The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-09
WILLIAMS NOT
STATE FOUNDER
James NJ Arnold Told His orca Association That Roger Was
Not Honest and Claimed That Intelligent Study of the Records
Would Deprive Him of Much of the Credit That HAS Been
Ascribed to the Pioneer of 1hese Plantations

AZ yesterday afternoons meeting of tn,
Rhode Island Citizens Historical associa.
ton, James y. Arnold delivered an ad
dress on "War Governors OF Rhode Is
land" during which he asserted thai
Roger Williams was too dishonest 90 b6
a successful business man
Mr., Arnold said that he desired 90 prove
20 the people that certain persons get
more credit and honor than they deserve.
II deny" said Mr.. Arnold. "aud ask
proof of the asserted fact that Roger VIII
iiams was the founder Of Rhode Island
invite you all TO take the original authori-
ties themselves, the original town and Co
lonial public records first DO not let
Knowles Elton and those fellows form
your opinion.
"Observe that William Coddington and
his friends bought OF Canonicus and Mi
ontonoma the island OF Acquidneck March
-, 1886. Observe that they found on this
island two towns. Newport and Ports
mouth. and these two towns arc styled
the Colony OF Rhode Island.
There is no other colony OF Rhode Is
land and there never was and there is no
historian in historical authority that has
ever said there was. / claim and chal
jenge proof 10 the contrary when j say
that William Coddington and his friends
we're the founders OF Rhode Island
''Mr. Williams had nothing To do with
n. and his letter in which he tried 10 trick
Coddington into settling a Swansea failed
Of its purpose. as did other schemes OF
his
Roger williams believed i'm the liber-
ties and rights OF the minority. SO did
others. He had a string TO his minority
rights, however. He was not willing 10
allow others that spiritual right he
claimed for himself lie wanted TO do
their thinking for them. For proof I
point to witnesses that cannot be denied
his own published works.
Il claim that my immigrant ancestors
were Just. yes. more tolerant regarding
soul liberty than Roger williams Did not
William Arnold defend Verin as reca.ied
by Winslow? Did not Benedict. his son.
sign that grand declaration which re-
clared that church and state should
ne separated?
II have no hesitation in saying believe
William arnold TO be the one who founded
Providence
The Colonies OF Providence Plantations
hhode Island was utterly ignored al
thoush much the larger colony Con-
trast TINS conduct with that OF Clarke
where both colonies had equal honor
the larger.
III this patent. affair of williams
was not blundered from start TO finish
then want TO know what is There is
no DENYING the fact that the work had
10 be done over again and another man
than Williams had 10 do a..
I'm; IN ;ordinafy business affairs he was
failure. he was too dishonest 10 be
successful business man He could
not be depended upon in times OF emer-
gency."
Mr.. Arnold denies that the recording
by William Arnold OF his deed secretly
at Boston was treason. and said:
I'm the whole transaction thera ia
nothing reasonable dlshonorable nor
unbusinesslike. I will admit that after
the acceptance OF the charter OF 1854
had he done this IT would look ar.
ferent
= claim that mp to the time Of the
scceptance of the Royal Charter OF
daries, we were part OF Massachu-
setts the same as Connecticut. New
hampshire and Maine. until their boun-
charter
1T is not my purpose to make these
statements against Williams from any
personal motives, but simply to prove
that too much honor is given him DO
not take my statements as facts until.
YOU have looked up the ColoniaT
records OF that time and see for your
Mr.. Arnolds Views did not seem 10 be
accepted by most OF those present. and
~ the close of his address the asso-
ciation decided 10 debate upon the
questions brought up.
several opinions were expressed all
Of which, upheld Roger Williams and
Mr.. Arnold was piled with more uues-
tions than he could answer
}. d. Hail, Jr., secretary OF the asso-
clation, was not in accord with what
Mr.. Arnold said i'm relation 10 the nam
ing of this city. James G. Collins also
discussed the paper and said that he
agreed with Mr.. Arnold that Newport
was the leading spirit i'm the founding
of Rhode Island But" he said. "vou
can't get me away from Roger VIII
iiams. who believed that every man
had soul liberty; and this attitude of
his In this respect was edifying both