New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-02-03

sect only, that body has erred, in my
humble opinion. IT Representatives
have declared that they are opposed
to accepting any statue that is repre-
sentative of the Clergy, then those
Representatives have blinded them
selves to fact. Father Marquette was
an explorer. He was Pioneer. He
penef rated new and unknown region,
Drawing the dangers attendant on such
journey, and through his efforts a
vast domain was opened to settlement.
This region has since proved one OF
the richest sections of the entire world
in mineral, agricultural and COM
mercial wealth, and you and are
proud to reside therein.
contend that it is the duty of the
House of Representative to accept
this statue for the purpose named by
the people of the State of Wisconsin
in making this gift to the Nation. I
am confident that popular opinion,
irrespective of religious belief, DEGREES
that this statue be accepted. and I see
no valid reason for the House refusing
to ratify the action of the Senate in
accepting this gift.
Father Marquette can no more be
excluded from American history than
the Father Of this Country can. Father
Marquette has the same place in the
history of this nation that any of the
heroes of war or peace have been sae-
corded. No child can be taught United
States history without hearing the
name of Father James Marquette. Nor
should there be any hesitancy on the
part of the House Of Representative
in accepting this gift of one of the
States of the Nation.
If religious scruples stand in the
way, do not consider them. We are
not basing our arguments upon our
creed. We admire Father Marquette
as man and a benefactor to his race,
as well as admiring him as a Catho-
lie. And the people Of these United
States admire him for the same reasons.
cannot help looking at the action of
the House as petty, cramped and un-
worthy OF Representatives of this great
Nation. | cannot help but feel that it
was a reputation of services rendered
the world. We of to-day cannot hide
behind the excuse that we were not of
Father Marquette 's time any more than
we can renounce our Greater because
we cannot detect his personality
Things we cannot see Or feel may still
be potent.
I'VE owe debt to History. That
debt is to preserve the truth; the I'M
altered facts without regard for ex-
listing conditions. And if it is not the
States duty to preserve history, true
history, then pray, whose duty is it?
Remember, Mr.. McCleary, / am
addressing this through you to the
House of Representative I am ad-
dressing you in behalf of large
number of people. Neither you nor l
can hope for much on ourpersonalities
but we can hope for justice to Father
Marquette through popular opinion,
which, after all, is the molding factor
OF American affairs. -.-.:.
81 trust that you will ask the House
if it believes, that in justice, it has
done right in rejecting this statue. l
ask you to bring the truth home to
them and solicit their action as Repre-
sentatives Of the American people and
not as individuals who may be inclined
to draw nice line between religion
and politics.. We do not care for
politics in this matter. We are not
basing our claims on votes. But we
are baslng them on the demands Of
simple justice.
| Musbthe country take place among
the powers of the Middle Ages by re-
fusing to accept a statue for it's Ma
tional capital because that statue is
that of priest? Must we ignore his
torical value and merit in Difference
!. to petty prejudices? hope not.
Kindly give this your attention, Mr..
McCleary. I fully believe that this
matter will be acted upon satisfactory
ly and that the acceptance, which has
been so unjustly delayed, will be rati-
fed without protest or delay"