Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-08-01

an obstacle in their fatal course from
Florida of disaster to some outpost of
their countrymen in Mexico. Soto,
ssthe fourth and greatest tyrant," as
Las Casas calls him, reached the riv-
er and ascended it; unconscious that
1T was to be his tomb, it is not i'm
possible that he with his gaunt
and half naked band, red v ith Indian
blood and pursued by the lmpreca-
tions of desolated villages-stood on
this very spot where we gather to-day.
But their knowledge of the river was
acquired in vain. The Spaniards in
New Mexico had sent out expeditions
penetrating through the plains to
many of the western branches of the
great river, and in all probability to
it's banks.
But the object of all search on their
part was gold, and gold on the sur
face. With no evidence at once of
the existence of that metal, Spain
neglected to take any higher view or
to make the knowledge obtained by
her explorers OF any advantage to
herself or mankind. Stories OF tabled
empires that outrivalled In gold and
silver the pomp of Mexico or Peru,
light up some of these New Mexican
accounts. and were borrowed by a La
Hontan and Sagean, but they failed
to tempt the successors of Phillip and
Charles to occupy the valley of the
great river.
The handful of Jesuit missionaries
| in Canada looked at it in different
light. 1t is their great credit while
pursuing their noble attempt to con-
vert the red men, they were far sight
ed, impressed with the resources and
advantages of this great country, and
confident of its future. Few i'll mum.
ber, for in a period of two hundred
wears they numbered in all their col
| leges' and missions only two hundred
and twenty, and rarely more than
thirty at any one time scattered from
the Gull OF st. Lawrence to the banks
of the Mississippi-these cultivated
men studied the topography, resour
ccs and products Of the country, il
the sole view of the future extension
of European and christian influence
that a christendom might grow ul
here and the wild tribes be won to it:
bosom.
Doing their duty manfully in th'
living present to the little native fiocl
that each could gather, christening a
they could the rough pioneer, ant
holding him to the civilization he lef
/ far behind, the missionaries studied
1.-The new land of America. Year b,
tyear they reported the information
acquired of the unknown interior o
America, the relation of tribes ant
lang, ages, the natural features ant
pathways. Pushing forward ahea'
of the most daring trader, they reach
ed tribe after tribe, till then unhear'
of, gave them the first elementar.
knowledge OF religious truth, an'
planted the cross. Many fell; th
accident of the way, the prowlin,
savage, LlIe cold-blooded torture Il
the hands of ferocious war parties
all these thlnned the ranks of tn
Jealous missionaries, but they neve
checked their advance Spain NIGH
: abandon lands where there was II
gold glittering on the surface, til
French Jesuits never recolled, til
sutferings each endured, the fate c
their companions only quickcne
/ their courage and stimulated them t
: further and nobler eXertiors.
| can pay tribute to these heroi
men with no fear of being suppose
partial. Bancroft, Parkman, Sparks
| Kip, all thoughtful writers of on
, country, whose theme it has eve
been, a,e in absolute harmony on til
, point. Standing in this valley whlc
| French zeal appreciated and occt
= pied. pay my tribute freely, for
t am not of French origin; the ances
= ors of mine then in the land wer
among the stern settlers OF the Ne
e England coast, men narrower in the
+. views, thinking less Of humanity
n large than of themselves, KNOWN
r two hundred years ago less of I'll
!. country a hundred miles from I'll
: coast than the French did of tens I
# thousands OF square miles OF the II
y terror.
ADDRESS BY MIR. swITZLER, OF C0LUN
BIA STATESMAN.
n Mr.. President, Ladies' and Feil0,
q Citizens:
= Having thus hastily glanced at Il
:. expedition of Marquette and Jolle
y and their remarkable death and bu
= ial, the more important incidents
n which have been so ably and ell
s ouently disclosed to-day by the di
e tinguished gentlemen who precedt
e me, we trust it will not be deemt
}, either inappropriate to the occaslt
'r or irrelevant to the subject, in co
: clusion, to mark the progress
70 have made In population and wealt
d and to chronicle what Missouri h
le accomplished as q territory and
le state, in the varied interests and i
dustries which distinguish the clvl
1t cation Of our time.
X That civilization, 1t will be foun
'e is a civilization peculiar to Weste
Of activity and enterprise, and one mar
ir ed throughout its progress by pote
re tial forces which are grasping at t
" knowledge, population and wealth
Ve the world. Pope's vague hut boa