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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
It was the belief of the French that these forays and this vindictive feeling were encouraged and fostered by the English, who were in quite close relations with the Iroquois. Therefore it seemed good policy on the part of the French to unite all the opposing tribes and to establish them as far southward as possible, to act as a buffer for the protection of the French interests in northern Michigan. The
Jesuits had been active in missionary work among the Iroquois and were in friendly relations with them. In consequence they opposed the schemes of government as related to these southern posts as tending to bring forward the very state of things which it was hoped to avoid. Here again the missionaries found themselves out of sympathy with the officials of the province.
When Cadillac came west to found his colony at Detroit he was accompanied by only one Jesuit, Father Vaillant, and he remained less than a day. Constantine del Halle, a Franciscan, came to Detroit as almoner to the king's troops, and he continued in charge at the post until he was murdered by the Indians in 1706. His successors were La Marche and Deniau, Recollets. These were followed by priests of the same order until 1782.
So it transpired that the Jesuits who struggled for more than fifty years in the wilderness with the great problem of christianizing the savages had ultimately very small results, so far as permanently shaping the course of human events, to show for all their efforts. Their triumphs were destined to disappear with the savage tribes themselves. But saying this we do not by any means wish to detract from the honor which is due to their sincerity, their earnestness and to their unflinching devotion to the cause in which they were enlisted.
MICHIGAN
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