Father NUGENT of Iowa. From an address printed in the
Denver _Republican_, 1892.

The theory of the rotundity of the earth was not born with Columbus. It
had been announced centuries before Christ, but the law of gravitation
had not been discovered and the world found it impossible to think of
another hemisphere in which trees would grow downward into the air and
men walk with their heads suspended from their feet. The theologians and
scholars who scoffed at Columbus' theory had better grounds for opposing
him, according to the received knowledge of the time, than he for
upholding his ideal. They were scientifically wrong and he was
unscientifically correct.

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

The President responds to a message from the Alcalde of Palos.

The following cable messages were exchanged this day:

LA RABIDA, August 3d. The President: To-day, 400 years ago, Columbus
sailed from Palos, discovering America. The United States flag is being
hoisted this moment in front of the Convent La Rabida, along with
banners of all the American States. Batteries and ships saluting,
accompanied by enthusiastic acclamations of the people, army, and navy.
God bless America.

PRIETO,
_Alcalde of Palos_.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 3, 1892. Senor Prieto,
Alcalde de Palos, La Rabida, Spain: The President of the United States
directs me to cordially acknowledge your message of greeting. On this
memorable day, thus fittingly celebrated, the people of the new western
world, in grateful reverence to the name and fame of Columbus, join
hands with the sons of the brave sailors of Palos and Huelva who manned
the discoverer's caravels.

FOSTER,
_Secretary of State_.

THE PAN-AMERICAN TRIBUTE.

The nations of North, South, and Central America in conference
assembled, at Washington, D. C., from October 2, 1889, to April 19,
1890.

_Resolved_, That in homage to the memory of the immortal discoverer of
America, and in gratitude for the unparalleled service rendered by him
to civilization and humanity, the International Conference hereby offers
its hearty co-operation in the manifestations to be made in his honor
on the occasion of the fourth centennial anniversary of the discovery of
America.[50]

THE GIFT OF SPAIN.

THEODORE PARKER, a distinguished American clergyman and scholar.
Born at Lexington, Mass., August 24, 1810; died in Florence, Italy,
May 10, 1860.