Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-24

other mans, that organized into shape. ami
mated with practical vigor, ard prepared Tor
permanently, those primeval sentiments and
| institutions that have directed the course OF
Thought anil action in New En- land in latter
times" There is the younger Winthrop, NOT
| ar beh;nd, with the charter of Connecticut,
| fwbose separate colonies Hooker and 1aynes
md HOPKINS and Eaton and Davenport and
f.udlsw had laid the foundation. There il
Roger Williams, 'the Apostle OF soul freedom,
| IS he has been called, with the charter OF
Raode Island. There is the brave and gene
,us Stuyvesant, of the New Netherlands.
there are the Catholic Calverts, and the no.
lie Quaker. Penn, building up Maryland and
pennsy lyania alike, upon principles OF toler-
.tion and philanthropy. There is the benevo-
Int and chlvalrous Oglethofpe, assisted b,
Vhitefield and the sainted Wesleys, planting
us Moravian Colony in Georgia. There Is
franklin, with his first proposal of Cont
lential Union, and with his countless inven-
ii ms III political as well as physical science.
There is James Otis with his great argument
against Writs of Assistance, and Samuel
Adams with his memorable demand for the re-
moval of the British regiments from Boston
There are Quincy with his grand remembrance
gainst the Port Bill, and Warren, offering
himself as the Protomartyr on Bunker Hill
There is Jefferson with the Declaration OF In
dependence fresh from.his own pen, with John
Adams close at his side, as its COLOSSUS OIL
the floor of Congress" There are Hamilton
and Madison and Jay bringing forward th'
Constitution in their united arms; and Leaning
on their shoulders, and on the Constitution
but tow ering above them all, is WASHINGTON.
| the consummate commander, the Incompatible.
| President the world-honored Patriot. There
are Marshall and Story as the expounders OF
| the Constitution, and Webster as its defender.
| There is John Quincy Adams with his pow
erful and persistent plea for the sacred Right
of Petition. There is jackson with his
| Proclamation against Modification. There l.
Lincoln with his ever memorable Proclama-
ton of Emancipation. And there, closing for
| the moment that procession of the dead-for
| I presume not TO marshal the living-is
| George Peabody, with his worldwide munifi-
cence and his countless benefactions. Other
| figures may present themselves to other eyes
as that grand panorama is unrolledA Other
figures will come into view as that great
procession advances. But be it prolonged
as we pray God it may be, even Ito the crack
of doom" first and foremost, as it moves on
and on in radiant files-"searing the eyebalis
of oppressors and tyrants, but rejoicing the
hearts of the lovers offreedom throughout the
world will ever be seen and recognized the
men whom we commemorate to day-the
Pilgrim Fathers of New England. No herald
announces their approach. No ponip or
parade attends their advent. "Shielded and
helmed and weapon'd with TRUTH no visible
guards are around them, either for honor OF
defence. Bravely but humbly, and almost
unconsciously, they assume their perilous
posts, as pioneers ofan advance which is to
bao until fhrOuphOut
this Western hemisphere, it shall have pre-
pared the way OF the Lord and of Liberty.
They come with no charter of human inspira-
ton. They come with nothing but the open
Bible in their hands, leading a march OF
civilization and human freedom, which shall
90 on until time shall be no more-if only
that Bible shall remain open, and shall be
accepted and reverenced, by their descendants
as it was by themselves, as the word of God.