Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09

We wage no cOntEovetSy "'
about religious creeds or eternal DEGREES, OF
ordinances. Congregarionalist. Baptist
Methodist, Quaker--aIl were fathers OF New
England, and all coitributed their share in
civil and religious liberty on
this continent. Neither do We claim perfec
ton for any of them. That would be more
than human. Our friend asks what creed OF
the fathers remains in the Church To-Day
We ask what denominations have alter
their articles of faith in the least? All re-
main the same that they were fifty years ago.
:. But they fought for and established siaV-
cry" History tells us that the first slaves
brought into this country were in Dutch
vessel and sold in Virginia about the time OF
tho landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth
Rock. Grant that Massachusetts, and other
New England States once held slaves yet
they long ago freed them, and it was here
in the Eastern States that anti-slavery sem
timent originated which spread all over our
country in the overthrow of that horrid in
stitution. George Washington was slave
holder and dealer in flesh and blood. But
who ever questioned his patriotism or Kepub-
licanism? But our friend says the Christian
fathers were intolerant Prosecutors; that
the Puritans prosecuted the Baptists and the
Ouakers too. We remember that one hlsto-
rian says the Quakers were not punished
for their opinions, but for disturbing the
peace and for riotous conduct. That Lydia
Wardwell, a married woman, went naked
into a meeting house in time of worship,
and for that oHense she was whipped Mod
ern civilization, no doubt, would have shu'
her husband in an insane asylum and let the
woman run at large. But grant that the
Puritans prosecuted wronsfully the Quakers
and BAptists, and that Roger Williams alter
ward prosecuted and disfranchised the Cath
olics. They sprung from barbarous age
an age of religious persecution and into.er-
ance. The great wonder is that they re-
tanned 30 little of the whitening blight of the
,untry from which they fed. A people do
not emerge from barbarism to the highest
order of civilizltio in amoment. National
advancement is the growth of centuries. Ii
is enough for US to know that the Pilgrim
fathers were raised up and qualified for the
enterprise that was before them by God him
self; that they were guided BY cloud by
day and pillar of fire by night to the rock
bound shores of New England, and in tears,
sorrow and suffering laid broad and deep the
foundation on which TO rear the beacon OF a
world MIR. Kennedy tauntingly asks ' what
plank of theirs is in the National Constitu-
ton ?" They laid the corner stone. That
compact formed on board the Mayaower was
Republican in all it's features. John Quincy
Adams says: - This is the first instance in
human history of the, application of those
principles thatsare at the foundation of all
just government. Here was unanimous
aud personal assent by all the individuals of
the community to the association by which
they became nation What if they did
think that the plar form which they laid was
too narrow for any one to stand upon but
themselves? How long was it alter our
fathers published that immortal declaration,
i" that all men are created free and equal, )"
before they saw it was applicable to the black
man as well as the white? If Roger Will
Jams carried the true doctrines out more fully
in his government, which Bancroft and
Judge Story have said was the first instance
in which the rights of conscience and the
principles of civil and religious liberty were
fully carried out, give him the credit for
that. William Penn built upon the same
platform with some improvements. Lord
BALTIMORE caught the spark, and thus 1t vas
passed along down the track of time TO the
old hall OF Independence, and the Rcvolu-
tionary fathers signed the parchment and
shook it in the face of the British lion. For
humanity's sake, let US give due credit to all
the actors in those scenes. " Commencing
on the Rock of Plymouth" says the INN Dr-
tai Webster. Says Richard Warren of New
York, -" No victory has ever been so pregnant
in its consequences, no event in human story
save that which occurred at Bethlehem, has
pTOuuCcU 81 Ndot d lSNOiutlOu III euS
of the human race, as the emigration o. the
Pilgrims in tue Mayh)wer." Says James
Otis, " We glory in their coaducs. We
boast of it rs unex IMPLIED" Says n. P.
Banks, What harvest We reap in our
day from the seed of Christian civilization
soan by the Christian fathers in darkness
and danger, but also in faith and hope.
They saw a hand we cannot See. They heard
voice We cannot hear. Ii spake to them Of
US and of tie iuture-of time aud eternity
William II. Seward, although a son of York,
In his advanced age went on a pilgrimase
with his son to Plymouth Rock, and or
Fvreiathers Day both father and son lait
on the altar of the Pilgrims their garlands.
| Ii is such men as these that have wover
for the Christian fathers of New England
the wreath OF immortality and of undyin.
fame. Palsied be the hand that would at
tempt to tear from them their hard-earne
| laurels.
OLD ScH)uL.
Foreign News.
ENGLAND.-The shah Of Persia LETT On Sat
urday. He has made arrangements for build.