. Pathfinders of the West; being the thrilling story of the adventures of the men who discovered the great Northwest. lusty andwise in their way. What a conquest would this be, atlittle or no cost ? What pleasure should people have. . instead of misery and poverty ! Why shouldnot men reap of the love of God here ? Surely, moreis to be gained converting souls here than in differ-ences of creed, when wrongs are committed underpretence of religion! ... It is true, I confess, . .that access here is difficult . . but nothing is to begained without labor and pains. ^ 1 If any one cares to render Rad
. Pathfinders of the West; being the thrilling story of the adventures of the men who discovered the great Northwest. lusty andwise in their way. What a conquest would this be, atlittle or no cost ? What pleasure should people have. . instead of misery and poverty ! Why shouldnot men reap of the love of God here ? Surely, moreis to be gained converting souls here than in differ-ences of creed, when wrongs are committed underpretence of religion! ... It is true, I confess, . .that access here is difficult . . but nothing is to begained without labor and pains. ^ 1 If any one cares to render Radissons peculiar jumble of French, English, Italian,and Indian idioms into more intelligent form, they may try their hand at it. Hismeaning is quite clear; but the words are a medley. The passage is to be found onpp. 150-151, of the Prince Society Reprint. See also Jesuit Relations, 1660. RAUISSONS THIRD VOYAGE 83 Here Radisson foreshadows all the best gains thatthe West has accomplished for the human are they ? Mainly room, — room to live androom for opportunity ; equal chances for all classes,. Father Marquette, from an old painting discovered in Montreal byMr. McNab. The date on the picture is 1669. high and low; plenty for all classes, high and low; theconquests not of war but of peace. The question arises,— when Radisson discovered the Great Northwest ten 84 PATHFINDERS OF THE WEST years before Marquette and Jolliet, twenty years be-fore La Salle, a hundred years before De la Veren-drye, why has his name been slurred over and left inoblivion ? ^ The reasons are plain. Radisson was aChristian, but he was not a slave to any creed. Suchliberality did not commend itself to the annalists of anage that was still rioting in a very carnival of religiouspersecution. Radisson always invoked the blessing ofHeaven on his enterprises and rendered thanks for hisvictories ; but he was indifferent as to whether he wasacting as lay helper with the Jesuits, or allied to theHugu
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