The Naming of America. 219 



One question remains, and that too important to be now con- 

 sidered. 



It is whether Americus really landed on the American main 

 before Columbus and Cabot. Varnhagen claims that he did, 

 and so that America is no misnomer after all. 



He must have so landed if his date is correct, and Hum- 

 boldt has demonstrated that his voyages are no where willfully 

 falsified. 



But however this may be, thus much seems clear, that 

 Americus next to Columbus best deserved to have the New 

 "World named for him, that he never sought that honor by any 

 means fair or foul, that the name originated without his knowl- 

 edge, never appeared on a map until after his death, and then 

 was long confined to a region smaller than that he had him- 

 self discovered. 



It is pleasant to see clouds of suspicion rolled away from 

 anv character. Thereafter we think better of our race, and 

 learn to believe Satan himself not so black as he is painted. 

 What a good time was that when men ceased to burn geome- 

 tries, on perceiving tbat the sign plus might not be popish, 

 and that circles might not be conjurer's rings. It was a still 

 better day when men saw a sovereign die and yet suspected 

 neither poison nor foul play. It is especially pleasant to be 

 assured that the American name which is our own, and which 

 will be in the mouths of millions forever, is neither a monu- 

 ment of ingratitude, nor yet owes its origin to fraud. The 

 word America, according to etymologists, means rich in work. 

 May the American continent, in all its parts, forever deserve 

 its name I 



