The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-02-18

AIth biil iIGlOouSSO 10 Vic dSocluDly
designed to secure the return of the sta.
tue of Pere Marquette from S jatuary
Hall IL Washington to be placed in the
rooms of the Historical Society of Wis.,
consln, has aroused considerable feeling
and with some reason. The statue was
q gift from the state which has right to
place two statues in this Hail. A former
legislature decided that this statue
should be one. In the meantime, relig-
lous bigotry has arisen and has interpos-
ed to prevent the acceptance of the sta
tue by congress. The contention is that
as Pere Marquette was not citizen, his
statute should have no place in Statuary
Hall. The real objection is that he was
a Catholic missionary. The objection on
the ground of citizenship would have as
much force against the statute Of Roger
Williams which is the gift of Rhode
Island.
Religious contention is always unwise.
1t is always rancorous and should be
avoided if possible, The selection of the
Pere Marquette statue was due almost
wholly to the efforts of General Gaity,
an Irish Protestant who was state sen.
ator, who never counted religion or ma
tlonality in his estimate Of manhood. He
judged men by their worth. 1t is evident
to every one that the delay IN the accept
ance of the statute, is due to religious H.
tolerance. 1t may be we'll to inquire
carefully whether the request for its
withdrawal emanates from the same
source before Eghnng the torch of re.
ligious discussion.
The pretext,-If pretext it be-for the
recall OF the statue is that statues of
FairchilG and Rusk are to be presented
by the state, which is allowed only two,
TO prevent discord among the friends of
Rusk and Fairchild, the state of Wlscon-
SIN is to make Itself the laughing stock of
the nation by recalling gift and to give
practical sanction to the acts Of those
who sought in congress the rejection of
that gift, on grounds of religious pref
udice. If the Grand Army is lending it.
self to this scheme it Is taking position
not at all creditable to it.
If the A. 2. A. is the source of this
proceeding. then it is more marrow than
its most bitter opponents believed. When
1t is willing to brand the state with
shame IN order to offer an affrort 10 a
religious organization l. becomes petty
in its exhibition of malice. There was
20 thought, and should have been none,
OF the religion of the man whose services
to humanity and civilization were to be
recognized by means of this ef1igy. This
feature was called out by the lnsufferable
blgotry which could not tolerate even
the religion of statue.
II is not now question of the propri-
ETY. of the selection made by the state,
though of that there should be no ques-
tion. Il Is whether the great state of
Wisconsin Is willing to concede that Its
action, taken after mature elaboration
be undone at the behests of proscrip-
tive society. There is DO longer ques-
ton of religion involved. 1t is the honor
of the state that is at stake. The res
olution was introduced by request.
The introduction of bills in this way
with which the introducer has no SYM
pathy Is not unusual, and it is under
stood this Is the position taken by Mr.
Sweeting and that he stands ready to in.
troduce petitions against 1t. If the reso-
luton will be buried so deeply by an ad-
verse vote that those DESTROYS of having
its provisions carried out cannot fail to
feel the singing rebuke administered
them, then the introduction OF the reso-
luton will have accomplished a good
purpose.