The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-25
ne Touches Up the Bigoted Co.'S &.
= ID = slr,,essnnan in His Usual
/. Lively Style.
Shows the flardships Endured ~
Y Y Father Marquette IN Ills
h. Pilgrimage.
America Discovered by a catholic
L Whose Expenses Were Paid
5. :. by a Catholic Queen. ..

] am really glad that the A. r. Apes
made that foolish .'roar" anent placing
a statue of Father Marquette among
those Of men whose greatness is Ameri-
cas- glory, writes Editor Brann, In. his
IcCnoclast. 1t served to recall to. the
memory Of mankind character that was
well nigh forgotten-to remind US how
much the New World is indebted to the
dauntless courage and self-sacriflcing de-
votion Of the Jesuit fathers and Francis
can friars. Father Marquette is indeed
fortunate. When his noble deeds seemed
destined to be forever hidden by the
shadows Of the centuries, bigotry and
spleen rescued his name from oblivion
and made it immortal, His greatness is
undIly enhanced by comparison with the
pitiful littleness of his detractors-our
admiration Of the man is intensified by
contempt for his critics. Nothing exists
in Vain--even the A. P. A hath its uses.
With such background, Pere Marquette
stands forth sfgured-illumined by
the light Of Cod He inherited an ample
fortune in sunny France, and could have
lived life Of luxury; Instead Of doing
SO, he was sent at his own request, a mis-
.sionary to Canada when that country was
inhabited chiefly by savage beasts and
still more savage men. He went, not to
accept, a high priced pastorate and syn
dictate his sermons, but to live among
bears and wolves, to sleep in huts and eat
boiled dog-to fill the place of priests who
had been tortured to death by savage
Tribes. Armed only with the crucifix, he
penetrated 1000 miles farther into the
unknown forest than white man had
gone before. His discoveries were but
incidents of his journey-his sole mission
glory Of God. Everywhere he won his
way by the magic power of love. Every
where he was welcomed with rejoicing.
and parted from with regret. "How
bright the sun, o Blackgown, when thou
comest to visit us, cried the chief Of the
savage Illini, while painted warriors
fierce as hell's own brood, kneIt to kiss
the snow that had taken the imprint of
his feet. No Warship was necessary to
force such a teacher upon them, no arm
ed squadrons to proect his mission-house.
When he walked they followed him, when
he spoke they bent eagerly forward to
hear the story of Christ crucifed, when
heslept they kept watch and ward, steal
ing up to look at the peaceful face that
mirrored his gentle heart. Worn with
hardships and sufferings too great for one
so gently bred, he passed to his reward,
surrounded by his swarthy converts--the
night Of death came down in those West.
ern wilds ere he had reached uanhood's
glorious noon. In the North, as in the
South, in Canada as in Texas, the Cath,
olic priests were Americas true pioneers.
And now comes gang Of goddess in
CRATES. who enjoy the blessings so larger
fly due to the labors and sacrifices Of these
}dauntless: pathfinders-an -unclean crew,
with Linton of Michigan bowling in tbs
lead -crying out that Pere Marquette de-
serves no honor at Columbia's hands be-.
cause, forsooth, he was Catholic! Why
do not these splenetic pismires know that
America was discovered by Catholic,
and that the expenses Of his vo. n5e wers
betrayed by . Catholic queen who tore
the diamonds from her crown to set
therein the star of the empire? To be
consistent, Congressman Linton should
Introduce resolution to have the bodies 4
OF Sherman and Sheridan exhumed and
their heads exposed on pixies because
they acknowledged the theological su s
spremacy OF the Pope. @ II