New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-30
WILLIAM PENN.

10 the esteemed Friend" who writes 10 us from
Philadelphia, to complain of a passing allusion to
William Penn in these columns we have only TO say
that in somewhat cursOry reading of history, ID
has not been our fortune to meet with many abso-
lutey perfect human characters however common
claims to complete sanctity may be, especially in
ligious biography. We spoke Of Penn as Of man
not without foibes;r while, if We did not do full
justice to the excellence Of that parsonage it be-
cause we felt no cali to go generally into the sub
ject. We might with perfect truth have said the
same thing of Knox of Luther, of Erasmus, of Me-
lancthon, or of Calvin. If the Founder of Penusyi-
yania was man absolutely without fault, and was
never betrayed into any of judgment, he should
be forthwith put into the calendar and always spoken
Of not as Friend William, but as St.Wiliam of Phila
delphia. If he was human, he sometimes erred; and
if he sometimes erred, he is no more to be exempted
from criticism than if he had been an Epscopalan or
a Catholic an Anabaptist or a Presbyterian. by
members Of the Society Of Friends, be is held in
peculiar reverence and affection; but they cannot
reasonably expect all men TO regard him tendery.
fondly reverentialy, they are accustomed to re-
gard him. To the majority, he appears simply in a
historical light and must take his chance, like other
historical characters of praise aud Of blame.
Penn was a born courter, man of considerable
wealth, trained to conventional manners and with
family affection for the House Of Stuart. These were
advantages which he knew how to employ and un-
questionably did employ, in saving the society to
which he belonged from oppression and in promoting
the interests of his American colony. If anybody
can imagine him sternly rebuking james III.
for living habitually in adultery John Knox, for
instance rebuked Mary Stuart, it il certainly more
than We can do To picture HIM, like George Fox,
clad in leather and living in the hollow Of tree.
would be feat of dealism to which few observers
would be equal. BE was unquestionably good
man but 5 his misfortune to be tried by the rarc
and noble standard Of the early Friends, and especi-
ally to be compared with the sing minded and devot-
ed Fox. He can hardly DO considered one OF the
eminent vaants" as Sewe the QuakerhistOrian, calls
them, who underwent not only bitter reyilings,
scornful mockings, rude abuses and bloody blows
from the foohardy rsbble but also severe persecu-
tons, hard imprsonments grieyous banishments.'
unmerciful spoil of goods, and cruel whippings" lie
suffered occasional Inconvenience, it is truei but hd
can scarcely be ranked among the martyrs OF bis con-
nection. WHO were rarely enough welcomed to the
palace or admitted TO the closet Of the King.
Finally, is it the opinion of our Philadelphia
Friend" that William Penn had any faults OF char
acter whatevcri If So would it be Islander quietly,
but firmly, to speak of them Or is Penn of all the
great men who figure in history alone to be exempted
from criticism Or will the Society" permit that
liberty of plan-speaking which practically it has
always been in the habit of taking