The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-22
BLAINE's SPEECH
On tho Purltans aud Pilgrims-"FOrefath
Day" In Boston,

BosToN, Mass, Dec. 2l,-The followin
is Mr.. Blslns's speech delivered at "Fore
fathers Day Dinner" held tonight:
Mr.. Blaine spoke ss follows; Mr.. Presi
dent, gentlemen and ladies Of the Oongre
gstiolRl Club. In notable paper tFou
Lord Bacon, he defines the ranl
in which men connected will
States should be held In history
and in his favorits Latin, he gave 1t to thC
founders Of the States. One Of the mos
eminent New England ministers, moi
many years since, in quoting that paper
from Lord Bacon gave, think. with greRl
Justice to the Puritaus and Pilgrims ol
New England the classic title OF conditoreI
rel pubIicg, the actual founders
Of the RspubliG-Nud ! have Of
ten thought, since ! have made the
personal acquaintance OF the Puritans
and Pilgrims, Of their descendants, not
sharing their blood myself, that II civil
influence can be separated from the re'
ligioug, that the Puritaps and Pilgrims
have made a far deeper impression upon
civil and patriotic America than even on
religious America,
They had divisions and seCts. They had
their share Ci differences. They were
kfbubled with damnable heresies. They
qusrrelled with nsiShbors and hal ex-
actly that kind Of trouble that belongs to
the aggressive thsologians, but when their
descendants put into the cause OF liberty
the new teachings Of their religion they
then had for forces the Blptists Of
Rhode Island, the Dutch Rsiormers Of
New York, the Presbyterians Of New
Jersey, the Qlskors OF Pennsylvania, the
Catholics Of Maryland, the Royal Episco,
palians oi Virginia, the Hugusnots OF
Carolina and the Methodlsts OF Georgia,
Loud applause) aud they could not have
made that union upon single tenet
OF creed-with the exception OF their
belief In God; 30 that when
Dr.. Bushnell, spoke OF the PurItans rs the
condiIOres rel puJlicG, he spoke the verdict
Of history, for, according to Jefferson, com.
ing from region that did not have an
over degree OF admiration for New Eug-
land men, but for the Adamses, and he
specially named Adams, they oopld not
have conducted the revolutionary war and
could not have made the declaration OF In
dependence. (Loud applause
Now, as ! have said, ! do not share the
blood pi the Purtansl except as an Irish
bull would have II, in a certain birth
right l have from my children, (laugh.
teri, for they are Of good Puritan descent
in the ninth generation, (Laughter.)
As l AN In the club, and in the club
you may always be personal, | claim de-.
Dcenttron Q class Of aggressive ChrlAtians
who have not liked IN = rsgiS4 as iSGile and
eloquent In speech, and who have
not always had exactly their
share Of the territory Of anniversary days.
have done a good bit Of talking In Penn.
sylvania for the PuritanS Of New England,
being myself New Highlander by adop-
tion, and anu going to do q little talking
0a behalf Of the 4'fesRyterians Of PeHnsyl'
Our distinguished friend, the President
Of Brown University, arrested by atten,
tlon by hIs remarks on Christian
unity, and / would like to ask
the Presbyterians Of Pennsylvania
and the Cougregationalls!s oil New
England, why these two denomina'
tions Of Christians should stand apart
pow2 Have we any trouble between the
Baptist pr9nks, to Ynoa tue trelident oI
the Theological seminary at Newton al
luded, and the Presbyterians2 There is
not certainly a difficulty between those
two great bodies. They stood shoulder Ia
shoulder In the contest for civil and re-
ligiops liberty, not only after they became
AMERICANS but when they fought through
the same dynastic and theological trouble
in the old world.