The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-21
Pennsylvania Dutch.

Toastmaster Boies introduced former
Attorney General William L. Hensel.
the next speaker. as one of the greatest
citizens of the state ''even though he
is II Democrat. as he added.
Mr.. Hensel responded to the toast
"'rhe Pennsylvania Dutch" and en-
planned in beginning his remarks that
he believed the returns of the last cleo
lion in Lackawanna and Luzerne coun-
ties justified him in being proud to be
able to say II am Democrat After
telling few stories that set the gath
ering into roars of laughter. he had
something to say about Pennsylvania $
needs.
What Pennsylvania needs most of
all" said he, sis Il better understand
ing of her own history, Il greater unity
of feeling and more state pride. And
what has stood in the way of these
things? Perhaps ii is what is. by II
strange paradox, her proudest boast.
namely. the development Of her mag
niticent natural resources.
'I venture that there are very few in
this gathering tonight who have Il COM
prehensive knowledge of the settlement
of this state over two hundred years
ago by the men whom some are wont
to Sncer at today--the Pennsylvania
Dutchmun. Perhaps it will surprise
many OF you to know that third OF
| the original stock of this common
wealth We're Dutchmen.
behind these sturdy Dutchmen. n.
| behind the Pilgrim Fathers, burned the
fires of religious persecution. Like tho
Pilgrims. too. they brought with them
the spirit OF religious liberation. with
the difference, if you will pardon me
for saying it, that, whereas the Purl-
tans insisted upon their right to wor
ship God in their own way, they also
insisted upon everybody else Worship
ping in that same way, the Pennsyl-
vania Dulcfman so tolerated other de-
nominations that no less than thirty
six sects arose in one-uuarter of Il cen-
| tury
'Thc Pennsylvania Dutchman is es-
sentially q farmer and his tcnacity for
| land has been such that he has not
only kept the land of his forefathers
but has also taken most all the land of
the Scotch-l Irish and has made one
county in this state the greatest agri-
cultural tract in these broad United
! States. That. gentlemen, stands for
sonlcthing II stands for stability and
s,endfastneSS Of purpose and IL stands
for industry.
Deep down under the apparent UNI
couthness of the Pennsylvania Dutch
man lies Il vein of sentiment. sweet
and beautiful Some day there Will
| arise among these plain set people il
noet or romanccr, who will do for tn"
PENNSYLVANIA Dutch what Mary Will
,lins has done for New England what
George W. Gable has done for Louis
lana and what james Grant Allen has
done for kentucky. There is no surh
virgin field in imaginative literature
The history of Pennsylvania, my
friends is as yet unWritten. IN"
PENNSYLVANIA German society Is ac
present doing AN historical work III IN"
compilation of the history of the Dutch
i'm this state that for completeness,
and accuracy is uaequalleh. Let local
societies like yours and like the ON"
| have Just mentioned continue III inns
work of compiling the history OF TINS
grand old commonwealth OF ours ana
some day some master hand VIII WeaN"
the story all together ThuS can state
pride be cultivated ANA unity or action,
of thought and of feeling become IL
reality.
AS Pennsylvanians We conrede m
lrlleCt u;,l ana literary lthutlSiiP ~
New England iSut, gentlemen, though
there Is "A divine decree that man shall
not liv. by bread alone, there is also
an unWritten decree that he cannot
live without bread. | want to tell you
that pig iron plays as important part
In the frogross of the world ls poetry,
Here on the very walls of this room
are emblaZoned the things which stand
for Pennsylvana's greatness, aglicul-
ture. mining. industry, manuiactliftS'
electricity, transportation, ana COM
ucrce When the story of Pennsylvania
is written | venture to say that these
Things which have turned the balanc"
of the worlds trade in our favor will
ne accorded an equal place with IN"
dramas OF Shakespear" ana sheridan
or The beautiful verses of Shelley or of
keats.
let US ever be Pennsylranans for
PENNSYLVANIA, PehhsNiF@nliahS III
scranton or Lancaster, pennsylNanians
i'm Pittsburg M Philadelphia, always
for Pennsylvania, but while tor Penn
sylvania, all for that country, which
stands among The nations the bright
est beyond compare
The Ccotrh-Irich