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

ADDRESS OF MR.. SHEA.
Members of the Missouri Historical
Society, Ladies and Gentlemen Of
st. Louis:
Two hundred and five years ago
this very day, two bark canoes were
launched at Quappa town near the
Arkansas to stem the mighty tide OF
the Mississippi. There seemed little
in this to give the actors place In
history measured by the standard of
those who see greatness only in the
victorious battlefield and no laurels
that are not crimsoned with human
blood. But let US study this group
of peaceful conquerers. There are
no other white men within 600 miles
| of them. The Spaniards in st. Au-
gustlne, which had ju,t celebrated its
| fret centennial, ond the English in
their new settlement ut Charleston,
were nearer by several hundred miles
than any countrymen Of the bold ex-
plorers.
Alone in the wilderness, with ma
ture in all her majesty speaking her
lessons from river and PLAIN,
from wooded upland and savannas
rich in tropic vegetation, stands a
thoughtful man in the worn garb Of a
missionary, face that impresses you
with the holiness of his life, a frame
apparently ill-fitted for the rugged
career which has aged it prematurely
a man of intellect, piety and action.
HIS nearest companion, clear and
frank, man of energy and power,
with bearing of culture, study and
observation. His bronzed features,
his garb of French frontiersman could
not for a moment induce you to con-
found him with the cOarser element
with which his life threw him in con-
tact.
| Marquette and Joliet stand ct the
waters edge, amid a crowd OF In
dians from the nearest village, ther
five boatmen, who had piled theil
paddles Oh many a stream and lake
pushed their light barks into the wat
ers of the Mississippi. A CLEAN o
pride and satisfaction, OF holier JOY
and consolation light up the counter
ances of the two explorers.
1t was, indeed, moment OF tri
umph. They had solved u question
of geographical science that had Ions
engaged the thoughts OF missionary
and pioneer, though the learned so
cieties in Europe knew nothing of it
The great western river at first diml,
;, heard of, gradually mole clearly rec
ognized in Indian talks, had beer
= reached, had been navigated with it
current for whole month; its cours'
was known, its value and importanc
| were known, and now these two
crowned with success, were to bea
4 back to civilization the knowledge ac
: quired, and to tell astontshed Europ
that the canvas=winged ship ooul'
penetrate into the very heart of tn
: American continent oy one OF tn
mightiest rivers of earth.
As they stood there on the 18th @
l. July, 1878, they felt that their wor
e was accomplished. Its importanc
: they saw more clearly than most q
l their generation, but with all thei
gaze into futurity, they would hav
been prophets, indeed, could the
have dreamed of the Mississippi as W
behold it! could they realise what
, behold.
What change from that solitar
group of white men, on the river
brink, with a handful of savages an
a wretehed Indian hamlet, to the mi
lions in splendid cities and towns,
cultured farms and teemiHg plant
tons, the home of science, literatur
y art invention, bearing the richie
a- fruits of material, aesthetic, intellec
ID ual DEVELOPMENT.
y We meet to share the JOY of Ma
t. ouette and Joliet on that memorial
re day, and to pay our tribute OF hon
ts to the two men whose studies led
;s the expedition, who 30 hrayely unde
ns took and so satisfactorily effected Il
at exploration.
a. Joliet and Marquette are well VIC
ID thy of nations reverence. L
C discovery of the Mississippi was n
in a mere chance encounter In an aimle
-. rowing. 1t was well oonsidere
La planned on information long and
tiently acquired, and carried out WI
prudence, caution and exact obser'
tlon.
Spain knew of great river trave
ing this land, but she took no ste
TO explore it or study its future be!
inp on the interests Of mankind. L
remnant of the expedition unt
Pamphilo de Narvaez may De p
doned for giving no great thougnt