The Irish standard., 1896-05-02

II do not assent to the Roman Catholic
theories of ecclesiasticsm, but would de-
spise myself If the priest of that church
would hide from my view the Christian
hero within"
The addresses were closed by Mr.. Villas,
who said: -
s<When this lusty nation, outgrowing the
habitat:ons OF its youth; built new council
chambers for its legislature it was happy
thought that oonsecrated. to the noble art
Of sculpture 'the.old hall Of the house of rep
resentatives; where. patriotism will 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; aud particularly from the
original Us, With their historic past, and to
the later nvltationsto Wisconsin to share in
the honorsa Of contributing to the nations
hall Of statuatys He referred to the early
history Of his OWE state and to the time
when "1Nisconsin took alone her beginning
as one among civilizations ,grandest forms
and agencies a self-governed common
wealth ofintenigent; God fearing foemen."
e Among the shadowy forms" he said, that
move on the far-of scene touched by the
light, rosy ray that tells Of splendor coming
in it's time, among the brave who dared the
peril of, that morning hour was one the
type and exemplar Of a noble class, fixed in
human honor by Devotion. heroisrn and
sacrifice, III whose soul burned also the
genius of the explorer, the glorious greed
of knowledge. He was a citizen OF Wis
-consin only in it's embryonic age no more:
hut otherwise it was of such as him that
congress spake when It marked for this
.snecial honor. Persons illustriouS for his
toric renown." ..- -, J. j..
The senator, then, referring directly to
the Marquette statue, the gift of Wiscon-
sin, extolling it as a work Of art, and
proceeded with brief historical review
of his work amid sayages and unciyil1za-
ton and of his solution of sthe mystery
of the Indian report Of the great water
III the .West,;'H and Said that it was to that
hist0tie sVeHt that the personal distinc-
tiiotil ST Marquette ffi7the annals Of Amer
lea is to be ascribed. He alluded to his
Christian work in the western wilderness
Concluding, he declared: This statue
of James Marquette will stand as mon
ument and emblem of religious liberty.
The noble right to honor and remem-
sbrance among men which the legislature
of Wisconsin 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 hts religion, In inscription of no honor
to his creed or his opinions. 1t invites
no special countenance from the adher-
-ents- of. any church or any creed. Re
CARELESS of them all, neither with favor
or disfavor to any, this statue ideal re-
production of him as in life he was,
stands to the honor of the discoverer and
the man, the testimonial of a. people who
rejoice in the brotherhood of man, who
love liberty and who guide their conduct
by it's preceptss with0lr a shade Of fear.
Str mo state in all this Union can
more WortIiily; mere "hGnorably support
this attitude:<in tha presence of the ma
ton and mankind than, the state Of Wis
consin. There, sill, is a composite citi-
zenship which sn1ingles the blood of all
the civilized speoples of the earth. Around
their altarst ga Their the faithful servants
Of God III tf1tany and various forms, OF
many diverse churches sects and creeds.
Together they abide in fraternity, in lib
erty, enjoying each his rights, trampling
not on his eneighbor.T Nowhere does
benevO1ence show a more generous and
kindly face ia4publictor in private career
of misfortune. i7as There, too, home and
ireside are the .centers or the noblest,
sweetest life, the sure and safe folnda-
ton of a free, intelligent, powerful state.
ssNlr.e President, no people more intelli-
gently understands. more devotedly
maintains the basic principle Of freedom
TO which their testimony is thus borne.
They believe that upon it rest their
peace. and happiness. They will defend
it if need be at AM. hazard. They as
freely accord it to all We speak for no
single class; we represent no creed; we
court no favor, when. sir, from and for
all the body of our good people. prospect
i've of race of opinion, my colleague and
myself thus declare the sentiment which
aetuatess our state and supplement the
action; Of, its,worthy governor inpresent-
ing to congress ethe* beautiful statue of
James. Marquette in commemoration Of
his Just renoWn and in illustration of the
light and strength of liberty among
= 81.