The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-25
,versally beloved. His letters show him to


sound sense, strict integrity and freedom
from exaggeration, and yet, vein of humor
which here and there breaks, out in spite of
all his self-command. Butsall these quail
ties are little compared to his zeal as mis-
sionary and his sanctity as man. His holi-
ness drew on him In life the veneration oe
all around him, and the lapse of years has
not even now destroyed it in the descend
ants of those who knew him.
HIS narrative of his voyage was published
in 1851 at Paris, accompanied by map
Sparks, in his Life Of Marquette" says toA
the narrative:: 1T is written in terse,
simple, unpretending style. The author re-
lates what occurs, and describes what he
sees without establishment or display. He
writes as a. scholar and as man OF Careful
observation and practical sense There Is
no tendency to exaggerate, nor any attempt
to magnify the difficulties he had to en-,
counter, or the Importance Of his discovery.
In every point of view this tract is one OF
the most interesting Of those which illus
trate the early history of America" Il
To conclude the sketch with another quo
tation from Shea: "No missionary of that
glorious band Of Jesuits who, in the seven
teenth century, announced the faith from
Hudson Bay to the Lower Mississippi, who,
hallowed by their labors and life blood so
many wild spot now occupied by the busy
hives of men-none OF them impresses us
more, in his whole life and career, with his
piety, sanctity and absolute devotion to God
than Father Marquette. In life he seems to
have been looked up to with reverence by
the widest savage, by the rude frontiers
man and by the polished officers of govern
ment. When he had passed away his name
and his fame remained in the great West,
treasured above that of his -laborers."
'Thus he died. the great apostle, far away
in regions west;
BY the Lake of the A1gonquins peacefully
his ashes rest,
But his spirit still regards us from his home
among the blest.''
Such were the character and the services
of the man whose memory has been traduced'
by the members of the American Protective
Association and their sympath.zers, and
whose statue is now under special guard in
the Capitol to protect it from their violence.
Is it not monstrous to hear the representa-
tlves of the State OF Michigan, the very.
scene OF some OF Marquette's greatest Ia
bors, stand in his place in Congress and
boldly declare that this sanity and intrepid
explorer never performed any civic or mill
SSAA J oAty lO1 oLy SttIIC AUI lOi C4lS OllllSlU
States, and to find eighty Of our national
representatives willing to support him in
that assertion? And, again, to hear him
accuse the Jesuits of conspiring to use TINS
occasion to extort money from the United
States government to fill the Golfers Of their
society? What appropriation from our
government could compensate the Society
of Jesus for the oceans of precious blood il,
has freely poured out for the conversion and
civilization of the Indian tribes and the ex-
ploration and settlement Of our country?
ALI the vast resources of this nation, of tia
whole world could not tempt man to suf.
fer the dreadful tortures they suffered
nothing would suffice for that but the t1l1--
dying faith Of the Catholic Church These
men gave their lives that this nation
might live" Without them our marvel
Gus development and present prosperity
would have been impossible. In return they
ask of us nothing. Their fame is secure in
the records Of history-their reward does
not depend on any act Of Congress.
From the 'undisputed historical evidence
given it is apparent that, the statements
of the A. P. "A. councils of Nebraska we're
made IN deliberate, reckless disregard Of
the truth, and that the authors OF them de-
pend entirely on the ignorance and credu-
l:ty of those to whose narrow minded big
otry they appeal. For the people of WIS
consin, at the behest of such men, to allosa
their legislature to withdraw the statue of
Father Marquette in reversal of their for
mer action in presenting it to the govern
ment, would not only stultify themselves,
but would be an exhibition of political cow
ardce and base ingrat:tude which should
call forth the indignant protest Of the ma
ton. ,*sr