Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-08-11
LETTER FROM DIR. PHrLLIPa, OF sT. PAUL, MIMI,
TO j. T. HEALD, ESQ.
HT. PAUL, July 26, 1875.

Vno lQ6A Oh erecLlDR bOme Bu1thDle mOuumeuI
to mark the place and commemorate the landing
OF those who made the first permanent settle-
mept on the Delaware, is one that at the first
blush seems 30 eminently proper us to come
with the effect OF happy inspiration The won
der is that IL had never been thought Of, before
and had not long ago been put in execution.
1t must be reckoned as d peculiarly fortunate
circumstance that the Identical spot Ii still 30
situated that 1t can BIO obtained for the purpose
to which it should at once be consecrated and
held involably sacred. To fail TO do 30 now
would seem to argue something like unfilial neg
ligence, and undutiful disregard OF the
proprieties OF the case. For surely this ought to
be held az in some sort holy ground If such a
Of Calmar" WAS moored nearly half century be.
fore the coming of Penn. Here the first seeds
OF civilization were planted and here WIS the
initial point of Developments for the great States
of Pennsylvania and others westward on the
line OF latitude 40 and AZ degrees. When Penn
with his colony came, later, Philadelphia soon
became the most populous city on the Continent
and the capital Of the nation from whence is-
sued its Declaration Of Independence.
The historys of. the Swedish settlement is in
itself subject of surpassing interest it had
prepared the way in the wilderness for Penn be-
fore he came and had already anticipated him in
the Indian policy which he afterward IN ade fa-
nous.
nature Of things, why this spot, in your city, is
not as important in an historical point Of Wow
az any other on the Continent Of Americar-the
peer Of Plymouth Rock In any proper view of
the case. II this soem like impiety toward the
latter 1t strikes me tho reverse OF the proposition
would be All absurdity.
Massachusetts is groat country but Pennsyl-
vania has her history too: 1t speaks Tor itself.
It is more stainless surely and equally fair.
Will any one for a single moment contend FOR
tho superiority of the Rev. MIR. Robinson Of the
May Fto,oer TO William Penn of the Welcome,
OF that Miles 6Jandish was in any way COMPARE
BILE to such daring navigators as David Peterson
De yries or Sir Henry Hudson, the discoverer OF
the Delaware?
By what strange aloh ems is it that plymouth
Rock and the May Flo,per have come to absorb
all the virtues OF all the colonies into them
selves, unchallenged2 So that they alone would
| stand forth In American history as the chlei
| symbols OF all the enterprise, endurance and
heroism, which have the common characteristic
of them all.
Is it to ignorance or stolid insensibllity we
owe it, that the Importance Of the Delaware Set
| Elements have been 80 strangely ignored? Not
| only Washington Irving, our first literary
| celebrity, has done much to bring over them q
| shadow OF rldcule and contempt. 1t seems
| high time for the descendants of these settlers
| to claim their rightful dues-to gather up the
precious relics and mark and guard the sacred
| place.
| Was it the May Flo,cer alone brought civil and
religious liberty into this country The very
question is absurd. Yet such pretensions are I'M
plleuly put 1Orbll. Ine 10 tudb lLo
Of Pennsylvania, (and Maryland also,) came
4 here with far more liberal and enlightened
spirit, far more unselish devotion to the rights
| or man as man, than ever characterized the
| acetio hierarchists of Massachusetts Bay.
| In the old time the Delaware region was de-
scribed as tho country lying between Virgins
| 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.
| Cona;darir,, tLa rock frnu which We were
| hewn, the broad foundations OF liberal states
manship ON winch these States were laid thell
early and astounding development. and thell
present commanding position and prosperity, thii
benignant condescenBion as to our modest De-
ginnings will be properly appreciated and q, ac
knowledged. 1t is for us to vindicate the dig
nifty of our own history.
Whether this land be beloved by auy part of
the world besides or not, at an events IL Is ours
Its hills are green, its skies are pr8ht, II
yields the palm to none. This fertile earth
this mellow cline that 30 charmed the followers
of Pastorus and Penn, as well as the proteget
OF the great Gustavus Adolphus, has every at
traction to call forth patriotic devotion ;,
Living for many years past among tn'
descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, with whom
the pride of ancestry is such common senti
ment when turn my eyes towards the East,
know that my Mecca and Medina arc no
there l seek them rather on the'banks Of the
Delaware, the cradle and grave OF my ancestors
and yours.
By ali means, would urge that the exac
locality be secured. 1t is an honor OF whicl
Wilmington may well be proud, and worth
dozen Swede churches Of latter date. IL Is tn.
chief claim OF which she can boast as an hlstori
cal city it would be suicidal not to preserve 1t
Let the identical perpendicular rock to whicl
Peter Minut actually moored his ship be tn
, spot reserved, and every succeeding generation
will hold it in higher esteem id the years roll on
Yours truly j, B. PHILLIPS.