The Portland daily press., 1897-06-28

England from end to end, France from
end to end, all Europe end to end-then
our own New England, breathing sweet
romance mingled with war-like incident,
from NoRumbega to Plymouth Rock
yields to no other part of America in
historic fascination.
New England represents the aristocracy
OF American history. She can claim with
considerable justice to have been carrier
discovered than any other portion OF our
continent. John Smith was, however,
the first undisputed visitor to our shores,
and from him New England received her
name, and incidentally it is interesting
to note that our own Cape Elizabeth was
SO christened by this same pioneer.
But John Smith greatly moderated the
natural advantages of this undeveloped
country, for upon his return to Eng
land he said, II am not so simple as to
suppose that any other motive than riches
will ever erect there a commonwealth,
or draw company from their ease and
humors at home to stay in New Eng
land Time has proved the fallacy of
this opinion, for of all migrations of
people the settlement of New England
is pre-eminently the one in which the
almighty dollar played the smallest part,
however important it may since have be-
come as a motive power.
The desire for religious freedom was
the magnet which drew the people from
their native heath to seek home in this
all but undiscovered country. Providence
and New Haven, Windsor and Salem,
Plymouth and Saybrook were all founded
by religious refugees.
Plymouth occupies a unique posit-
ion among the historic spots of
New England. 1t makes the birthplace
of a great idea-the beginning of great
struggle. Here was developed the New
England character which has enabled the
Puritan countries to take the lead in the
civilized world of today. From the Puri-
tan theory that the Immunity owes to
every child sufficient education to enable
it to read and understand the Bible came
our common schools.
Theocratic though their theory of life
was, from it moulded by time and sur
rounding influences, has grown the lib
eral and enlightened Professionalism of to-
day.
No man, perhaps, had greater influence
in nberalizing the views of the early set
tiers than Roger Williams. His opin-
ions were SO charged with free thought
that he was deemed deserving of the pill
lory or the stake in England, and many
Of our century have considered his ideas
too liberal. He advocated the entire
separation of church and state, the equal
protection of all forms of religion, and
the repeal of all laws compelling atten-
dance at public worship. Is it any won
der, then, he was banished from Massa-
chusetts, and forced to seek a home else
where?-and thus thereligious intolerance
of the Puritans produced the city of
Providence. Providence, Roger Williams.
Religious Toleration-the words are in
separately connected
The early history of New England
savoring SO strongly Of religious action
and reaction shows the counterpart of
the radical forces which produced Provi-
dence in an iron-hearted conservatism
which gave birth to New Haven. New
Haven was founded by men dissatisfied
were too lax. They consequently mi
grated TO Connecticut where they proceed
ed to inflict upon themselves the most
atrocious and unreasonable "blue laws
which this country has ever known.
Unwillingness to increase the power of
the clergy and a desire that suffrage
should not depend upon church member
ship led Thomas Hooker and his follow
ers from Dorchester, Watertown and New
town (now Cambridge to wander into
the Connecticut valley that they might
there put into practice their views of
democracy. From the teachings and
preachings of this learned and eloquent
minister grew the first written constitu-
tion ever known to history which Great
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Hartford will ever remain famous.
The Government of the United
States today is in lineal descent more
related to Connecticut than any other of
the ID colonies.
The next great landmark in this coun-
try's history is the war of the Revolution,
and we New Englanders may take Just
pride in the part which our forefat6ers
bore in the great struggle for American
independence. Our hearts swell with
emotion as we read of Boston and
her famous tea party. We are
proud that New England manhood
could not be deceived by Lord North
and England's diplomats, proud that
again New England's attitude showed
that it was principle and not price for
which our colonial ancestors contended
for though the tea was made cheaper,
tax included, than in England, yet they
still protested against the principle of
taxation without representation, but in
vain. Then came the tread of the
courageous men disguised as Indians
marching through the streets of Boston,
and the splash of the tea echoing through
the century. We are justly proud that
the spirit of freedom ran stronger in the
veins OF the sturdy yeOmen of Boston and
Massachusetts, than any other part of
America. 1t was Boston courage; it was
Lexington bitter determination which
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les. While another state claims the site
of final surrender, Massachusetts, bore the
brunt of the enemy's initial acts. Had
Massachusetts, failed independence might
have failed. The never faltering yalor
of New England s'fired the shot heard
round the world
Seldom in history has there been so
important victory of unframed and
poorly equipped disciples of right against
the superior military knowledge and
overwhelming strength of wrong as in
famous Bunker Hill-a battle whose
story will stir mems souls till time has
passed.
While the British regulars were march
ing to their slaughter in Charlestown,
Capt. Mowatt was sailing down the coast
on voyage of devastation, and our own
corner of the then colony of Massachu-
sets showed itself Of the same spirit as
the more populous and better protected
portion around Boston, for when Mowatt
appeared before Falmouth (now Portland)
demanding its surrender, the loyal inhabi-
tants deliberately gave up their homes to
the flames rather than acknowledge alle-
glance to England.
And now on the island which was the
sight of the first house ever erected in
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