The Washington times., 1907-04-26


and those who, thirteen years later.
landed at Plymouth, all OF English stock.
and their feIlow-settlers who during
the next few decades streamed IN after
them, were those who took the lead in
shaping the life history OF this people
in the colonial and revolutionary days.
Il was they who bent into definite shape
our nation while II was stiU young
enough most easily. most readily, to
take on the characteristics which We're
to become part OF It's permanent life
habit.
Stamp of Cavalier and Puritan.
Vet let US remember that while this
early English colonial stock has left
deeper than all others upon our national
life the mark Of its strong twin indi-
vidualities. the mark OF the Cavalier and
OF the Puritan-nevertheles this stock,
not only from its environment, but also
from the presence with 1t OF other
stocks, almost from the beginning began
to be differentiated strongly from any
European people. AS have already said,
about the time the first English settlers
landed here, the Frenchman and the
Spaniard, the Swede and the Dutchnan,
also came hither as permanent dwelIers,
who left their seed behind them 10 help
shape and partially to inherit our ma
tlonaI life.
The German, the Irishman, and the
ScOtchman came later, but still in CO.
loniaI times Before the outbreak of
the Revolution the American people. not
only because Of their surroundings,
physical and spiritual, but because OF
the mixture OF blood that had already
begun to take place, represented a new
and distinct ethnic type. This type has
never been fixed In blood. All through
the colonial days new waves of immi-
grafton from time TO time swept hither
across the ocean. now from one coun-
try, now from another. The same thing
has gone on ever since our birth as a
nation; and for the last sixty years the
tide of immigration has been at the
full. The newcomers are soon absorbed
into our eager national life, and are
radically and profoundly changed there
by. the rapldity Of their assimilation be-
ing marvellous. But each group OF new
Corners, as it adds its blood TO the life
also changes it somewhat, and this
change and growth and development
have gone on steadily, generation by
generation, throughout three centuries
The pioneers of our people who first
landed on these shores on that eventful
day three centuries ago, had before
them a task which during the early
years was OF heartbreakiEg danger and
difficulty.
The conquest of a new continent
is iron work. People Who dwell in
cid civilizations and find that there
in so much of humanity's lot is
hard, are apt to complain against
the conditions as being solely due
to man and TO speak as If life could
be made easy and simple If there
were but a virgin continent in
which to work. It is true that the
pioneer life was simpler, but 1t was
certainly not easier.
As a matter of fact The first WOrE
Of the pioneers in taking possession
of a lonely wilderness is so rough
so hard, so dangerous that all bu
the strongest spirits fail. The early
run udfc VI SUN CVM4uC5t bCUECl
out alike the weak I'm body and tn,
weak in soul. In the warfare
against the rugged sternness o
primeval nature, only those cal
conquer who are themselves un
cOnquerable. 1t is not until the frs
bitter years have passed that tn
life becomes easy enough to inVit
q mass OF newcomers, and so grea
are the risk, hardship, and toll 0
the early years thft there Away
exists a threat of IsPsing back fr0T
civilization.
The history of the pioneers Of James
town, OF the founders OF Virginia, Illus
tTates the truth Of all this. Famine an
pestilence and war menaced the littl
band Of daring men who had plante
themselves alone on the edge OF