COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXHIBITION IN MADRID, 1892. 327 



Art. 20. Queda derogado ol primero de los decretos de 28 de Febrero de 1888, eu 

 cnanto se oponga a las presentes disposiciones. Tambieu se eutendera modificado 

 el segnndo, si eu algo se opone a ellas. 



Dado eu Palaeio a uueve de Euero de mil ochocieutos noveuta y uuo. 



Maria Cristina. 

 El Presidente del Cousejo de Miuistros, 



Antonio Canovas del Castillo. 



No. 3. 



REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF SPAIN TO THE QUEEN REGENT, CON- 

 CERNING THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FOURTH CENTURY OF THE 

 DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



[Translation.] 



Senora : lu defereuce to the glorious past of the couutry, your majesty's previous 

 miuistry submitted for royal approval the two decrees of February 28, 1888, for an 

 exposition to commemorate, iua wortliy manner, the fourth centenary of the discov- 

 ery of America. In order to carry out these plaus, inspired by sincere sentiments, 

 with the efficacy and rapidity which such enterprises demand, we have clearly 

 traceil, and indeed goue over, in great part, the road by which the desired end will 

 be reached. But in spite of the good will of all, and for reasons which it would be 

 idle to investigate at the present time, almost three years have gone by without any- 

 thing having been prepared or even considered. 



Some very important rules have been adopted, notwithstanding, and are about 

 to be put into execution by the zealous commission appointed under the second of 

 the aforenamed royal decrees. It will publish, without delay, scholarly volumes 

 intended to illustrate minutely the history of the discovery and, in greater or lesser 

 degree, cause the creation of works of art to contribute to the commemoration of 

 that uni>aralleled exploit. But even though coiintiugupou such efforts, and upon the 

 special poetic award recently offered by the Royal Spanish Academy, and upon other 

 interesting ijrojects of private associations, there is still much to be done and the 

 time is very short. In order to facilitate the carrying out of the work, the present 

 decree is otfered Avhich, upon some points, alters the former provisions, but retains 

 the essential bases and elaborates them. 



It is well known that though Columbus tore away the veil which hid the New 

 from the Old World, to our country belongs the honor. If the holy Christian religion 

 illumines to-day the consciences of the human race from Capo Horn to the heart of 

 Mexico it is due to the Spaniards. If Europeans enjoy the wealth of the rich Amer- 

 ican soil, they owe a debt of gratitude to the untiring labor and to the unyielding 

 valor of our forefothers. For these reasons, though the event may be of international 

 and cosmopolitan interest, it concerns above all the Spanish people on both hemi- 

 spheres. So certain is this that foreign potentates repress the murmurings of their 

 amour propre, and tacitly or expressedly accord to Spain the right to take the initia- 

 tive in the commemoration of the event. And the peoples of the New World will 

 admit, with greater reason even, that Spanish soil is like the fatherland of the 

 Eiirojieans in America, although they are not all descended from us, nor even speak 

 our native tongue. But whilst we cannot refuse, without dislionor, to undertake 

 the flattering task assigned us, it would, on the other hand, be presumptuous to try 

 to compete with the gigantic national demonstration of pride and enthusiasm 

 which have been displayed in other j)lace3 than Spain. For many well known 

 reasons we are unable, for the present, to enter into such costly rivalries. 



The modesty of the people who have lost what once they held within their gi'asp^ 

 the destinies of the world, is suited to their dignity which might )>e compromised by 

 vain ostentation, 



