The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-08-20
loving address:

II is not too much 10 say that the
event c0mmemorated by the monument
which we have come here 10 dedicate
was one OF those rare events which can
in good faith be called OF world i'm
portauce. The coming hither Of the
Puritans three centuries ago shaped
the destinies Of this continent, and
therefore profoundly affected the des-
tiny of the whole world
Men o. other races. the Frenchman
and Spaniard, the Dutchman, the Ger
man, the Scotchman, and Swede made
settlements within what is now the
United States. during the colonial period
OF our history and before the Declare
ton Of Independence; and since then
there has been an swelling immi-
grafton from Ireland and from the
mainland OF Europe. but II was The
EnglIshman VINO settled in Virginia
and the Englishman who settled in
Massachusetts who did most in snap
ing the lines OF our national develop
ment.
we cannot as 4 nation be too pro-
tOundly grateful for the fact that tho
Puritan has stamped his influence SO
deeply on our national life. We need
have but scant patience with the men
who now rail at the Puritan's faults.
They were evident. Of course, for II is
a quality OF strong >natures that their
failngs, like their virtues, should stand
out in bold relief; but there IS nothlhg
easier than 10 benttle the great men OF
The past by dwelling only upon the
points where they come short OF the
universally recognized standards Of tie
present.
Judgment of Men
Men must be judged with reference
TO the age in which they dwell and the
work they have 10 do. The Puritan s
task was 10 conquer a continent; not
merely 70 overTun II, but to settle it,
10 tiH II, 10 build upon it high indus
trial and social life; and, while en-
gagged in the rough work OF tanning the
shaggy. wilderness, at that very time
also to lay the deep, immOvable 1Ounca-
lions Of our whole American system OF
civil, political. and religious liberty
achieved through the orderly process OF
law.
This was the work allotted him 10 DO
this is the work he did: and only a
master spirit among men could have
done il,
We have travelled far since his day.
That liberty Of conscience which ne de-
manded for himself we now realize
must be as freely accorded 20 others as
IL is resolGtely insisted upon Tor our
selves. The splendid qualities which ne
go 10 lis children we other Americans
who are not of Puritan blood also claim
as our heritage You sons OF the Pur-
itans and we. who are descended from
the races whom the Pur1tans would
have deemed alien-we are all Amer
leans together We all feel the same
pride in the genesis OF the history ~
our people, and therefore. this shrine
of Puritanism Is one at which We al
gather 20 pay homage no matter rom
what country our ancestors sprang-
What We Have Gained.
We have gained some things that the
Puritan had Motive Of this generation,
we OF the twentieth century, here in
This great Republic. but we are also
IN danger Of losing certain things which
the Puritan had and which We can by
no manner OF means afford to lose. We
have gained a joy OF living which ne
had not. and which it is a good thins
for every. people TO have and to develop,
Let US see to It that we do not lose
what is more important still; that we
do not lose the PuTitan's iron sense of
duty. his Unbending. unfiinching viii 70
do the right as IL was given to him 70
see the right. II is a good thing that life
life should gain IN sweetness, but only
provided that 1t does not lose IN
strength. Ease and rest and pleasure
are good things, but only II they come
good fight well won, Of strong effort
resolutely made and crowned by high
achievement.
The life OF mere pleasure, OF mere ef-
fortress ease, is as ignoble for a nation
as for an individual The man IS but