The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-18

4 ohNdbE ttiIltOIy.
Jolie was inspired by love of his
king and patriotic felvor for his ma
! tive France.
| Marquette was moved by the spirit
Of altrnism rather than that Of sell
interest Of philanthropy rather tnan
commercialism, of love of humanity
rather than hope Of glory for himself
Tor his country.
man OF learning and culture he
cam from his beloved France, fos
the sole and only purpose of carrying
lGod and Christianity TO the ignorant
aud arabatous Indians Of the wilder.
ness.
or Marquette an admiring pioneer
historian Of Illinois has said, Among
al The devout and benevolent Indian
missionaries, Marquette for his tru
piety, holiness of purpose; and grand
enterprises he performed, stands I'M
fiyalled in the West He was, so far
rs can discover, the Napoleon, til
neplus ultra Of all Of the indian mis-
sionaries If the Northwest"
The next daring explorer and
pioneer adyenturer to visit the ground
here mad historic by the landing Of
Marquette, was the Chevalier Robert
le I-aSalle, man who more than any
,thcr Of his time left the impress OF
his courage, enterpyisa and personal
m Ii hn Of oil hA
Illinois country He drifted from
France on the wave of excitement
caused by the glowing reports made
~ Marquette and Joliet, concerning
the wealth and magnitude of the
country which they had explored.
I-aSaIle was a man Of culture. abi
ty and undaunted courage, whose cir
and education had Welt
tilted him to becom soldier of for
tune, He came 10 the Illinois coun
Try in 1870 acquainted himself thcr
,ughly with the whole territory, ami
i've years later returned to France
% ufge upon the government the ne
eessity for France to establish line
81 forts from Canada extending
through the Illinois country to the
Gulf Of Mexico In this he was par
tally successful having been given
The title Of Cheyalisr and clothed with
from the king to carry ont
his purpose.
1t was I.aSalle who made the sec
lnd expedition down the Mississippi
ais object being the discovery Of thc |
mouth of the river. With % m i |
md d number of Indians. he started |
Town the NJ ssissippi on the 18th OF |
february, 1852, and doubtless landed |
II the present site of Cairo some im3
n March, 1852 After exploring the
mouth OF the Ohio for short dis
ance they passed on to the south
md on the 9Th day of April. 1852 they
discovered the outlets of the Missis
ippi into the Gulf of Mexico, Here
solemn and most dramatic scene
vas enact d, an event OF the greatest
mp rtance to this territory of whose
istory the history of our own coua
y Is a part
LaSalle after exploring the mouths
I tho Mississippi. re-aseended the
liver with his entire PARTY, TO a point
ONE distance ahoy its confluence
18th the Gtlf Of Mexico 70 dry
lace elevated above the reach 81
Here he prepared a eel
mn and cross and to the column
g affixed "a arms of France with
he Inscriptions Louis the Great.
ling Of France and Navarro Reigned
he Ninth of April 1889 History
els us that thereupon the whole
arty was paraded under arms, and
lanled the re Deum and other hymns
praise of God for the great discoy
" They shouted viye le roi and
Used the column. LaSale himself
very rrderly and solemn name.
pk possession for th king of
ra 1ec OF ali the country watered 10y
'v"r Colbert or Mississippi
o. eycrt may be sa 10 da:.
AiaOry o. Alexander county as
g. g The territory of France, and so
ain 4 until February 10th. 1868
sea-. by treaty matte between Great
ritain and France. all 4 The Illinois
nntry with nearly all Of the French +,
'ssessions In what Is now the United
ates. passed from un Ter tn domfn
u Of France to he government OF 4.
-eat Britain
During all Of these eighty or NOR
'ars Alexander county must have !,
MA ned IN uHbroken wild rncss.
th no '-man occupants except. per
1ncc. the r, wing tribes or Indians 4.
10 came and campcd from time a.
ne 10 hunt and trap and fish neas
p forks OF he rivers Permanent !.
dian settlements were no doubt
ide on the hills in The north part of
p coaniy where there was no dan
r from the annual floods.
LaSalle's activities at once gave p !,
y Impetus TO the French seiii !,
,nis in the Illinois country and the
ginnings Of The principal ones -.
Itch. were al Peoria. caholia and "
slasisia date from about the yea "a,
81
While th villages at Cahokia and m