The Irish standard., 1897-07-24
UNWILLING OF HIS BRONZE STATUE
THE GREAT MISSIONARY EtLOGIZED
Hi DON DICKINSON.
He SOUGHT NO EARTHLY REWARD.
ORIGINATED THE DISCOVERY OF
THE FATHER OF " WATERS,

| The city and county of Marquette,
Mich, celebrated the unveling of the
bronze replica of Father Marquette on
Thursday, July Is. All the civic and
religious societies participated. chief
among which ,lls the st. Jean de Ban
tlste, the local French society. Indians
from the Chippewa and Menominee res
ervations were there in native dress;
some were in canoes in the harbor;
! others stood In groups about the statue
after the long parade. The new reve-
nue. cutter Gresham lay in the harbor
and the roar Of guns smote the ear as
the statue was unveiled. Invitations
were sent all to come from every Dor
tion Of the northern peninsula.
Secretaries Gage and Alger sent let
ters regretting their inability to be pres
ent.
The program was as follows: Parade
by societies, officers of monument asso-
cation and Indians; music; ode, written
1or the occasion and read by Miss Bea-
Joppling unveiling the statue while The
reading was in progress: presentation to
the city officials by Peter White; accept
ance by Mayor Sherman.
Don Dickinson spoke in part as fol-
! lows: 1T is a pleasant and significant
feature OF this event that among those
who are gathered here to commemorate
the life and deeds of James Marquette
we have with us fellow citizens whose
sires were his countrymen and compa-
triots in fair France. But we do not
presume to extend a welcome to .he
sons and grandsons OF France, and
Frenchmen, because they are here as
American citizens, sharing equally with
us of other ancestries or nativities every
right that we have in the inception and
occasion of this celebration. Nay, If
1t were matter for comparison, the
greater proprietary interest would be
theirs, because their country of origin
gave the Pcre Marquette to the world.
But we are all brethren in that only
true American protective union, a BROTH
erhood whose standard OF admission is
as broad as the constitution of the re.
public, whose grip is the hearty grasp of
free mems hands, and whose password
is liberty-liberty, not license-lberty
of Observation-Disclosures liberty. More
than 220 years ago, in tertiary which
now forms this state where the wilder
ness came down to Lake Michigan, suf-
fering with fortal disease alone, cold,
desolatc, without shelter, man laid
down under the bare trees and with mis-
last look resting upon the sacred em-
blem Of Christianity, died with a radi-
ant smile upon his face. This event,
set down in all the authentic histories
of our country, occurred early in May,
1876 Since that time the name of that
dead man has never been mentioned by
intelligence save with reverence or re-
spect, and never by intelligence coupled
tion or profound admiration This was
Marquette. He sought no earthly re-
ward; he would for himself accept no
fame, for he desired others to have the
glory of his great achievements for his
country. and Of his noble services to
civilization. .... .
And yet self-abnegation ruled his
life, while he even sought oblivion for
his personality and in his deeds he has 4
niche in the temple of fame, a shilNlg
place in the memory of mankind and a
corner all his own in the universal hear;
|
ing, said full credit was given to Mar
quette by all historians for originating
the purpose of discovering the Mississ-
ippi.
The replica, Of bronze, is after the
statue in statuary hall of the capitol at
Washington.
Soon after Wisconsin contracted with
Signor Trentanove for the statue some
leading citizens thought that if possible
Marquette should have a replica of It,
The task was hard one to obtain this
replica. Although many names were
on the subscription list. all did not pay
as promised. The iron business has
been so dull for the past few years that
the size of all the contributions was af-
fected by this depression.
But last autumn, with great persever-
ance, Hon. Peter White started ont
again with a new list, and for his untir-
ing work and large contribution the city
is greatly indebted to him.
Except from one family, now in
Cleveland, o., who lived in Marquette a
number of years ago, all the money was
raised in that city.
The replica is eight feet ljrh. It
stands on pedestal II feet high, rest
ing on base the height of which is A
Inches. which again is upon rock two