St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-09-04

heralded to the world. We take no ae-
count Of the discovery by Eric the Red,
for nothing came of it, save historic
aud reliable account of the discovery
by that bold and piratical buccaneer
Norseman. We reckon only from the
time that Columbus and Amerigo
Vespucci, and their successors, tray-
ersed the dangerous billows of the At
lantic to discover lIl Dorado.
Four hundred years! Think of il!
We are not beginners in this wonderful
world of the west; and yet we have
nothing which savors of antiquity. We
have ignored, and many of us have de-
spised, all efforts to chronicle the
achievements of our immediate ances-
tors. Mark Twain received vociferant
and long-continued applause when he
said: u am not proud Of my family.
am trying to do something which will
make my family proud of me-"
That epitomizes the popular senti-
nfent. Nevertheless, there are far
sighted people III America to-day who
are building monumests for the fIi-
ture; making histories of localities and
local events, which will be valuable, and
be better appreciated when this con-
tinent is older; and, may say it, more
civilized. There will come time when
( boys and girls will not only study the
outline history Of the origin and devel-
opment of this great republic, but when
they will study the development of their
counties, townships, states and inn
mediate environments.
We had quadro-centennial exposi-
tion in Chicago a few years ago. That
enterprising demonstration was q
sArtler to the whole world, when It's
magnitude and niagniticence were un,
derstood. We had a centennial exposi
tion of our national independence il
Philadelphia in 1876. We have since
had centennial exhibitions for several
states and sections. The people Of Ten.
nessee are now inviting our entire peo
pie to unite in celebrating the centen
NAL of the formation of that common
wbalth; and the president of the repub
liSIhas seen fit to lend his personal in
fluence and presence to commemorate
the event.
In spite of clamors from thousands oi
weH-meaning and patriotic citizens
the state of Wisconsin has placed in
Statuary hall, in the national capitol, a
statue of Father Marquette, the pioneer
of the fsontier who brought Christian.
ity and civilization to the great lake re-
gion.
In the same hall Of notables in mar.
bic, the state of Illinois has erected q
statue to Gen. James Shields, who was a
soldier of the republic and senator
from three sovereign states.
We may never be able to explain tht
manifestations of civilization which ex
cavations have developed in Yucatan
and other portions Of the continent o.
which we live; but the time Is already
upon us when we must take cognizanc,
of the immediate past, and build monu
ments for future generations to study
and admire.
Everybody regards it as unfortunat,
that the government should have per
n1itted the spoliation and destruction o
the theater in which President Lincol1
was assassfnatet; and every body whit
comes to Washington applauds the en-
terprise Of the gentleman who pur
chased the house in which Lincoln died
and preserved it practically as it wa
when that awful tragedy was consum
mated ia the death Of the great emane:
pator.
In the immediate and distant future
entiauarians, the men who write rea
and authentic history, will want t,
knem all about the national capital
We hnow that L'Enfant, French en-
ginger officer, planned the city, ant
that ii has grown into nagnificence Il
accordance with the lines drawn by hi
inspired pen. Butwe do not all know
the growth of the municipal govern
ment; aud, but for the thoughtfnines
of body Of antiquarians now living
who dip deep into the futures we migh
lose the records of themunicfEal groWtl
Of the most beautiful city in the world
The Columbian Historical society, o
this city, is composed of gentlemen Q
scholastic requirements, and all 0
them possess something of persona
pride in the capital city where the.
have long resided, and which they haF'
seen grow into proportions of metro
polttan pretensions. Thess learne,
gent1emen look forward IS the tim,
when there viii be 100000 people, o
more, settled within radius of te,
miles from the dome of the capitol
g. Z 81 T. 2