The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-03
TOPIC OF THE MONTH.

General Presenta ton of the Subject "Our
'=' Colonial Period"
q" Cur Colon al Period +" is the topic as
signed 10 the reading and study circles of
the Loyal Home Workers for the month OF
is from tIe time Ponce de Leon discovered
Florida, in 513. and named it the . Land OF
Flowers" until combining to resist ferc gn
tyranny. the American colonists freed them
selves from the British yoke in 716. 1t is
one prolonged period OF adventure, roma nee,
and t,iumphs over the hard conditions OF {.
new and unbroiieh country foes
within, and the outreached iron grip OF
greedy monarchies beyond the seas.
There wee co'onies founded for gold and
gain and the acqu rement of landed posses
sions, but il is notable that these colonies
ignominiously failed. The colonies which
grew and prospered in spite OF adverse con-
dItioils were made up OF those who, fleeing
their ancient homes for consc ence' sake,
came to seek an asylum and build arepub-
lie in the vast and unknown soiitudeS OF
Il new and untried continent
Not for more than hundred years alter
tho CabotS set foot on Amer can soil was
there beginning OF representative Govern
meflt in Americas. This was dozen years
Virginia, which WAS first governed b. the
council app inted by King James.
The Spanish early gave up the attempt
TO .eo,oniZe Florida. The North Carolina
colony founded by Sir Walter Raleigh died
outso utterly that not a trace OF 1t could be
found
James T. was the patron of many colon-
Zation schemes. He desired to extend his
possessions, and he was very fond of the
gold and gear the returning voyagers carr ed
over from the new land. His reward in his
toryis in having his name forever connect
ed with The James River and Jamestown,
Va.
The policy of the early English co,onisfs
was TO conciliate the Indians by friendly
treaties, and TIE marriage OF PocahontaS
with John Rofe assured the Indians of
their good intent. Pleased with his success,
Capt John Smith, master spirit Of New
ports exped ton, returned to England and
gave such glowing accounts OF America
thath he secureda charter for coloniZing New
England
Everything was "boomng' then in the
jamestown Colony, and labor was so scarce
that when Il Dutch man-of-war came up
the james River month after Government
control had passed into the hands OF the
people and offered to sell score OF hid
mapped negros to the colonists, they found
a ready market. This was the beginning
Of slavery in America.
The Kings ccionists never fiourished in
New England, and twas not until the staid
and steady Prritans, 10 the number OF 1902,
kneit on the bare sands IN Plymouth Har-
Dor that the plant OF freedom took root and
bIossomed in the SHOWS.
What a glorious story it lS-the sturdy
PuritanS found ng the first strictly republic
can Government in Massachusetts; the
Quakers flying from British persecution, TO
found the old keystone Stale under William
and snfs an + am o.
during tlcates with the Indians.
The Huguenots fleeing to the Jersey shore
and the CaroinaS, from prosecutions in
France the Catholics in Maryland. under
Lord Baltimore, recalling the proscript ons
which had been a blight upon their own
Land, passing the memorable act by which
Christians OF all sects were secured in the
public profession OF their faith and allowed
10 worship God according TO the dictates of
their own conSciences.
The hunted Covenanters of Scotland and
their brothers, the Scoteh-ir sh across the
channel, forming the settlements that in
spired the Mecklenburg Manifesto, ante
dating many months our Declaration OF
American Independence,
Much interest is daily rcviying in the
great events OF the Colonial and Revolu-
DDS, through the Colonial and
societies which have been
organized. -
Numerous books have been written
which throw a clearer light upon the social
lie of Colonial times, the most notable of
which are Daughters of the Revolution
and Their Times by Charles Carleton
Coffin; George Washington" by Woodrow
Wilson; Hugh Wynne, Quaker" by DIR.
Wer Mitchell, which leads all recent
works Of American romance in popular ty;
Edward EggIestOn S Beginnings of Il Ma
ton; Men, Women, and Manners in CO.
lonial Times" by Sidney George Fisher
Editor Loyal Home Workers.