The Delta independent., 1889-09-10
Another Statue.

The Hon. Lambert Tree has earned
the gratitude OF Chicagoans by pre-
senting TO Lincoln park bronze statue
OF the great explorer and discover,
Robert Cavelier dc La Sale. This
statue Mr.. Tree, during his official
residence in Belgium, caused to be
executed by Count Jacques de Lalaing,
distinguished Belgium sculptor, who
is said to have wrought IL fine work
OF art AS soon as site has been Sc
lected Mr.. Tree will proceed with the
erection OF the pedestal.
1t is fitting that La Sale should be
thus commemorated in the city over
whose territory he raised the flag of
Franco more than 200 years ago We
are too careless of the fame of those
heroes whose bravery reclaimed the
wilderness and opened path for
the march of civilization. These men
were not mere adventurous, forcing
their way into new country ont of Il
desperate love of gain. They were
missionaries carrying the banner OF the
cross among the hostile tribes, or eX-
plorers discovering vast empires for
the glory of their king. They endured
terrible privations, braved the hostility
of savage tribes, suffered sickness and
death in the cause of civilization which
we have built upon the foundations
they laid. La Sale was man of
brilliant courage and daring imagina-
tion. When first he left his pative
country for Canada his mind was filled
with desire of reaching the Pacific
ocean and sailing thence to China and
Japan-this at a time when in those
secluded countries foreigners were little
better than reptiles and worthy only of
instant death. But the Canadian gov
ernor did not encourage this bold pro-
ject. In fact France took so little in
terest in the discoveries of Marquette
and others who were adding an empire
to the kings domain that Louis XIV.
forbade his governor TO authorize new
| expeditions, excepting in u great me-
cessity." La Sale Travelled to France,
however, pleaded at court, and finally
obtained an outfit, with which he ex-
plored the great states of the Missis-
sippi valley and followed the mighty
river to its mouth
1t was toward 1851 that La Sale
sailed into the Chicago river, which
by some inadvertence of fate was then
labeled the Divine rivera title which
time has not confirmed. Little did the
hero think us he waded through the
marshes that Il great city would mt last
rise over them and u vast commerce
make its home on that sluggish stream;
still less that the wilderness which
treated him so inhospitably would one
d y accord him statue. The rcpara
tion is tnrdy, but it comes at last
through Mr.. Trees generosity. The
world is to receive at last some proof
that we remember the brave pioneer
whose energetic life and tragic death
are one of the most romantic episodes
of our history.
The subject offers a fine opportunity
to n sculptor, for La Sale was IL hero
in appearance as well as in deeds. 1t
is altogether fitting that our parks
should be enriched by statues of men
illustrious in our own history, whose
fame is associated with the national
greatness. Too many OF our great men
sleep in forgotten graves, while not Il
city in the land erects II monument to
their memory. A public statue, if an
artistic representation of Il man worthy
the honor, is not only noble tribute,
to the dead. it is also Il perpetual inspi-
ration to the living, an enduring proof
OF the utility of high aims, the power
of noble deeds. Chicago lines.