The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-04
GOV. THOMAS DUDLEY.
A Valuable Historical and Genealogical
Work.

Valuable historical ana Genalogca al
Work.
1.-THE Life and Work of Thomas Dud-
ley, the Second Governor of Massachu-
setts," by Augustine Jones, A. NJ.
Houghton, Mihlin & Co. For sale by
Putnam, Davis & Co.
This is book that will appeal strong
~ to the many Americans who delight
10 trace their ancestry to the sturdy
guardian and conservator Of law and
order in Massachusetts. 1t is rightly
sald that few families exerted a more
potent influence in the colony than the
Dudleys. Gov. Thomas had a great
work TO perform, and for the most part
ne did his duty well. He was strong,
ana, viewed in the light Of his time, he
was just. 1t is unfair to Judge a man
OF one generation by the standards of
much later era, but Dudley has suf-
Tered sadly by this method of estimate.
faults he had, but not of sufficient
gravity to merit the excessive condem-
natlon that has been visited upon him.
certain it is that his contemporaries
dld not deem it fitting to brand him
with the opprobrious epithets which
later historians have sometimes applied
to him.
AAiliC Ae1o Wrought changes IN the
popular estimate of colonial characters
notably in the case of Gov. Hutchin-
son, and we may yet see justice done 20
Dudley. 1t was an act of more than
questionable propriety to omit his name
from the list of conspicuously able and
wise governors that adorns the ceiling
of the hall of representatives at the
state house. It is doubtful IL Winthrop
contributed more than Dudley of con-
structive craftsmanship to the found
Ing of Massachusetts, and the later
governor suffers nothing in any COM
parison of personal character.
Thus much may be admitted without
approving of all that Mr.. Jones has
written. The author is not the apologist
or defender of Dudley, but his eulo-
gist. At times he comes perilously near
personal detraction of others in order
to embrace by comparison the virtues
of his hero. Not a few, however, will
agree with Mr.. Jones in his summary
of the Punishment of Roger Williams,
an act for which Dudley has been made
to bear much undeserved obloquy.
There is no doubt that Williams, with
all his kindness and benevolence, was
a disturbing and troublesome person.
In modern times he would be called q
professional agitator. Nowadays, in
America. large latitude is commonly al
lowed such persons. They do no harm.
They have their place in the social
economy, and the evolution of politics
and religion. If they are a century
ahead of their generation, they are
frankly recognized as impracticables,
and the world appears to Wag as be-
fore.
The conditions were radically differ
ent, however, in the era of the Stuarts
and of Richelieu. A man who went
about preaching Williams doctrines OF
civil government would have been
clapped into Jail, anywhere in Europe,
and would be lucky to escape more Sc
rious consequences. Williams came TO
Massachusetts in search of larger
liberty. found 1t and straightway en-
deavored to improve upon It according
TO his own ideas. These were DeneVeu
nv the authorities to be destructive 70
public order and subVerslNe OF civil
government in a colony that was
Young and weak and Williams was
told to cease his agitation or quit tns
land. The former alternative ne "ouiu
not accept. 4,,ot
II is a gross inaccuracy to say that
Williams was banished because Oh ms
reliqious opinions. No complaint was
made of his religion. He did the com
plaining himself. He refused 10 pe-
come a teacher in Boston or even 10
fellowship with those who did not deem
II wicked to remain in the Anglican
communion The specifications asailSI
him related to his teachings against
the authority Of the magistrates anu anu
and churches" He lhsited ina "a
WICKED to administer the oath to an
unregenerate," thereby denying the &C
cepted obligations of civil officials. he
denied the authority of law or magls-
+rates in the enforcement OF the IlfsI
four commandments or the ueCdios'
thereby melting to lawlessness. YET 10
this day laws against perjury, Dlas-
phemy and the dissertation OF the 01p-
bath are operative in many common
wealths. Clearly, if Williams was IN
advance of his own generation ne IS al
en- in advance of the present, but the
federation of the latter END OIL the I'm
century is not to be laid down as the
rule for the first part of the seven
teenth. Nor can it be assumed that De
cause there is no public peril IN such
agitation now there was none theh'
Williams was uneasy, restless, lmpa-
tient of restraint and not lntreGuehtlS
intolerant Many of his progressed pr
ciples We're subsequently repuuldleu III
Rhode Island, where he himseI was
allowed to govern for only prleI Pc
riod. Religious liberation there was IN
that colony, but there was liberation
also in others. Even Williams was
alarmed by the rise of the Jesuits'
There is some misconceDtion' TOO as
to the method of his Punishment he
was to be sent to England comfortably
in a ship. He chose to flee 10 hhoae
Island. That was the last place the
authorities wanted him TO go, lot II
[I,as too near Massachusetts. The suf-
ferings he endured on the journey were
the result of his own choice of place
of refuge, and it is probable that ne
went there at the secret suggestion OF
WINTHROP the former governor.