The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-12
For the Portland Daily Press.
Popham and Plymouth.

IOpudhi anu uOutns
Ex-Governor Washburn of Massachusetts, at
the celebration at Fort Popham, said, that the
failure of the settlement at the Kenuebec, and
the success of that at Plymouth, arose from
the fact, that the first was u mere mercantile
and money making adventure, while the latter
was based upon principle.
Our venerable mother Massachusetts,, from
Governor down to "Medal Scholar has SO
long sounded her trumpet of gloriication, as
the 'elect" of this continent, that we know it
good old lady, an act of filial ingrattude, that
her down east daughter should set up claim
as the real founder of New England colonza-
ton.
With all due Difference to Governor Washburn
and the historians of Massachusetts,, we beg
leave to question their position, that the mo-
tives which led to the settlement of Massa-
chusetts, were either higher or different from
those which led to the settlement of Maine.
The religious influence of the age was the
''unseen hand of Providence, directing the
beautiful vicissitude" of events, to the settle
ment of this continent; but the "greed of gain"
was as strong with the Puritan as with the
Cavalier; and the English company of "Mer-
chant Adventures" had really as much to do
with the colonization of all New England, as
religious or civil considerations.
The employment of English soldiers by the
Dutch governments, led them to tolerate the
erection of protestant churches and chapels !;
but the polemical spirit of the age followed
ba nd ~ across tho oh a,,d tl,,
"Separatist Church" at Amsterdam soon sepa-
rated, by what, to our age, appears a puerie
disputation about infant baptism, church gov
eminent and even "woman's apparel"
Bradford says, that "a young widow, grave
matron, very modest, ready to do any good
works, and helpful to many" was excommuni-
Gated "for wearing of some whalebone in the
bodice and sleeves Of her dress, and also
corked Shoes"
These church dissensions at Amsterdam, I'M
doubtedly had great influence with Robin
son, for after about years stay, he removed
with his flock to Leyden, preceded, however
by few fugitives from England.
One of the reasons distinctly stated by
Bradford for the removal of the Pilgrims from
Leyden, was because, "they saw by experience
the hardness of the place to be SUCH as few
in comparison would come to them; and fewer
that would bide it out and continue with
them;" because, 'they could not endure the
great labor and hard fare with other inconven-
fences which they underwent, and were con-
tented with"
Zealand, Guiana, Virginia, and New York
were points to which the Pilgrims were advis-
ed to emigrate from Holland.
The virginia Company Of Merchant Adj
venturers," by the aid they extended to the
Pilgrims, undoubtedly determined the question
in favor Of New England; and that too by
sharp bargain that looked more to profit than
to principle; for each person sixteen years of
age and upwards was by that agreement "val-
ued at ten pounds per head, and that to be ac-
counted single share'''
We should like to have Governor Washburn
show us what religious principle there was in
thus founding colony on the cllattel servi-
tude of the white man; for not content with
the appraisement of body and soul, at the end
of seven years the capital and profits were to
be equally divided between the Adventures,
including the houses and lands of the planters
The third article of that compact of principle
provided that "the persons transported and
the adventures shall continue their joint
stock partnership the space of seven years."
DC, DC, during which time all profits and
benefits that are gotten by trade, traffic, truck
ing, working, fishing, or any other means, of
any other person or persons, shall still remain
in the common stock until the division" All
were to have meat, drink and apparel out of
the common stock of the goods of the colony.
The settlements of Salem, Charlestown, Bos-
ton, &c, were mercantile Adventures, mainly,
other superior harbor advantages of Tri noun
tain soon giving Boston that leading CONNER
cial and social influence which she holds in
New England to this day.
1t reads prettily in history and poetry, that
our Pilgrim fathers came here to establish free
dom to worship God" but the prosecutions
of the Baptists, Quakers, and others, are an
awful pr otest against this Massachusetts, theo-
ry; and, for curse Ives, we believe the time will
come when the sons of New England will,
stand upon the granite rocks of Fort Popham,
and feel the truth of the words upon the me-
mortal stone, to wit: that the shores of New
England, was founded here Aug, 10, o. s.,
1907, under George Popham." MAINE.