Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-15


Editor Stdr:-Several lawyers OF MaSSachu-
sets, Gov. Long among them, have petitioned
Congress to add the statue of Law to the nearly
com leted monument to the Pilgrim Fathers at
Plymouth Mass. Tha Pilgrim society has
already expended about $3.50, 600 on the monu-
ments therefore small granite canopy on
the Rock itself, the other mora imposing
structure on high ground In the rear OF Ply.
mouth village The FUNDS for this purpose have
been raised partly by private subscription from
more than $4,000 subscribers all over the
country, and partly by appropriations from the
states OF Mass achusetts aud Connecticut Tue
design OF the monument is by the late Hummatt
Blllngs, ana consis1sof an octagonal pedestal
forty-nve feet HIGH on which stands colossal
statue OF Faith. thirtysix feet high Around the
base are Tour figures, each fifteen feet high
emDiemat1c OF Morality, Law, Education and
Liberty. Historical panels In alto relief and
tablets for Inscriptions are also provided for
ne STATE OF massachusetts, has furnished the
Oy members OF the bar to add that of Law Tor
JuStice.l wa
That the germ of our state was contained In
the compact signed on board the May Flower
has always been conceded by writer's on our
political history. The Virginia colonists found
ed representative government on these western
SHORES the massachusetts,, democratic; and 1t
was more 10 found an English colony free from
the restraints OF the English government that
led The Pilgrims to leave Holland and come to
America than to secure freedom OF conscience
The latter they had already obtained in Hol-
land. but staying there they and their progeny
would become Dutch. whereas by removing to
America they would still remain English.
than of religion that they came here
The PuritanS. however. came direct from Eng
land Later and were driven thence because OF
their differences with the government in mat
tefs partly religious and partly political. The
dispute which existed on these points is thus
coneisely stated by DR.; Leonard Bacon in his
Genesis OF the n. E. churches. "Tne Puritan
Idea was not liberty, bat right government In
church and estate-such government as should
not only permit him, but also compel other men
to walk in the right way, ~ e., has way. Failing
walk in his way at that time. Enough he did
compel 1t to, measurably. afterwards, he came
to America He established the Puritan
colony OF Massachusetts, bay by the aid
OF The Pilgrim colony OF Plymouth. The differ
enceS between the two sectS, which in England
had been sharp, were softened by distance from
the mother country and by common dangers
and priyations. Still the same characteristics
remained. The PurtanS We're as intOierant as
k1ng James himself, while the Pilgrim was
liberal like the Quaker. The Puritan was a
c0m0atant; he belonged to the church militant.
The Pilgrim sought separation rather than war
fare; he left the established church voluntarily
rather than quarrel with It, Side by side, for
more than sixty years, the two colonies grew
and waxed strong, notwithstanding their marked
dlVergences; and when the Pur1tanS drove out
Roger Williams. the Pilgrims took him In, though
with an eye to good fellowship with Salem
Plymouth kindly asked the fugitive to move
over the river outside their borders still be-
and founded the colony of Rhode Island Rel.
g1ous liberation was cardinal principle with
the Pilgrim fathers, they being long way in
advance OF their age In this respect.
The building OF monument TO the founders
OF the republic, whether at Plymouth Rock or
at jamestown, Is most commendable object;
and whether we be descendants of the Pill
grins the Puritans. the Cavaliers the Hugue-
nots, or OF none OF them. we cannot view it
with Indifference. No American citizen can
contemplate the history OF the Pilgrims or the
Tai no
cauley's Wellknown indictment of the latter.
believing it more than half true vet even If he
De but slightly informed Of their peculiarties,
exhibits the darker side only Of this wonderful
people, and shows nothing OF the many fine and
tender traits as well as high heroic virtues for
which they are equally distinguished" He will
understand If he thoroughly contemplateS the
moving springs of action OF these two bodies
which gave so much to America, that in the
for than the life OF body polite; nor can the
most heroic man be moved by any nobler i'm
pulse imam the sense of patriotic and religious
The appropriateness of the request to Congress
TO place the Statue OF Law on the base OF the
Monument must be at once conceded. Rather,
since the organic law of the land sprung from
the company made on the Nav Flower. the
nation should covet the privilege of doing this
gracious act as a favor TO itself, instead OF a
boon conferred. When. too, the whole struc-
ture is completed, or even before, another struc-
ture should be begun Congress aiding at
jamestown In Virginia, to mark the rise OF that
other element In our government equally DO
tent which, with the New England, has made us
The great nation we are. The late Chief
Justice Chase at the laying of the corner
stone Of the Plymouth Monument puts
this idea into the following happy language;
And Then when that is accomplished (the Ply.
mouth monumenD will tell you what shou d
like to see-the sons and daughters OF New Eng.
land Joining hands with their brothers OF vi
ginia to build another monument at JamestoWn
10 commemorate the settlement there thus
proving TO them II we do love lioprty and mean
10 maintain II; yet we are all brethren OF a
CONN on Union, and mean TO maintain Liberty
and mon, one and 1nSepafaOe, now and for
ever" COSMOPOLITAN.