New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-02

ell 10mo, PIP. PAS. Dodd, Mead & Go.
Among the Makers OF America" John Winthrop
occupies a prominent position We might know
somewhat more of his personality than we do. for
while his own Journal is full and faithful record
OF his external life, the n,odesty of the man
was such that he always touched lightly upon
matters which redounded to his credit and made
the chronicle as impersonal as possible Yet there
is evidence enough 10 show clearly what manner OIL
man he was, and there is happily nothing III MS
career which calls for pallation or apology
sturdy Englshman, resolutc, independent. orooking
no tyranny, sound and cool of judgment, pious
and sincere, hospitable and open-handed' luii oi
courage and endurance, and so devoted 10 vic
interests and welfare of the colony OF when ne
was the mainstay that every secession from 10
panied him more than a personal INJURY "o"iu
have done. Mr.. Twchell has written sympa-
thetic biography of this interesting ana usetui
colonist and while the limits set him necessarily
precluded more than rather full sketch, he
has succeeded in bringing into view the prihcipal
events of the period, and in assigning to each
its due significance 1t is TO be regretted That
nothing is known of Wnthrops relation to English
politics-if indeed he had any-beforc his emigra-
ton His activity and energy in his new home.
and certain friendships he is known TO have con
tracted in England, point to the probability that
he was found there as here, on the slde oil
freedom, and opposed to royal usurpation ana OPP
preston. But he reached a stage when the future
OF his country appeared TO him so dark, and the
prospects of successful resistance to the royal
power so poor, that there seemed no hope for
those who would maintain their liberties but
emigration.
II is clear that his executive ability was well
known TO many of his countrymen. and hence
he was chosen as governor of the expedition
Of
On the arrival of the company a great disdp-
pointment awaited them, for instead of finding
iiourishing colony as they had expected they
landed in faminc-pinchcd and almost utterly
discouraged community. Here Wnthrops adj
ministrative talent came into play, and it was
largely due TO his pluck and perseverance that
the colony escaped early dissolution. From this
time until the close of his career John Win
throp's mission was that Of defence, and no6ly
did he fulfil it. 1t was upon him that the colony
relied during the long contention with crown.
Commons and Established Church at home. IL
was his policy, avoid and protract," which again
and again STAYED off disastrous action, and as
often saved the long-tbreatened charter when the
situation seemed desperate. No doubt this policy
must. in the end have proved futile II events
in England had not repeatedly 50 happened as
TO take off the attention of the Government from
fortunate brcathing-spaces were obtained in
manner which, from the point OF view Of the
pious colonists might we'll be thought providen-
tiaI But John Winthrop more than skill
ful diplomatist He was man who realized that
there were times even for a weak community
when a show of stern resolution was the best
means of gaining point, and so when IL seemed
probable a GOvernOr-General would be sent out
despite all protests, and again when the war-ves-
sells of the Commons undertook to seize the hlngs
sbips in Boston IIarbor, Winthrop coun6elled
physical force and led the preparations for armed
resistance.
The colonists were not always reasonable, and
sometimes were as ungrateful as communities can
be- They took offence at the Governor and sent
him back to private life. Once they were lgnople
enough to insist accounting from him, the
only result of which was to force him to declare
what il let alone he would have kept to himself
that in four and half years' tenure of the ex-
eeutiye Office he had spent upon the colony $1,000
of his own money over and above what he had
received His enemies must have realized their
own meannesS very unpalatably to themselves
when this fact was brought TO light, and no more
demands for an accounting were made upon John
Winthrop. Once, indeed, an attempt to impeach
him was made. 1t then that he delivered that
famous Little Speech which Mr.. Twichel puts at
the beginning of his volume, thus adroitly striking
the keynote in illustrating the maniiness and tact
of his subject. 1t certainly was perfect speech
for the occasion, and has hardly been commended
too much even by those enthusiasts who have
compared it to the great speeches of antiquity As
to those speeches, however, it should be remem-
bered that scarcely one of them is probably genu-
inc. AS rule the reports that have come down to
lis are the work of the old historians. who have
told us what they thought their great men ought
TO have said-not what they really did say John
Winthrop's Little Speech, on the other hand has
the advantage of being genuine, and we know that
in il we have the "ipsissima verba" of the man
himself The impeachment failed but had it sue
ceeded we may be sure that Winthrop would have
continued TO exert himself as devOtedly as ever TO
the interests of the colony he loved with so con-
slant and loyal an affection, for he in whom
there was no variableness nor shadow of turning.
Mr.. Twichell takes one new position in this
volume. He contends that the hierarchical Gle
ment was not so powerful as it has been repre-
sented and in support Of this view brings In
evidence the encroachments effected by the Free
men upon the powers of the magistrates and the
governmental theories Of the Church. Yet he
himself shows that contemporary outside opinion
recognized the autocracy of the Massachusetts,
Church, which was subject for gibe and jeer
among the profane everywhere. In the colony
itself there very sobn appeared disposition to
kick against the austerty and the interference with
private life and social customs which character
lied the methods of the clergy. At the very out
set the attempt TO establish sacerdotal govern
ment had failed, but the original colonists were
ready to accept the dictates of the Church in
many things and the protest against these dictates
no doubt came originally from the later corners
who, like William Blackstone, were disposed to
7 IA I.
the lord bishops; but / cannot join with you be.
cause l would not be under the lOrd.brethren"
Cotton was the most ardent and jealous cham
MON of ecclesiastical privileges and the most m