The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
We<sssSay Mesei. Jeasefy % Isss.


mocouvny - Fenms
rAs PAiladslphiA papers are naturally and Justly
severs upon Maeaulay. the Enslish historian, for
.hs unkind things he has said in his third and
fourth volumes Of William Penn. Instead Of
changing his opinions Of the Quaker founder Of
Peunsylvania, from shefacts and srgsments which
have been produced In reply 70 the attack, In the
beginning Of his work upon him, Macaniay comes
hack TO the wort Of dstfaction with fresh vigor
and venom, and. the Philadelphia Ledger remarks
endeavors 80 prove Penn . traitor TO his eoun-
.rv a malignant liar, gossipping old 1901, ana
f.ise friend" The Ledger evidently thinks tha'
n q the historian himself, and not Mr. Penn, VINO
. smaiIeuans liar and gossipping old fool
This 10 . very pretty quarrel; but. WINS. :"
have no intention to charge deliberate iaise -.
and ,nsiignity upon the brilliant and iinas'nA.
English historian, we must confess tna' ~.
thize with the journals Of the land OF rem. -
admiration Of the great and good man va na.,f.
cd their infant colony, and whose p.n' -, 81
character compelled even savases :. -.
1--we him. Macaulay seems to pc oe-n1 re
Ausr;ean Indians in liberation OF Inc SnaAe.''
b.re uas ous pioneer of American ei'hiAauon !"
a.. uas,arn wilderness, whose CHARACTER anu ga
r..r ~oph appear to deserve, oeyona All otnels'
~. .a,,;r..ion and respect OF the Christian world
49,. ,,an WIS William Penn. In comparison with
nr, tbs whole host Of greedy adventures and am
,I,,aus warriors, become vulgar and contemplate
THE Puritan at the North, flying to America an
asr the plea of persecution, and proving that he
had been an apt pupil in that fiery school, by fog
cling. hanging and drowning those who dared to
after from him in religious opinion; and the Cava
Ber Mt the South, with his love of military glory
and code of honor certainly not derived from
Christianity, will never occupy place in the an
mails of religious and civil history, worthy TO be
compared with the wise and virtuous founder of
the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, whose principles
Of liberation and of honor were drawn from tue
gospel of charity and forgiveness, and practically
exemplifled in his life and his laws
with all due admiration for the yalor and gene
ros,ty of the cavaliers, and more especially for
their freedom from the disgusting affectation and
cant of the Puritans about elderly of conscience,
freedom to worship Cod" and all that sort of fus-
ton, which, as interpreted by their practice, meant
liberty to believe as they believed and worship as
they worshippcd under penalty of the whipping post
the mill pond and the gallows VIC must be permit
ted to say that no triumph ever achieved by cav
aiier on the battle field, no heroic virtues ever
manifested in council or In camp, can compare for
q moment with the moral victories achieved by
William Penn. The only colony in the United
States which even the cruel and bloody sayages
of this continent treated with respect and kind
ness, was that colony which, under the guidance
of VIM Penn exposed its naked bosom to the In
dian tomahawk, and with neither spear nor shield
proved that the Christian doctrine of peace and
forgiveness is consistent with the welfare and Sc
curity of States and individuals under the most
irving ordeal to which it can be subjected by men
or devils.
Macaulay win not convince many people in the
United States that such a man as Penn was "a ma
ngnant liar and gossiping old fool" but ne viii
satisfy candid men in all countries that his own ae-
curacy as historian is not to be relied on when
facts come In conflict with his prejudces.