The Portland daily press., 1862-09-27


On the first page we have given place to a
long, ably-written and Jealous defence of our
Pilgrim Fathers, who landed on Plymouth
Rock. in Dec, 1920, aud who, In the little May
| Flower, as she tossed in the Bay, before her
| living freight had been landed, laidthe iounda-
ton and developed the rudimental germ of
that popular form ofgoverument which, through
the blood of a subsequent revolution, matured
into giant tree whose branches have afforded
shelter from the storms of despotism to many
an exile from his father-land. The article re-
ferred to is sharp-perhaps needlessly severe
but coming as it did from one of the ablest
pens in the State, and claiming the privilege
of replying to those whom the writer thought
had uniustly disturbed the pleasant memories
of the Fathers" we did not feel at liberty to
refuse it place in our columns. Here we
hope the matter may be allowed to rest.
Allow us to say however, that "No Recreant
New Englander" is entirely mistaken in our
correspondent MAINE if he ascribes to him a
desire to extol an Episcopal colony at the ex-
pense of the Pilgrim colony. 'Maine" is no
Episcopaan, neither is he a Puritan, and we
apprehend, could his real feelings be got at
that he would be found, as between Episcopa-
cy and Puritanism as parties to religious
controversy, to occupy very much the ground
we do ourself, and that is quite as neutral as
was the feelings of the afiectionate Arkansas
wife when she saw her husband hugging the
bear. She didn't care irhich beat
No, NJ, d., lal,
had a capital time; got squeezed and hum
bugged generally in the most approved style;
considered the investment in money, time, IA
tigue and experience good one; didn't hear
much of the performance proper; saw nothing
but the most gentlemanly bearing and chris
tian humility displayed by Bishop Burgess, who
led i'm the religious services: took it for grant
ed that the Poor Grafton would be an excel
lent one; felt more solicitous for bowl of
chowder and cracker for the moderate sum
of thirty-seven cents. than we did TO gnaw the
dry bones of Popham; found the chowder very
good, though we did not partake of the clans,
so oiiensiveto 81. NJ" heard excellent speech
es from Messrs. McGee and Washburn. and
several Indifferent ones from 'esser lights"
and listened to a long string of sentiments
which, to our mind, were just about as full of
real sentiment as basket of last years shay
ings is of juice; got home late at night fully
impressed with the thought that "Sabino," like
Jordan, "is a hard road to travel" when ease
and pleasure are the objects sought, and we
settled down into the solid conviction that
Popham was great bore, that the celebration
was a''big thing" for the small amount fhistor-
ic capital invested, and that, altogether, very
inferior whistle had been purchased at a large
expenditure of time and treasure.
Now we don't mention these things because
we suppose any one else felt as we did, or
shared in similar experience, but simply to
show our own oddity, and how different were
our own feelings from those of everybody else
who was present. We regret that the celebra-
ton should have engendered controversy
about ecclesiastical matters,o or been allowed to
provoke disposition to traduce the hardy
pioneers, of whatever faith, who We're willing
to do and dare" that new world might be
opened up to posterity and civilization. 1t is
poor business to rake open the graves of our
ancestors, except to exhibit their virtues
Tread lightly over the ashes of the dead" is
wise as well as prudent admontion for the
living. We shall soon ourselves be among the
dead, and our ashes and memories will per-
haps no more bear the sharp criticisms of fanoth-
er century, than dot hose of our forefathers
the criticisms of this. Pilgrim Plymouth
lived-it was Gods will that il should be So
and the proud monuments of that colony are
found all over New England. The old fathers,
could their stern lips now speak would ask no
better, no nobler, no loftier, no more enduring
memorials. Popham perished, and Sabine is
sand heap, and God doubtless willed that: and
why quarrel about the celebration of an enter
prise which, dying, left no sign?