Second Series
Letter I.
To THE CHEVALIER DIEUDONNÉ STAS, EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL DE BRUXELLES.
Brussels, June 30, 1853.
DEAR SIR:
After many journeys in the deserts of North America, I am at last in my native land, happy to be able to express to the benefactors of the poor Indian all the gratitude of the missionaries.
Since my last departure from Belgium, I have travelled prairies where no mission had ever been established indeed, where no European probably bad ever been.
We ascended the Missouri for about seven hundred and thirty leagues, and crossed a plateau of over a hundred, on ~file upland that separates the waters of the Yellowstone from those of the Missouri. From the Yellowstone we proceeded southwest, marching about three hundred leagues to the Black Hills and Wolf Mountains, spurs of the Rocky Mountains. We left these hills at the great road leading from the Rocky Mountains to California.
On the 2d of September, 1851, we were on this highway, trodden by the whites hastening, these latter years, to Go gold mines. The road is fine, broad, and perhaps the longest in the world. On the track of the emigrant caravans, yon can travel easily from the frontier settlements to the Pacific. This immense avenue is like a barn-door swept by the winds. No blade of grass springs up, so unceasingly is it trodden by the feet of thousands of Americans and Europeans hastening to California. Our Indians, who lead seen only pathless wastes, crossed at most by a hunter's trail, thought, on beholding it, that the whole nation of the whites had passed over it, and that the land of the sunrise must be depopulated. They could hardly believe me when I told them that the multitudes who had gone were scarcely missed.
Providence has supported my feeble courage, guided my steps, fructified the seed of the gospel in lands which had not yet received them. After travelling many hundred leagues, I saw what good could be clone among these wandering tribes, always at war, without consolation in misery, because they scarcely know of the hopes of eternity. With the grace of God, I hope to return nest spring with Bishop Miège, the Vicar-Apostolic. We will be able to found missions for those nomade tribes on a soil fertile enough to support them, and thus removing occasion of war, let civilization, with the light of the faith, dawn on these wastes.
The limits of a journal do not permit me to enter into details on this expedition to the Great Desert, on which I have yet published but one letter; but I intend to publish more in the Précis Historiques, published by Rev. E. Terwecoren, at the College of the Society of Jesus, Brussels. Bosides a notice on the Mormons, a new sect, dating from 1826, but threatening to play in America the part of the Moslem in Asia., I am preparing notes to develop to Europeans the almost unknown state of religion in that vast, portion of the world, and to leave authentic documents on the rising church of the wilderness. I will vary these historical details with notes, written in the desert, on geology, zoology, botany, the manners, religion, and language of the Indians.
I
This will show what civilized Europeans are too apt to forget, that Catholicity, by the very force of her missions, contributes to the civilization of nations and the development of science. The government of the United States knows it., and encourages our labors. The good to be accomplished is in every respect immense. The Catholics and recent converts need priests to preserve the faith, the pagans to learn the good tidings of the gospel. The small number of ministers of the Lord there does not suffice for the four millions of Catholics, and for all the Indians who desire ardently the visit of a Black-gown, to instruct and baptize them. I have come to Europe to appeal to generous hearts.
I will express one more desire, and express it frankly. I come, too, to solicit alms. I am not unaware that Belgium is constantly visited by missionaries from America, the Indies, and the East. I am conscious that the benevolent can scarcely satisfy these repeated solicitations. But Europeans cannot conceive the immense want of succors experienced in these countries, to prevent defections, convert the heathen, form missionaries, establish schools, build churches, &c.
Consent, sir, to contribute by your estimable paper, which has elicited so many generous works, to make known this twofold object of my coming to Europe, where I shall probably remain till the close of September.
Your obed't serv't,
P. J. DE SMET, S. J.