River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-05-07

statute of flames Marquette, the re-
nowned missionary, explorer and dis
coverer," and accepting the same.
Senator Mitchell (rep-, Wis., then adj
dressed the senate, referring in elo-
Quent terms to the life and achieve
ments of Father Marquette.
Senator Kyle (pop., S. d. and Senator
Palmer (dem., ILL., followed with eulo-
CYSTIC remarks on Marquette's sanity
character and unselfishness.
Senator Palmer closed with this sem
tence: 81 do not assent to the Roman
Catholic theories of ecclesiasticism, but
/ would despise myself if the garb of q
priest of that church would hide from
my view the noble, resolute, devout
Christian hero within"
Extracts from Senator Villas Speech.
The addresses were closed by Senator
Villas (dem., Wis.,, who said:
when this lusty nation. outgrowing the
habitations Of It's youth. built new council
chambers for its legislature, IL was hap
py thought that consecrated to the noble
art of sculpture the old hall of the house
of representatives. where patriotism VIII
hear the echoes ring forever of glorious
words there spoken for liberty and justice
among men,"
He then referred TO the offerings from
the different states. and particularly from
the original thirteen. with their historic
past, and to the later invitation to WILSON,
sin to share in the honors of contributing
to the nations han of statuary. He re-
ferred to the early history of his own state
and to the time when Wisconsin took
alone her beginning as one among civiliza-
TONS grandest forms and agencies. self
governed commonwealth of intelligent,
God-fearing foemen.
"Among the shadowy FORMS he said.
that move on the far off scene, touched
by the light rosy ray that tells Of splendor
coming In It's time, among the brave who
de red the peril of that morning hour, was
one the type and exemplar of a noble
class fixed I'm human honor by de -tion,
heroism and sacrifice. in whose soul
burned also the genius OF the explorer.
the glorious greed of knowledge. Short
and swiftly sped was his path TO the altar
of self-sacrifice, 90 often the goal OF his
class, but his few hard years were enough
for his renown; he departed for the world
beyond rewarded by the fame of history
here He was a citizen of Wisconsin only
in its embryonic age; no more; but other
wise IL was of such as him that congress
spake when IL marked for this special
honor persons illustrious for historic re-
ncwn."
The senator then referring TO the Mar
tolling II as a work of art. proceeded with
a brief historical review of his work amid
savages and uncivilization and of his solu-
tion of 'the mystery of Indian report OF
the great water I'm the west" and said
that IL was to this historic event that the
personal distinction of Marquette In the
annals of America is to be aseribed-
Concluding he declared: This statue OF
James Marquette will stand as monu-
ment and emblem of religious liberty. Tho
noble right to honor and remembrance
among men, which the legislature of Wis
consin and the congress of the United
states have declared to be his. he Is not
denied 1t is sacredly preserved This
statue is raised to him in no token OF has
religion. in nscrIption of no honor to his
creed. his opinions. II invites no special
countenance from the adherents of any
church or any creeds. Regardless OF all
these. neither with favor nor disfavor to
ary, this statue. ideal reproduction of him
as in life ne was. stands to the honor OF
the discoverer and the man, the testimoni-
al of a people who rejoice In the brother
hood of man, who love liberty and who
guide their conduct by its precepts with
ont n shade of fear.