The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-14
SOME CURIOUS FACTS.

The anniversary Of the landing Of
the pilgrims Dec. 22d. in the New Eng
land States. is called Forefathers' Day,
and annually the "Sons OF New Eng
land" celebrate. IL is something like
Thanksgiving. They have supper.
aud after supper they talk OF the fore
fathers, and do not fail 10 say hsttsr-
ing things of the descendants OF the
forefathers. There was such a cele-
bration in New York City this year, at
which were present many distinguish
ed men-Mr. James @. Blaine among
them. In response 10 the sentiment:
New England Character-Adapted
TO every requirement il fits her sons
not only to fill, but to adorn every
station.
Mr.. Blaine spoke, and Of the Pill
grim Fathers said:
A small number came in 1920; there
was no immigration TO speak of till
1890; there was none after 1910. Aud
the 2l 900 men that came in those brief
years are the prOgenitors Of race
that embraces one-third Of the people
of the United States Of America -
Tney are the prugenitors Of a race OF
people twice as numerous as spoke the
English language in the world when
they came here.
Frederick the Greats father said TO
his tutor: "Instruct this young boy
in history; DO not dwell much on the
ancients, but let him know everything
that has happened in the last 100
years" And / submit TO you, Mr..
President. that the great event which
has happened In the last lJ0 years-not
10 go back TO 1920. the cause OF which
was planted then-has been the pro-
gress OF the Anglo Saxon race in this
world. As have said. not 100000
Of people spoke the tongue when the
Pilgrim fathers landed at Plymouth;
not 10, 900, 600 spoke il whom the Amer
lean Revolution was born. In this 100
years-mark it well-great has been
progress with others. The German
Empire has been reformed, and is
broader aud frmer than il ever existed
before; Russia has coma TO be n great
and first-class power; Italy il reform
ed, and promises something OF its an
cient grandeur; France has fallen aud
risen again, and fallen and arisen again
under the aid of republican energy
and patriotism. And yet, with all this
progress OF all these countries, the one
great fact OF the last hundred years is
that when the revolution OF the Ameri-
can colonies was fought, not 10, 0O0, 900
spoke the English tongue, and to-day
100, 900, 600 speak il. Another fact
excuse nv reviewing history. We are
in the habit Of deploring the hardships
of the men who settled New England,
and in deploring their hardships; We
are in the habit OF allnding TO them as
poor and friendless and downcast
race Of men. They were anything else.
They had the nerve and courage TO en-
dure hardship. But they we're a class
Of men, the like of which never before
and never since has ever emigrated
from any land. They were men Of
culture; they we're men OF property
The 81, 900 men that came TO New Eng
land and settled the five colonies Of
Plymouth, Massachusetts, Bay, New
Haven, Connecticut, and Providence,
brought with them, according 10 au-
thentic history, 100000 Of our dol
lars, and reckoning money as worth
six times what tits to-day, the proper
" they brought with them represents
fifteen millions Of our money at this
hour Snow me 2l, 900 emigrants in
this world that ever carried fifteen
millions Of property with them any
wherel Show me any town in the
United States OF 2l, 900 people that
represents more than 1000, 900 OF
property to-day. They we're OF prop
erty and culture; they were men who
had in the literature OF that day Mil
ton and Lightfoot; they were men who
had in the ministry of which our dis
tiDguished and eloquent friend has
spoken. John Robinson, and Brewster.
aud Davenport; they were men who
bad in statesmahship Cromwell, and
HampdeD, aud Pym; they were men
Who, in all the great departments oi
ci al polity and Of personal and indi-
vidual culture at that day led the van
in the English race. And when We
wonder al what has been done in New
England we wonder without knowledge.
for those men brought with them all
the elements Of the success that has
since crowned their efforts. And they
brought with them one thing which
has stuck pretty we'll 10 the end with
them and their descendants, and tha,
was the belief thai II You set princi.
pie that is founded on truth in motion
u will 60 through. Applause. They
I believed, in the language Of one OF
their most eloquent men, that an army
Of principles viii penetrate where m
army Of men cannot inter. The Rhine
cannot stop IL nor tb ocean arrest its
/ progress. IL will march 10 the horizon
Of tho world.