mighty rivers, and open
meadow-lands watered by streams looped like a ribbon. They saw a land
waiting for its people, wealth waiting for possessors, an empire
waiting for the nation builders.

[Illustration: An Old-time Buffalo Hunt on the Plains among the Sioux.]

What were Radisson's thoughts? Did he realize the importance of his
discovery? Could he have the vaguest premonition that he had opened a
door of escape from stifled older lands to a higher type of manhood and
freedom than the most sanguine dreamer had ever hoped?[10] After an
act has come to fruition, it is easy to read into the actor's mind
fuller purpose than he could have intended. Columbus could not have
realized to what the discovery of America would lead. Did Radisson
realize what the discovery of the Great Northwest meant?

Here is what he says, in that curious medley of idioms which so often
results when a speaker knows many languages but is master of none:--

"The country was so pleasant, so beautiful, and so fruitful, that it
grieved me to see that the world could not discover such inticing
countries to live in. This, I say, because the Europeans fight for a
rock in the sea against one another, or for a steril land . . . where
the people by changement of air engender sickness and die. . . .
Contrariwise, these kingdoms are so delicious and under so temperate a
climate, plentiful of all things, and the earth brings forth its fruit
twice a year, that the people live long and lusty and wise in their
way. What a conquest would this be, at little or no cost? What
pleasure should people have . . . instead of misery and poverty! Why
should not men reap of the love of God here? Surely, more is to be
gained converting souls here than in differences of creed, when wrongs
are committed under pretence of religion! . . . It is true, I
confess, . . . that access here is difficult . . . but nothing is to be
gained without labor and pains." [11]

[Illustration: Father Marquette, from an old painting discovered in
Montreal by Mr. McNab. The date on the picture is 1669.]

Here Radisson foreshadows all the best gains that the West has
accomplished for the human race. What are they? Mainly room,--room to
live and room for opportunity; equal chances for all classes, high and
low; plenty for all classes, high and low; the conquests not of war but
of peace. The question arises,--when Radisson discovered the Great
Northwest ten years before Marquett