The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-16
PERE MARQUETTE.

Col. w. +. Villas delivered nm address
in the senate last week on the occasion
Of the accepting OF Wisconsin's statue OF
Father Marquette. After an eloquent
picture OF the difference between the Old
Thirteen and the new commonwealth OF
Wisconsin in the matter OF historic char
acters, Col. Villas said:
The heavy forest stood in primeval
majesty, stretching to the prairics OF the
Mississippi from the mountains Of the
east, and not one OF the coming race had
ventured once within its awful solitudes
Through the vast woods westward from
the Hudson and the Delaware, roamed
the merciless Iroquois ia terrible domin-
ion, the scourge and destroyer OF the
savage race, the Tartars OF the wilder
ness whose butheries multiplied and
doepcned its solitudes and filed them
with perils and horror.
And there, in the deep interior OF the
continent, on whose wild primeval
surface no light OF civilization cast n ray
save the chickering's here and there begun
To show along the ocean margin, there in
vast isolation, that ''profundity OBJ
scure," the lamp OF Christianity was
kindled by the spark brought from Cal
vary, and it's gleam burst forth above
the forest gloom, n solitary beacon, pre-
saying and beaconing TO the oncoming OF
humanity, soon To march thitherward in
triumphant splendor.
Amsng the Shadowy forms that move
on that iar-oif scene, touched by the light
rosy ray that tells OF a splendor coming
in its time, among the brave who dared
the peril OF that morning hour was one,
the type and exemplar OF noble class,
fixed Ia human honor by devotion, hero
ism and sacrafice. in whose souI burned
also the genius OF the explorer, the glor-
ious greed for knowledge. Short and
swiftly sped was his path 10 the altar Of
sell sacrifice, SO often the goal Of his
class, hut his few hard years were
enough Tor his renown; he departed Tor
the world beyond, rewarded by the fame
OF history here. lie was citizen OF
Wisconsin only in it's embryonic age; no
more; but otherwise II was OF such as
him that congress spake when il marked
Tor thisspccialhonor persons illustrious
Tor historic rcnown."
Wherefore tho legislature OF wiscon-
sin, unwilling that state which yields
IN public spirit and intelligence 10 none,
should stand sbarer In the national
gallery oil honor. and concciving the true
sense OF the congressional plan 20 com
prchcnd whatever achievements upon
our country's soil have brilliantly
wrought toward its prodcstined useful. |
ness to man, proposed 10 congress that
Wisconsin should be permitted lat once
and togcther--to recognize and honor
the men whose daring planted there the
iirst abode OF civilization; 10 distinguish
md illustrate the noblcst character In
the vanguard Of it's march-the mission
nry oil Christ; and 10 celebrate also n
famous triumph Of geographic explora-
ton from within her borders by raising
here the marble efIlgy OF that gentle.
devoted. high-souled, fearless priest and
teacher, James Marquette. the discov-
srcr Of the Mississippi.
lie ~ wroneiuIly despoiled, his right
invaded, n grievous injury done, when TO
any man " denied any part or share Of
aus social rights or privileges by reason
u his religious faith. II property, IL
place, II honor be his rightful due among