Congress — The Fenians — Execution of Maximilian — Admission of Nebraska — Laying of the Atlantic Cable — Purchase of Alaska — Impeachment and Acquittal of the President — Carpet-bag Rule in the South — Presidential Election of 1868 — U. S. Grant — Settlement of the Alahnma Claims — Completion of the Overland Railway — The Chicago Fire — Settlement of the Northwestern Boundary — Presidential Election of 1872 — The Modoc Troubles — Civil War in Louisiana — Admission of Colorado — Panic of 1873 — Notable Deaths — Custer's Massacre — The Centennial — The Presidential Election of 1876 the Most Perilous in the History of the Country 407

Chapter XX

R. B. Hayes — The Telephone — Railway Strikes — Elevated Railroads — War with the Nez Perce Indians — Remonetization of Silver — Resumption of Specie Payments — A Strange Fishery Award — The Yellow Fever Scourge — Presidential Election of 1878 — James A. (Jarfield — Civil Service Reform — Assassination of President Garfield — Chester A. Arthur — The Star Route Frauds — The Brooklyn Bridge — The Chinese Question — T!ie Mormons — Alaska Ex|)loration — The Yorktown Centennial — Attempts to Reach the North Pole by Americans — History of the Grcely Expedition 427

Chapter XXI. Administration Ok Cleveland (kirst) And Ok Harrison, 1885-1893

Grover Cleveland — Completion of the Washington Monument — The Bartholdi Statue- — Death of General Grant — Death of Vice-President Hendricks — The First Vice-President to Die in Office — George Clinton — Elbridge Gerry— William R. King — Henry Wilson— Death of General McClellan — Of General Hancock — His Career — The Dispute Between Capital and Labor — Arbitration— The Anarchistic Outbreak in Chicago — The Charleston Earthquake — Conquest of the Apaches — Presidential Election of 1888 — Benjamin Harrison — The .Johnstown Disaster — Threatened War with Chili— The Indian Uprising of 1890-91— Admission of New States- Presidential Election of 1892 459

Chapter XXII. Administration Of Cleveland (second)

1893-1897.

PiOR

Repeal of the Purchase Clause of the Sherman Bill — The World's Columbian Exposition at Chicairo — The Hawaiian Imbroglio — The Great Railroad Strike of 1894 — Coxey's Commonweal Army — Admission of Utah — Harnessing of Niagara — Dispute with England Over Venezuela's Boundary — Presidential Election of 1896 487

CHAPTER XXIII. ADiVllNlSTRATION OR CLEVELAND (SECOND, CONCLUDED), 1893-1897

Settling the Northwest — The Face of the Country Transformed — Clearing Away the Forests and its Effects — Tree-planting on the Prairies — Pioneer Life in the Seventies — The Granary of the World — The Northwestern Farmer — Transportation and Other Industries— Business Cities and Centres — United Public Action and its Influence— The Indian Question — Other Elements of Population — Society and (ieneral Culture 511

CHAPTER XXIV. ADiVllNlSTRATION OK NIcKINLEY, 1897-1901

William McKinley — Organization of "Greater New York " — Removal of General Grant's Remains to Morningside Park — The Klondike Gold Excitement — Spain's Misrule in Cuba — Preliminary Events of the Spanish-American War 527

CHAPTER XXV. ADNIINISTRATION OK NdcKINLEY (CONTINUED)

1897-1901.

Opening Incidents — Bomburduient of Matanzas — Dewey's Wonderful A'^ictory at IManila — Disaster to the Winslow at Cardenas Baj' — The First American Loss of Life — Bombardment of San Juan, Porto Rico — The Elusive Spanish Fleet — Bottled-up in Santiago Harbor — Lieutenant Hobson's Daring Jlxploit — Second Bombardment of Santiago and Arrival of the Army — Gallant Work of the Rough Riders and the Regulars — Battles of San Juan and El Caney — Destruction of Cei'vera's Fleet — (Seneral Sliafter Reinforced in Front of Santiago — Surrender of the City — General Bliles in Porto Rico — An Easy Conquest — Conquest of the Philippines — Peace Negotiations and Signing of the Protocol — Its Terms — Members of the National Peace Commission — Return of the Troops from Cuba and Porto Rico — The Peace Commission in Paris — Conclusion of its Work — Terms of the Treaty — Ratified by the Senate 547

Contents

CHAPTEE XXVI.

ADIVIINISTRATION OK McKINLEY (CONTINUED).

THE CLOSINO EVENTS OE THE NINETEENTH

Chapter 1. Discovkrv P^nd Exploration

The Visits of the Northmen to the New World — The Indians and Mound Builders — Christopher Columbus — His Discovery of America — Ameriso Vespucci — John Cabot — Spanish Explorers — Balboa — His Discovery of the Pacific — M;.gellan — Ponce de Leon — De Narvaez — De Soto — Menendez — French Explorers — Verrazzani — Cartitr — Ribault^Laudonniere — Ciiamplain — La Salle — English Explorers — Sir Hujrh Willuujrhby — JIartin Frobi^lier — Sir Humphrey Gilbert — Sir Walter Raleigh — The Lost Colony — Dutch Explorer — Henry Hud^on.

THE NORTHMEN.

It has been established beyond question that the first wliite visitors to tlie New World were Northmen, as the inhabitants of Norway and Sweden were called. They were bold and hardy sailors, who ventured further out upon the unknown sea than any other people. It was about the year 1000 that Biorn, who was driven far from his course by a tempest, sighted the northern part of the continent. Other adventurers followed him and AMERIGO VESPUCCI, planted a few settlements, which, however, lasted but a few years. Snorri, son of one of these settlers, was the first child born of European parents on this side of the Atlantic. Soon all traces of these early discoverers vanished, and the New World lay slumbering in loneliness for nearly five hundred years.

THE MOUND BUILDERS.

Nevertheless, the country was peoj^led with savages, who lived by hunting and fishing and were scattered over the vast area from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from the Arctic zone to the southernmost point of South America. No one knows where these people came from ; but it is probable that at a remote period they crossed Bering Strait, from Asia, which was the birthplace of man, and gradually spread over the continents to the south. There are found scattered over many parts of our country immense mounds of earth, which were the work of the Mound Builders. These people were long believed to have been a race that preceded the Indians, and were distinct from them, but the best authorities now agree that they were the Indians themselves, who constructed these enormous burial-jilaces and were engaged in the work as late as the fifteenth

3 (.•',:))

DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION.

ceatury. It is strange that they attained a fair degree of civilization. They builded cities, wove cotton, labored in the fields, worked gold, silver, and copper, and formed regular governments, only to give way in time to the barbarism of their descendants, who, though a contrary impression prevails, are more numerous to-day than at the time of the discovery of America.

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY COLUMBUS.

The real discoverer of America was Christopher Columbus, an Italian, born

MEETING BETWEEN THK MOETHMEN AND NATIVES.

in Genoa, about 1435. He was trained to the sea from early boyhood, and formed the belief, which nothing could shake, that the earth was round, and that by sailing westward a navigator would reach the coast of eastern Asia. The mistake of Columbus was in supposing the earth much smaller than it is, and of never suspecting that a continent lay between his home and Asia.

He was too poor to fit out an expedition himself, and the kings and rulers to whom he applied for help laughed him to scorn. He persevered for years, and finally King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain were won over to his

AMERIGO VESPUCCI. 35

views. They and some wealthy friends of Columbus furnished the needed funds, and on August 3, 1492, he sailed from Palos, Spain, in command of three small vessels, the Santa llaria, the Pinta, and the Nina.

As the voyage jirogressed, the sailors became terrified and several times were on the point of mutiny ; but Columbus by threats and promises held them to their work, and on Friday, October 12, 1492, land was sighted. He was rowed ashore and took possession of the new country in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella. While it is not known with certainty where he landed, it was probably Watling Island, one of the Bahamas. He named it San Salvador, and, believing it to be a part of India, called the natives Indians, by which name they will always be known. He afterward visited Cuba and Haiti, and retui'ned to Palos on the 15th of March, 1493,

Columbus was received with the highest honors, and, as the news of his great discovery spread, it caused a profound sensation throughout Europe. He made three other voyages, but did not add greatly to his discoveries. He died, neglected and in poverty. May 20, 1506, without sus])ecting the grandeur of his work, which marked an era in the history of the world.

OTHER DISCOVERERS.

Another famous Italian navigator and friend of Columbus was Amerigo Vespucci, who, fired by the success of the great navigator, made several voyages westward. He claimed to have seen South America in May, 1497 , which, if true, made him the first man to look upon the American continent. Late investigations tend to show that Vespucci

was correct in his claim. At any rate, his was the honor of having the country named for him.

John Cabot, also an Italian, but sailing under the flag of England, discovered the continent of North America, in the spring of 1497. A year later, Sebastian, son of John, explored the coast from Nova Scotia as far south as Cape Hatteras, It was the work of the elder Cabot that gave England a valid claim to the northern continent.

From what has been stated, it will be seen that Spain, now decrepit and decayed, was one of the most jjowerful of all nations four hundred years ago. Other leading powers were England, France, and Holland, and all of them soon began a scramble for new lands on the other side of the Atlantic. Spain, having been the first, had a great advantage, and she was wise enough to use all the means at her command. We will first trace the exjjlorations made by that nation.

In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a lawless rogue, hid himself in a cask on

DISCO VER V A XD F.XPL OR A Tl ON.

board of a vessel in older to escajie liis creditois, and was not discovered by the angry captain nntil so far from land that he could not lie taken back again. As it turned out, this was a fortunate thing for the captain and crew, for Balboa was a good sailor, and when the ship was wrecked on the coast of Darien he led the men through many dangers to an Indian village, where they were saved from starvation. Balboa hail been in the country before and acquired a knowledge of it, which now jjroved helpful.

The story of Spain in America is one long, friglitful record of massacre, cruelty, greed, and rapine. Ferocious by nature, her explorers had not sufficient sense to see that it was to their interest to treat the Indians justly. These people, although armed only with bows and arrows, atwhichthe Si)aniards laughed, still outnumbered them a thousandfold and could crush them by the simple force of

numbei's. Besides, they weie always provided with food, which they were eager to give to their pale-faced brothers, who were often unable to obtain it, but whose vicious nature would not permit them to be manly and just.

iloreover, the Spaniards were crazy after gold, '^ which they believed existed in many places in prodigious quantities. The sight of the yellow orna- S^^ iiients worn by the natives fired their cupidity, and |£.^ they inquired eagei'ly in the sign language where the ^i^^S:- precious metal could be found. One of the Indians J^3 replied that six days' ti'avel westward would biing ~-^^^ them to the shores of a great sea, where gold was as plentiful as the pebbles on the beach.

,, , ,. DISCOVERY OF THE PACIFIC.

(After an engraving published m loS4 )

riiis information, as may be believed, set the Spaniards wild, and, engaging a number of the natives as guides, they plunged into the hot, steaming forests, and pressed on until one day they came to the base of a mountain, from the top of which the guides said the great sea could be seen. Balboa made his men stay where they were while he climbed to the crest of the mountain alone. This was on the 26th of September, 1513, and, as Balboa looked off to the westward, his eyes rested upon the Pacific Ocean, the mightiest body of water on the globe.

He had made a grand discovery, and one which led to the conquest of Mexico and Peru and the colonization of the western coast of our country. Spain sent her armed expeditions thither, and in time they overran the sections named, their footprints marked everywhere by fire and blood. Many remains

FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE.

exist to-day in tlie 8outliwest of the early visits of those rapacious adventurers, during the lirst half of tlie sixteentli century. In iSanta Fe, New Mexico, is a buikling made of adobe or sun-dried clay which was built in 1582.

THE FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE.

In 1519 Ferdinand Maoellan coasted South America to the strait named in liis lionor, and, passing through it, entereil u})on the vast body of water discovered six years before by Balboa. Magellan gave it the name of Pacific

COLUMBUS AND THE EGO.

At a (iinner the Spanish courtier?, jealous of Columbus, said anyone could discover the Indies When, at Columhus' request, they tailed to make an egg stand on its end, he showed them how to do it by flattening the end of it. ■■Anyone could do that," remarked a courtier. ■' So anyone can discover the Indies, after I have shown the way."

Ocean, and, sailing westward, di.scnvered the Philippine Islands, which have lately acquired such importance in our history. There IMagellan died. Several of his ships were lost, but one of them succeeded in renching Spain after an absence of two years. This was the first circumnnvigation of the globe and demonstrated the grandeur of the discovery made by Columbus.

One of the companions of Columbus on his second vovage was Ponce de Leon. He was well on in years, and became deeply interested in a story told by the Indians of a wuuderful laud to the north of Cuba, vrhere there was 9, marvelous spring, which would bring back youth to any who drank from its waters. De Leon set out to hunt for the laud and discovered it in Florida on Easter Sunday, in 1513. He drank to repletion again and again from the springs he found, but without restoring his youth, and he was killed by Indians in 1521, while trying to form a settlement on the cuasst.