The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-01
FRIDAY. NAY ]. 1896.

THE MARQUETTE STATUE was formally
accepted by the Senate in resolution offer
ed by Senator Palmer, of ILL.,, on Wednes-
day last. Senator Mitchell, of Wisconsin,
during his remarks enumerating the ser
vices of the renowned missionary to Wis
consin, and the country at large, said:
"The qualities of priests and of Jesuits
had no part in determining Wisconsin s
choice of Marquette for the honors of
Statuary Hall. His pure and saint-like
life, his writings and his fame as the ex-
plorer of the Mississippi controlled the
selection. He was the first white man to
traverse our territory and write descrip-
ton of it, He was the first to map out our
confines He gave name to the river after
which our State is called. On our soil he
planned his voyage of discovery. From
our borders he first caught sight Of the
waters of the Mississippi.
Marquette is the one great historic char
acter identified with our State. Wisconsin
has developed many notable men. They
are the men of yesterday who may seem
great to-day, but tomorrow their names
will be lost in Obscurity. Not SO with
Marquette. On the pages of history his
name will shine the brighter as time goes
on"
''Senator Kyle said Marquette's mission
was to carry the Gospel to a heather peo-
pie; yet he rendered a great service to our
country as a pioneer of civilization.
"TO such men our nation rightfully does
honor. Marquette stands for great class
of chistian missionaries who have led the
vanguard of explorers into the unknown
parts of the earth. Time would not per-
NIT to enumerate the missionaries of the
church, both Catholic and Protestant, who
have laid the world under obligations for
their valuable discoveries. Thus the church
has added greatly to the geographic and
scientific knowledge of the world. To this
great class of discoveries belongs James
Marquette.
He was sanity in character, unselfish
in his purposes and undying in his efforts
to bring the message of gladness to darkest
civilization. How striking the contrast
between this man and De Soto and scores OF
explorers whose ambition was gold! As
many of his predecessors had done, Mar
Quette gave his life for those he loved.
Marquette's life is beautiful in self sacrifice.
Hisediscovery ranks among the foremost
and most important on the continent; and
it is to Marquette the explorer that we do
honor at this time.''
Senator Villas, in support of the resolu-
tiOn, said:
''The State of Wisconsin, in raising this
stone in the nations hall of statuary, does
not" he continued, merely celebrate a
name illustrious for historic renOwn. II
means still more-that it shall stand there
as testimony and monument to a princi-
pie of our social order of the utmost value
to mankind-the principle of religious lib
erty. Human intelligence and reason, all
the history of the world, teach no more
useful and impressive lesson than is EN-.
bodied in that fundamental rule which
draws an absolute and impossible line be-
tween the affairs of state and the affairs Of
religion, and denies to social law all right
of jurisdiction to transcend it.
HE is wrongfully despoiled," said the
Senator; ''his right invaded, a grievous in
jury done, when to any man is denied any
part or share of his social rights or privil
eyes by reason of his religious faith. The
statue to Marquette was raised to him in NJ
token of his religion, inscription of no honol
to his creed, his opinions, and invites III
special countenance from the adherents o
any church or creed. Regardless of al
these, neither with favor or disfavor to any
the statue stands to the honor of the dis
cOverer and the man."