Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-08-12
LETTPp Vunss nm pz.ss~sas, OF Oh. PAUL, MINI,
TO ]. r. HEALD, ESQ.
O. ST. PAUL, July 20, 1875.


Tho idea Of erecting some suitable monument
70 maxi the place and commemorate the landing
Of those who made the first permanent settle.
ment on the Delaware, is one that at the first
blush seems no eminently proper a. to come
with the effect Of happy inspiration. The won
der 10 that It had never boon thoug ht of, before
And had not long ago been put In execution.
1t must be reckoned ~ peculiarly fortunate
circumstance that the identical spot il still 10
situated that it can be obtained for the purpose
70 which it should At once be consecrated and
held involaby sacred. To fail to do 30 now
would seem to argue something like unflia neg
ligence, and undutiful disregard OF the
proprieties Of the case. For surely this ought TO
be held ~ In some sort holy ground il such q
thing exists anywhere. by this rock tho - Key
Of Calmsr' was moored nearly half century be-
fore tho coming of Penn. Hore the first seeds
OF civilization We're planted and here was the
initial point Of development for the great States
OF Pennsylvanis and others westward on the
line OF latitude 40 and AZ degrees. When Penn
with Ills colony came, later, Philadelphia soon
became the most polulonA city on the Continent
and the capital OF the nation from wh0nce is
hned itn Declaration OF Independence,
The history Of. the Swedish Settlement ia in
itself a subject OF nurpassing interest it hal
prepared tho way in the wilderness for Pom be-
fore no came and had already anticipated him in
the Indian policy which hc afterward III ado fa-
mons.
1t il quito impossible to SEQ any reason in tho
nature OF things why this spot, in your city, is
not az important in an historical point OF Wow
a. any otlIcr on tho Continent OF Amorics--tIe
poor OF Plymouth Rock in any proper view OF
the case. II this seem like impiety toward tile
latter, strikes mo the reverse OF tho proposition
would be All Rbsnrtlity.
Massachusetts, is great country but Popusyl-
yania has her history too; 1t speaks for itself,
II is more stainless surely and equally fair,
Will any one for single moment contend for
tho superiority OF tho Rev. Mr.. Robinson Of tho
May ffo,r.1 70 William Pom of the Welcome,
OF that Miles Standsh was in any way compare
bio to such daring nayigators az David Peterson
the Delaware?
by what strange alchemy is it that Plymouth,
Rock and the May Flo'rer have come to absorb
selves, unchallonged2 SO that thoy alone won Id
stand forth in American history AZ the chief
symbols Of all tho enterprise, endurance and
herosm, which have the common characteristic
OF them all.
Is it to ignorance or stolid insensibllity We
owe 1t, that the importance Of the Delaware Set.
Elements have been 30 strangely ignored2 Not
only Washington Irving, our first literary
celebrity, has done much To bring over them
shadow Of rldicule and contempt 1t seems
high time for the descendants of these settlers
to claim their rightfnl dues-to gather up the pre-
cious relics, and mark and guard the sacred = zee,
Was it the May Fo,ner alone brought civil and
religious liberty into this country Tho ye,y
question is absurd. Yet such pretenHions are i'm
pliedy put forth. The trath il that the founders
Of Pennsylvania, (snd Maryland slso,) came
here with far more liberal aud enlightened
spirit, far more unseliish devotion to the rghts
acetic hierarchists Of Massachusetts lay.
In the old time the Delaware region was de-
scribed M the country lying between Virginia |
and New England, and New England histories |
accord her the honor Of filing up the solution OF
continuity between the Cavaliers and the Round, |
heads. |
Considering the rock from which We were |
hewn, the broad foundations Of liberal states- /
manAhip OH winch these States were laid, their
esrly and astounding development, and their
present commanding position and prosperity, this
benignant condescension ~ to our modest be-
Binnngs twill be properly appreciated and &C
knowledged 1t is for us to vindicate the dig.
nifty Of our own history.
Whether this land be beloved by any part Of
Tie world besides or not, at all events it Ii ours
IT, hills are green, its skies are bright, it
yields the palm to none. This fertile earth,
his mellow cline that 30 charmed the followers
d paAtorius and Penn, ~ we'll - tie proteges
,f the great 0ustavus Adolphns, has every at
:raction to call forth patriotic devotion.
Living for many years past among tho
lescsndenta Of the Pilgrim Fathers, with whom
he pride Of ancestry is such = common senti-
nent, when turn my eyes towards the East, |
NOW that my Mecca and Medina arc not
here ] seek them rather OH the banks Of the
delaware, the cradle and grave Of my ancestors
nd yours.
by all means. would urge that the exact
Dcality be secured. 1t is an honor Of which
Wilmington may well bo proud, and worth q
oxen Swede churches Of latter date II ia the
hief claim Of which sine can boast ~ Al histor-
81 city it would be suicidal not to preserve it,
Let the identical perpendicular rock to which
eter hinuit actually moored his ship be tho
pot reserved, and every succeeding generation ,
Ill hold it in higher esteem M the years roll on.
Yours truly J, j.. PHILLIP.