The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-11

A NEW HIsroRY RnoDE IstAND.--Gov. Arnold, of
Rhode Island has produced the first volume Of history
Of that state, which is really mcritmious. OF
every American knows Tint Rhode Island the very
cradle of the early settlement OF this country Those
who curious about the origin Of political opinions
cannot fail to take deep interest in those parts Of the
sonntry where they were first related.
III the idea embodied in the State rather than the
of its territory the Of s historic interest then
the earlier days Of this little sovereignty will always be
point Of peculiar interest to the student Of American his
tory for there the first lively experiment Of civil
government, with entire freedom in matters Of religious
conccmmcnt Roger Williams first carried into practice
the doctrine known and read by all of ones
religious opinions were, and Of right ought be- above
and beyond the cognizan G of human law.
To clucidate the founding and first development OF the
doctrines Of religious and civil freedom Gov Arnold was
obliged to sketch with truth the Puritan thcoc
racy of early New England 10 describe tho wilderness
home which Roger Williams found in exile on the
beautiful shores of the Narragansctt the author il in
duccd to sketch the Indian mce whose noblest charac
terstics Of generosity and yalo found in the tribes
of Philip and Miantonom. One who would rea Alright
the story OF the Pilgrim Fathers, written with
aud yet with truth, who would pcrusc sketch of the
which preceded ours. drawn brief and clear rs with
the pen of lactus find that which he seeks in the
volume before
And would he trace the first workings of that lively
pertinent, longer experiment. but a recognised
and cherished conviction OF the whole American people
he will find it here displayed not with ambitious rhetoric,
or display OF what is called philosophy, but with a
faithful simplicity and earnest truthiuIness worthy Of the
English namesakc Of historian.
1T is obvious, from the pcrusal of this volume, and
such understand the facts that Gov Arnold has
brought peculiar qualifications to this work. OF the
earliest AMI worthiest lineage in his native State The
travel of years in all quarters of the globe has given him
th,t just libsr and catholic spirit which much know
from the British State Office which could not be found
this side Of the Atlantic, he has devoted himself for
years to this labor of love- and has produced work
which in all tue future will be of the of
American history for his great purpose has been truth
fuIness Of fact.
While peruse with delight the con rbutions of our
New England scholars to the history Of Spain and Hol
them dovoting himself to the exploration of the
founding of his native State of the Mecca points in
history 1t is wl to turn aside from the contests OF
the present time to the distances of earliest
age. If coulJ master the facts of history, could
really understand human life in Of the smallest
States the world has known and for Of its breist
periods of Athens in the time of Perices Rome ~
its earliest days. the Italian republics of the middle ages
mother islc the reign of Elizabeth aud Of
the gem States Of American ideas and civilization
he could well afford to lay aside his other history books
and yet have his craftsmanship urnned with The wis
dom of the past