# . 1 ^-^' -^ '•»o ^v V V .. "^ ' i.^^^ ^^* ^-^"^ ^<^^ »:^ ^ -'0* .'"'i'^ia". 'o' "- ./*:ri^'\. .^"^/^i-^^ .AijJ^^^ c^ ,rr\34<^ c OMMEMORATION OF THE FOURTH CENTENARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA MADRID, 1892 ■^>A.-. Co vv\- 10 tV\^ /NAa^rii. ex'pL U ■ I \ ,V\i Commemoration of tbc jfourtb Centenary? OF THE H)i6COvcri5 of Hmerica, Commission of the United States of America FOR THE Columbian Historical Exposition IN Madrid. Rear Admiral S. B. Luce, U. S. Navy, commissioner general. Smithsonian Institution, Iames C. Welling, LL. D. WASHINGTON CiTY, George Brown Goode, LL. D. commissioners. June i, 1892. Circular of Announcement. IN ACCORDANCE with an Act of Congress, approved May 13, 1892, the President has appointed a Commission to represent the United States at the Commemoration of the Fourth Centenary of the Discovery of America, to take place in Spain in the latter part of the present year. The Spanish Government, in pursuance of the Royal Decree of January 9, 1891, has provided for a series of International celebrations, most prominent among which will be two historical Expositions to be held in Madrid simultaneously and in adjacent buildings — one the ExposicionHistorico-Americana, the other the Exposicion Historico-Europea. It is intended that the Historic-American Exposition shall illustrate the civilization of the New Continent in the Pre- Columbian, Columbian and Post-Columbian Periods, while in the Historic-European Exposition will be shown the civilization of Europe, and particularly of the Iberian Peninsula, at the time when the new world was discovered and colonized. It is expected that, by the aid of these exhibitions, students and visitors may be enabled to understand the state of artistic and industrial civilization in Europe and America in this important epoch, and to realize the influence which the one may have exercised upon the other. The period which the authorities in charge of the Historic- European Exposition desire especially to illustrate is that during which American history was most closely identified with that of Europe. This extends from 1492, when the Spanish caravels first reached the Antilles, to 1620, when the Mayflower, setting forth from a Dutch seaport, brought the English Puritans to New England. "The Columbian epoch," extending from the end of the fifteenth century through the first third of the seventeenth, includes most of the principal initial efforts for the exploration and colonization of the new continent by Europeans. By bringing together, in a retrospective exhibition, what remains to illustrate the arts and industries of Europe at this time, it is the desire of the Spanish authorities "to teach the people of to-day, what were the elements of civilization with which, on the side of the arts, Europe was then equipped for the task of educating a daughter, courageous and untamed, but beauti- ful and vigorous, who had risen from the bosom of the seas, and who, in the course of a very few centuries, was to be transformed from a daughter into a sister — a sister proud in aspiration and mighty in power. The exhibits in this Historic-American Exposition will be divided into three great series : one to include American pre-historic remains, the first indication of the existence of man in caves, neolithic monuments, lacustrine dwellmgs, and the arms and utensils of this primitive age : the second to illustrate the characteristics of the American Aborigines just prior to the discovery, and the third, the period of discovery, of conquest, and of European influence, up to the middle of the seventeenth century. It is proposed to have also a special group of objects, illus- trating the voyages of Columbus and his companions, as well as previous efforts for the discovery of a new continent. The Expositions will open on the 12th of September, and will continue until the 31st of December. They will be held in the new building erected for the national library and museums in the Paseo de Recoletos, and in the adjacent grounds and buildings of the Parque de Madrid. There will be other celebrations in connection with the Expositions, beginning with a Congress (scientific, literary and artistic) to take place at Huelva, on the 2nd of August, in com- memoration of the four hundredth anniversary of the depart- ure of the vessels of Columbus from the port of Palos. This will be followed by a session of the Congress of Orientalists, which will take place in the Alcazar in Seville, continuing from the 1st to the 6th of October; and the Ninth Congress of Americanists, in the Convent of La Rdbida, at Huelva, from the 7th to the nth of October. On the i ith of October, there will be unveiled at La Rdbida a monument to commemorate the discovery of America. It is announced that there will be other festivals and naval demonstrations at Huelva, at various times from the 3rd of August to the 3rd of November. During the progress of the Expositions at Madrid, there will be other congresses and special exhibitions. The management of the Commemoration is vested in a Royal Commission, the President of which is the Prime Minister of Spain, His Excellency Don Antonio C^novas del Castillo, The president of the committee for the Historic-American Exposition is the Secretary of State, His Excellency the Duke of Tetuan. The president of the committee for the reception of the Con- gress of Americanists is His Excellency Don Antonio Maria Fabi^. Commissions have been organized in all of the Spanish-American Republics, by which very extensive exhibits will be secured, and special commissions have also been appointed by the Governors of the Spanish Provinces, and the Governors-General of the Antilles and the Phillippine Islands. Special commissions have been formed in the large cities of the United States, and the Government Commission is assured of the hearty sympathy and co-operation of these Committees. The Commission invites the co-operation of persons having objects of any kind suitable for exhibition on this occasion. The collections will be returned in January. Objects intended for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago may, by a special arrangement, be forwarded direct from Madrid to Chicago, in ample time for installation. It is especially desired that authors and publishers of books relating to the periods of discovery and conquest, and the colonial history of the several European settlements in America, shall exhibit them. The Commission and its staff will give special attention to the effective presentation of such publica- tions. Exhibits will be forwarded without charge to Madrid, and returned to the exhibitor free of expense, the Commission bear- ing the cost of transportation, and becoming responsible for the effective labeling and installation of the objects. All objects should be forwarded to Washington, if possible, before the first of July, addressed to The Madrid Commission, care of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. The official classifica- tions of the two Expositions are appended to this circular. An international jury will examine the articles displayed, and award the prizes, which will consist of a first prize of honor, a gold medal, a silver medal, a brass medal, and an honorable mention, each medal being accompanied by a diploma. All communications should be addressed to THE MADRID COMMISSION, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON CITY. REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF SPAIN TO THE QUEEN REGENT, CONCERNING THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FOURTH CENTURY OF THE DISCOVERY OF i^MERICA, [Translation] Senora: In deference to the glorious past of the country, your Majesty's previous Ministry submitted for Royal approval the two decrees of February 28, 1888, for an Exposition to commemorate, in a worthy manner, the Fourth Centenary of the discovery of America. In order to carry out these plans, inspired by sincere sentiments, with the efficacy and rapidity which such enter- prises demand, we have clearly traced, and indeed gone 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 anything having been prepared or even considered. Some very important rules have been adopted, notwithstand- ing, 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 dis- covery and, in greater or lesser degree, cause the creation of works of art to contribute to the commemoration of that un- paralleled exploit. But even though counting upon such efforts, and upon the special poetic award recently offered by the Royal Spanish Academy, and upon other interesting projects 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 offered which, upon some points, alters the former provisions, but retains the essential bases and elaborates them. 8 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 Cape Horn to the heart of Mexico it is due to the Spaniards. If Europeans enjoy the wealth of the rich American soil, they owe a debt of gratitude to the untiring labor and to the unyielding valor of our fore- fathers. For these reasons, though the event may be of inter- national and cosmopolitan interest, it concerns above all the Spanish people on both hemispheres. So certain is this that foreign potentates repress the murmurings of ihtxr amour propre, and tacitly or expressedly accord to Spain the right to take the initiative 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 Europeans in America, although they are not all descended from us, nor even speak our native tongue. But whilst we cannot refuse, without dis- honor, 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 places 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 grasp, the destinies of the world, is suited to their dignity which might be compromised by vain ostentation. This must have been the conviction of Your Majesty's former Ministry when it did not think, as others did, that the Fourth Centenary of the discovery of America should be celebrated in Madrid by an international Exposition. But what is now proposed goes still farther, and does not limit the Exposition simply to an industrial exhibit by the Hispano- Americans, who recently proved, in their sumptuous structures at the Paris Exhibition, their common and increasing prosperity. It is not obligatory, for this reason, that such a display should be made at the approaching Centenary. Fortunately, we of the Peninsula and of America possess other elements which, together with those we may be able to borrow, for the purpose from foreigners, would be sufficient to form a basis for a demonstration appropriate to the occasion. No Hispano- American country can fail to possess, as does the Mother coun- try, in museums, and in the hands of private individuals, pre- Columbian relics and those contemporaneous with the dis- covery which, brought together, would excite their common remembrances with no slight benefit both as to science and art. Hence the Government of your Majesty proposes to organize a simple exhibit of such articles, renouncing, for lack of suffi- cient means and time, any more arduous enterprise. From such an Exposition might be gathered abundant fruits for the study of Archaeology, Anthropology, and above all of History, if, in view of the wishes of Spain and still more of the occasion which inspires them, other nations should concur, as there are many such possessing full collections of the desired objects. The Commission constituted in February, 1888, had begun to discuss another sort of Exposition, and the present Ministry has hastened to put it into execution. The plan is to collect the greatest number possible of the specimens of Iberian pro- ductions anterior to the discovery of America, from the time when the new nations of the Peninsula were being formed until, when triumphant within themselves, they sought and found vast territories beyond the seas in which to extend their power. By this means it will not only be possible but easy to compare the respective conditions of culture of conquered and conquerers at the time when they came together, without discriminating among the latter, between Spaniards and Portu- guese, although at present they belong to separate and inde- pendent States. The fame of incomparable discoverers belongs to us in common, and Spain has always included Portugal in its present plans. No one is ignorant that the cathedrals, churches, museums and private galleries of the nobility of the Peninsula contain precious works of Iberian art collected during the long period referred to, and, perhaps, for the greater part lO unknown. It may be hoped, therefore, that this second Expo- sition, combined with the first, will redound to the credit of both. Meanwhile, it is an important fact and the present Ministry does not forget that these two enterprises are not restricted by their official character, but will rather stimulate the zeal of private individuals, in general, and that of their several and independent centers of action. Any one who wishes to do so may bring to the common treasury his intelligence, and abilities with all the enthusiasm and freedom he possesses. But it can- not be denied that it is necessary that between the private individuals and the officials there should be established sufficient union as to render each other effectual assistance, and avoid, at least, disturbing each other in their respective efforts, so that the free actions of each may not degenerate into anarchy. And in fact it must be stated that this is not the least of the means, in virtue of which, the Ministry now proposes to Your Majesty to appoint a Committee of Direction which shall concentrate, assist, and lend organic force to all the elements offered to the enterprise. As a matter of course Your Majesty's Ministry will still have the supreme control, because of its greater powers and its national character; but this will not interfere with any private efforts which coincide with the endeavors to obtain a good result. The Expositions alluded to and many of the larger entertain- ments will, of course, take place in Madrid ; but the Ministry also desires that the assistance of the Committee of Direction, as well as that of the existing Commission, should be extended to the provinces and cities desiring it, and above all to such as possess the clearest titles as prominent actors in the Centenary celebration. Granada, Santa Fe, Valladolid, Barcelona, Sevilla and certain places in Huelva, all of which are doubtless included in the number, will to the best of their respective abilities join with Madrid in this laudable and patriotic manifesta- tion. But it is impossible not to recognize that Huelva, with II its never-to-be-forgotten though modest monastery of Santa Maria de la Rabida, and its neighboring coast, rather than port, of Palos de Moguer, where Columbus found asylum, resources and men to second and accompany him, and from which sailed the ships that first reached the New World, deserves on the part of the Government particular attention. It has been arranged that that place and that arm of the sea will be traversed, during the first days of the Centenary celebration, by the mem- bers of the Congress of Americanists who will celebrate in Huelva their ninth anniversary. On the other hand, the Committee appointed under the second of the decrees of 1888, so frequently cited, had already thought of commencing operations in those famous places on the occa- sion of the Centenary. It is now the part of the Government to see that those intentions are extended and fulfilled. And when all the foregoing shall have been well considered, it will be clearly seen that there remains so much to be done to carry out the intentions of the former and of the present Ministry, that assiduous and active work will be needed so as to com- bine all the elements into a useful and complete entirety. This is the object to be attained by the Committee of Direction which, in virtue of this decree, is to be appointed. In particular the Ministers, who form an important part of the Committee, from henceforward have no time to lose, knowing that, of neces- sity, they will have a most difficult and complicated part to perform. In these special duties the whole Ministry will assist, whenever necessary, without extravagant expectations- but without discouragement, should Your Majesty give your ap- proval to the accompanying project of the Royal Decree. Madrid, Jamiary p, i8qi. Senora : A. L. R. P. DE V. M., Antonio C^novas del Castillo. DECREE OF THE QUEEN REGENT OF SPAIN CON- CERNING THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FOURTH CENTURY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. Atendiendo a las razones que Me ha expuesto el Presidente del Consejo de Ministros ; En nombre de Mi Augusto Hijo el Rey D. Alfonso XIII, y como Reina Regente del Reino, Vengo en decretar lo siguiente : Articui.0 i.° L,a Comision nombrada por el segundo de los Reales decretos de 28 de Febrero de 1888, con ocasion de los festejos acordados por el Gobierno para conmemorar el cuarto Centenario del descubrimiento del Nuevo Mundo, y de la cual forman parte las mas altas representaciones del Kstado, con- tinuara funcionando como hasta aqui, y poniendo por obra las resoluciones que haya adoptado ya, 6 que en lo sucesivo adopte. Art. 2.° Habra, por soparado, en adelante, una Junta direc- tiva del Centenario, compuesta de los tres individuos del Gobierno que mas eficazmente puedan intervinir en su cele- bracion, de varios miembros de la Comision referida, y de las personas que se designaran despues, la cual ha de atender, en primer termino, a la ejecucion de los proyectos que dieron especial materia al primero de los decretos antes citados, ejecucion encargada entonces a los Ministros de Estado, Guerra y Ultramar. Al propio tiempo servira de vinculo esta Junta entre el Gobierno en su conjunto, la Comision ya existente, y cuantas Corporaciones 6 Sociedades coadyuven voluntariamente al mayor lustre del Centenario. Art. 3.° I^a Exposici6n de objetos americanos de que trata el art. 2.° del referido primer decreto, no se extendera ya a aquellos que en la actualyiad caracterizan la cultura de los pueblos de America, ni a otros ningunos de la misma region que sean de posterior fecha a la mitad del siglo xvi. I/imitarase, por tanto, ahora a presentar de la manera mas completa que sea posible, segiin preceptuaba la primera parte de dicho art. 2.", el estado en que se hallaban por los dias del descubrimiento, y de las principales conquiscas europeas, los pobladores de America, agrupando al efecto cuantos objetos concurran d dar idea del origen y progreso de su relativa cultura. Art. 4.° Todo lo demas dispuesto por virtud del articulo que lleva este mismo numero en el primer decreto mencionado permanece en su vigor, con exclusion de la mision maritima que el anterior articulo prevenia. Art. 5.° Juntamente con la Kxposicion definida en el tercer articulo de este decreto, se celebrara otra, en Madrid tambien, la cual ha de comprender las manifestaciones todas del trabajo y la cultura peninsular, desde principios de la restauracion visigoda hasta la segunda mitad del siglo xvi. Art. 6. ° El Gobierno adoptara por si, y desde luego, cuantas disposiciones sean necesarias para que una y otra Exposicion cuenten con edificios piiblicos capaces y bajo todos conceptos apropiados al caso. Art. 7.° Habiendose asimismo de celebrar el proximo Con- greso de Americanistas en Espaiia, el Gobierno de S. M., a quien ha quedado confiada la designacion de cuiday y de edificio, acuerda que tenga aquel lugar en la provincia de Huelva y su monasterio de Santa Maria de la Rabida, imme- diate a Palos de Moguer. Art. 8.° De conformidad con la precedente resolucion, el Gobierno tomara sin demora tambien las medidas indispens- ables para la consolidacion, restauracion, apropiacion y embel- lecimento posible del antecitado monasterio y sus alrededores, haciendo por igual manera mas accesible el embarcadero de Palos, a fin de facilitar las visitas que ha de atraer la conmem- oracion del grande acontecimiento en aquellos sitios comenzado. Art. 9.° L,a Junta directiva, como la Comision establecida tiempo hace, tendra por Presidente al del Consejo de Ministros, y su Vicepresidente sera asimismo miembro de la ultima. Art. 10. Formaran parte de esta Junta los Ministros de Estado, Fomento y Ultramar, directamente obligados a ejecutar sus acuerdos, el Alcalde de Madrid y los dos Secretaries de la Comision varias veces citada, sin contar otros miembros de ella que por distinto conceptos sean Uamados. Seran particular- 14 mente invitados a compartir los trabajos dela Junta el Ministro Plenipotenciario de Portugal y uno de las Republicas hispano- americanas. De igual modo se invitara a los Presidentes de la Union Ibero-aniericana, desde su fundacion, a los que actual- mente lo sean del Ateneo Cientifico, lyiterario y Artistico de Madrid, del Fomento de las Artes, de la Camara de Comercio, del Circulo de lu Union Mercantil y el de la Sociedad de Escritores y Artistas. Con identico derecho que los demas tomaran asimismo parte en las deliberaciones de dicha Junta, cuando lo soliciten, los Alcaldes de Granada, Valladolid, Barcelona y Huelva, y el Presidente de la Sociedad Colombina Onubense. Cuando no asuma su representacion correspon- diente cualquiera de las personas antecitadas, podra hacer sus veces la que legitinianiente le sustituya en sus funciones. Art. II. El Gobierno agregara a esta Junta en lo sucesivo a los representantes autorizados de cualesquiera otras Corpora- cione que contribuyan a las fiestas del Centenario. Art. 12. Tendra la Junta dos Secretarios y dos Vicesecre- tarios, escogidos fuera de las mencionadas categorias, pero con voz y voto como los demas. Art. 13. Ea Junta directiva se dividira on cuatro Secciones : una que el Ministro de Eztado presidira, y ha de tener a su cargo las necesarias gestiones para que de America y Europa se remita a Madrid el mayor numera posible de los objetos que requiere la Exposicion de Arqueologia y de Historia americana, asi como todo lo concerniente a su organizacion ; otra, de que sera Presidente el Ministro de Fomento, que, a la preparacion de los lugares y edificios publicos consagrados a Exposiciones y festejos, reunira el especial encargo de estimular y disponer la Exposicion del trabajo peninsular, durante las 6pocas ya determinadas ; otra que, bajo la presidencia del Ministro de Ultramar, entendera en todo lo referente al Congreso de Ameri- canistas en Huelva y a los festejos oficiales que en aquella provincia se celebren, preparando y ordenando ademas el trans- porte a la Peninsula de los objetos que de America se destiuen a las Exposiciones ; otra, por ultimo, cuya presidencia desem- peiiara el Vicepresidente de la Junta directiva, y que ha de tomar a su cargo cuanto tenga relacion con las Corporaciones 15 no oficiales que bajo cualquier forma tomen voluntaria parte en la conmemoracion del Centenario. Art. 14. IvOS dos Secretarios y los dos Vicesecretarios se repartiran entre estas cuatro Secciones. Se distribuiran asi- mismo los Vocales de la Junta directiva con la proporcion posible entre las dichas Secciones, procurando que a cana cual pertenezcan los que representan elementos mas congruentes a su especial encargo. Art. 15. A cada Seccion corresponde el nombramiento de Delegado general y Delegados especiales que hayan de estar al frente de las Exposiciones acordadas y de los demas actos y festejos que para la conmemoracion del Centenario dispongan. Art. 16. I^as reuniones de la Junta directiva como la de la Comision existente, se convocaran por su presidencia comiin, la cual debera acordarlas siempre que los Presidentes de Sec- ciones lo demanden. Art. 17. I^as fiestas de Huelva podran dar principio el 3 de Agosto de 1892, al amanecer, y dilatarse hasta el 3 de Noviem- bre del mismo afio. I,as Exposiciones y festejos de Madrid empezaran con iluminacion de los edificios piiblicos y de los de los particulares que lo tengan a bien en la noche del 11 al 12 de Septiembre del afio citado. Art. 18. La nueva Junta directiva, asi como sus Secciones, disfrutaran en sus comunicaciones oficiales la franquicia postal y telegrafica que, tratandose de un servicio publico, corresponde. Art. 19. A la propia Junta queda especialmente sometida la reglamentacion general de las Exposiciones y de los festejos combinados, y desde luego ira preparandola para su oportuna publicacion. Art. 20. Queda derogado el primera de los decretos de 28 de Febrero de 1888, en cuanto se oponga a las presentes dis- posiciones. Tambien se entendera modificado el segundo, si en algo se opone a ellas. Dado en Palacio a neuve de Enero de mil ochocientos noventa y uno. , MARIA CRISTINA. El Presidente del Consejo de Ministros, Antonio Canovas dsi, Castii,i