CHAPTER XXXV.

Resolutions and acceptance by the senate of the statue of Père Marquette-My speech of acceptance-Unveiling of the Hancock memorial statue.

On April 29, 1896, I offered the following resolutions at the suggestion of the senators from Wisconsin:

"Resolved, by the senate (the house of representatives concurring therein), That the thanks of congress be given to the people of Wisconsin for the statue of James Marquette, the renowned missionary, explorer and discoverer of the Mississippi river.

"Resolved, That the statue be accepted, to remain in the National Statuary Hall, and that a copy of these resolutions, signed by the presiding officers of the senate and house of representatives, be forwarded to his excellency the governor of the State of Wisconsin."

Following which resolutions I made the following remarks:

"MR. PRESIDENT-The State of Wisconsin has selected and presented to the United States, to be placed in the 'Hall of Heroes,' the statue of Jacques (or James) Marquette. It will, when accepted, take its place among the marble and bronze representations of the great men selected by the states as their ideals of lofty characteristics and noble deeds. No state has chosen better than Wisconsin in selecting Père Marquette as the representative of courage, resolution and devotion to the elevation of humanity.

"Mr. President, mankind honors heroes, and the history of our race in all ages exhibits the universal disposition to honor names ennobled by the possession and exhibition of great qualities. Eminent soldiers are oftenest the objects of popular regard and adulation,

and it is to great commanders we are ready to attribute highest qualities.

"The public grounds of this magnificent city afford abundant proof of the truth of these reflections, for in nearly all of them are to be found the statues of soldiers who have won distinction-Washington, Lafayette, Green, Jackson, Scott, and leaders who distinguished themselves at later periods. Civil fame does not bear such rich and generous fruit, though the qualities which go to constitute greatness in military and civil life are much the same.

"Washington and Jefferson, Jackson and Clay, Grant and Lincoln, alike possessed great sagacity, exalted courage, and, what is more impressive, if not more valuable than either, unfaltering, unflagging resolution. Sagacity, by which term I mean to include extraordinary wisdom, often perceives and exaggerates danger. Courage is sometimes intermittent, while resolution, when associated with the qualities I have mentioned, utilizes both and gives them steadiness, persistent force, and success when success is possible.

"Lincoln never commanded an army in the field, but many of us know that his patient resolution, which checked the desperate purposes of the rash and extravagant and supported the faltering and the timid, equaled Grant, who would 'fight it out on that line if it took all summer.'

"James Marquette, whose history is brief, was, we are informed, born in 1637, one hundred years before the birth of our Washington. When about seventeen years of age, he joined the Jesuits, evidently from motives purely religious, and in 1666 he was sent to the mission of Canada. His talent as a linguist must have been great, for within a few years he learned to speak six Indian languages. Parkman, whom I follow, says: 'A subtle element of romance was blended with the fervor of his worship, and hung like an illumined cloud

over the harsh and hard realities of his daily lot. Kindled by the smile of his celestial mistress, his gentle and noble nature knew no fear. For her he burned to dare and to suffer, discover new lands and conquer new realms to her sway.'

"In the journal of his voyage, after referring to a particular change made in his destination, he wrote: 'I was the more delighted at this good news, because I saw my plans about to be accomplished, and found myself in the happy necessity of exposing my life for the elevation of all these tribes, and especially of the Illinois, who, when I was at Point St. Esprit, had begged me to bring the Word of God among them.'

"He then made preparation for the expedition he was about to undertake. The outfit of the travelers was very simple. They provided themselves with two birchbark canoes and a supply of smoked meat and Indian corn, embarked with five men, and began their voyage on May 17, 1673. It is needless to describe the route of the adventurous voyagers. They reached the Wisconsin; they discovered and descended the Mississippi river, passing the mouths of the Illinois, the Missouri, the Ohio and the Arkansas. Without weapons of defense, they visited tribes of turbulent and ferocious savages, armed only with the sublime doctrine of 'peace on earth, good will to men.' His efforts for the civilization of the savages he visited proves his boundless benevolence.

"The story of his death and burial by the shore of Lake Michigan is full of pathos. 'His comrades, knowing his death to be near, built a shed of bark for his protection. With perfect cheerfulness and composure he gave directions for his burial. .. At night, seeing they were fatigued, he told them to take a rest, saying he would call them when he felt his time approaching. Two or three hours after, they heard a feeble voice, and hastening to his side found him at the point of death. He expired calmly, murmuring the

names of Jesus and Mary, with his eyes fixed upon the crucifix which one of his followers held before him.'

"They dug a grave beside the hut, and there buried him according to the directions he had given. Whether his remains rest where they were placed by the hands of his comrades, or were removed to St. Ignace, is perhaps uncertain; but whatever may be true in that respect, the gentle breezes of the lake sing his requiem, and we may hope that a spirit so pure and gentle, and yet so brave and resolute, rests where peace aboundeth for

ever.

"Mr. President, Father Marquette was a priest-I do not hesitate to speak of him by that respectful title—was an explorer and an apostle to all the tribes and peoples he might discover. He combined the courage and resolution of Paul and Judson and of Brainerd, with the gentleness of John and the humanity of Damien, who gave his life to the service of the lepers. He had more of courage and resolution than a soldier, for without intending to resist the dangers he might encounter, he met the threats of savages without fear, inspired with love for them and an eager desire to promote their temporal and eternal welfare.

"Mr. President the State of Wisconsin has selected this marble representation of this remarkable man as its contribution to the Hall of Statuary, The selection is one worthy to be made, and the statue of Pere Marquette will stand in that hall, surrounded by other statues representing men whose names will not die or be forgotten while respect and veneration for true manhood survive.

"I hope it will not degrade or even lower the dignity of this occasion if I should say that I do not assent to Roman Catholic theories of ecclesiasticism, but I would despise myself if the garb of a priest of that church could hide from my view the noble, resolute, devout Christian hero within."

In May, 1869, by request of the secretary of war, I

delivered the oration at the unveiling of the Hancock Memorial Statue, Washington, D. C., May 12, 1896.

"MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN-According to the terms of my invitation, I am to deliver a 'short oration' in connection with these dedicatory services.

"When I accepted this invitation I promised myself an easy task, for I had met Lieutenant Winfield Scott Hancock in St. Louis more than forty years ago, and was then impressed by his soldierly appearance and his pleasant, genial manners.

"I again met him after he had won such rare distinction, that he was empowered by the war department to raise a special veteran corps.

"I had watched his course during the civil war with profound interest, and I had formed the most favorable opinion of his soldierly qualities. Influenced by considerations like those I have mentioned, and by sincere reverence for the memory of him whose statue is to be unveiled to-day, I accepted the duty. It has been no doubt observed by others, but it did not occur to me at the moment, that the life and service of General Hancock was better known to the American people than are those of any other of the great soldiers who won distinction during the civil war.

"So much has been written and spoken of his great achievements that what I will be able to say to-day, will, I fear, sound to my audience like an imperfect echo of what has often been better told.

"The domestic and social phases of the life of General Hancock have been described by that biographer whose delightful story commences at the time she became his wife. She shared much of his barrack and tent life. She followed the sagacious advice of Major, afterwards General, Robert E. Lee, which she quotes, and accompanied her husband to California.

"She describes the main incidents of their voyage and of their long residence upon the Pacific coast. She