The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-05-19
SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN
It's Importance 10 The World


Jamestown Island. Here Anglo-Saxon
clvihzation was established in the New
ord, and reuHiaed the scat Of its
power Tor nearly century. Here were
born new principles OF government
and their prac'ice IN world politics
Here was the first legislative body ever
elected 10y the people Here began gov
eminent 10y representatiOu. the fuuda-
mental principal sal guarding freedom
evolving the constitution. guaranteeing
lille, liberty al Il property - he only gov
ernment on earth with such guarantee
u the people. Here in 1924. before the
conflict between Charles | and Parlia-
ment, the House Ot BurSes-es boldly de
ciared that 10 taxes could be levied or
collected ia Virginia. except by the duly
elected representatives oi the people;
later, refused 20 grant Charles | a mo-
nOpoly of their tobacco. uni in lG35
depossd the Royal Governor Harvey
and elected Capt John West in his place
the first bold and direct defiance OF royal
authority and tn first revolutionary
act In America. Herr in 1851 the people
oi Virginia compelled Oliver Cromwell,
whose iron hand hal crushed Parlia
ment, TO Impose or collect no tax excspt
with the consent OF the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia. Here in 1876 was the
bfst armed rebellion against British
tyranny aud oppression. when Bacon
seized the reins of government and drove
berAe!ey iron jamestown. Here then
wero sown the seed which IN Centenuial
c,lehration In lfT6 brought forth the
great Declaration uf Independence, the
NRr oi the Revolution and th. iudepaud
ance of the nation
Here were many other of the first areat
things Of Amcricu-the nation. Here Is
where Christianity began in America and
reared her first church. Here was the
nrst English MARI sge. the irst Anglo
saxon church, the first hospital In
America. Here was the hgst trial by
Jury. Here IN Jamestown settlement
WAS the trst ire school in America. the
blessed instrument by which have been
hssinllatCd the hOrdes OF aliens seeking
asy lum and home among u-. Here was
our trst log cabin, our first village. our
iirst courthouse, our tirst statehous- our
nrst capitol. the foundation Of "a nation
oi ireemen, the fret citiz.ns Of the fret
republic of government by represen ia
tiOn.
The landing at jamestown IS one of
the greatest events In history Mr. James
Bruce, the most eminent constitutional
thinkers and writer of the age. refers 70
II as almost equal 20 the discovery Of
America by Columbus. lt scems to me
In It's greatness OF Significance there Is
comparable with IL but two events-the
overthrow of the Persian Empire, and
the passing from Europe to Britain of
the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, free from
contact an influence of church. In fits sig
nlncance, II Is comparabla with the
Greeks overshrow of the Persian Empire.
Tor as In the overthrow Occidental ciylli
zation was saved from the Oriental. so
In the settlement of jamestown Anglo
Saxon civilization was saved from ro-
nance Latin, and without Anglo-Saxon
settlement of America there might have
been lost to the world the Auglo-Saxon
Tree institutions with their benefcent In
huence IN extension over the globe, while
those OF romance Latin absolutism un-
doubtedly would have extended over all
continental America. la its Significance
IL is comparable with the passage of the
Angles, Saxons, and Tutes-all Teutons.
never in contact with church uninfuenced
by ehurch-trom Europe over to Britain,
absorbing Kent, Sussex, Essex, Wessex,
and other parts, putting aside native and
Roman opposition, building on new lines
new civilization-Aoglo-S remark
able Tor its vitality, rugged strength. in
dependence, love III home aud family.
love of freedom and liberty, uniiyinu in
one country-England, destroying the
Spanish ArInada-a world epoch, making
her mistress oithe seas and free in Anglo
Saxon colonization Of the new world.
The landing at jamestown was the
beginning Of England's colonial expan-
sion and mighty power which Webster
said, has dotted over the surface Of the
whole globe with her possessions and
unfiifarv - hna D.
following the sun and keeping company
with the hour, circles the earth with one
continuous and unbroken strain OF mar
tial airs OF England" with the settle
ment OF Jamestown" says eloquent
Governor Swanson, England com
menced that vast system OF colonization
which has carried her rule, laws, institu-
tions and civilization on nevery continent.
In every cline, and among every people;
commenced that wonderful career
OF colonization and conquest which has
changed the destiniss of the world and
directed it's course Of civilization "
and from thence came the mother of ma
tions. willie Spain, then ruling with an
iron hand over one half the world, has
degeBerated into small territory of a
lew million stil! under the absOlutissn Of
undivOrced church aud State government
The settlement of jamestown first
planted the tree OF liberty in the soil of
the Western Hemisphere and introduced
the common law Of England, which of
all the legal systems that have ever been
framed is the one most fully pervaded
with the spirit of liberty and most fay
orable to the development OF personal
seli-reliance and individual responsibih-
ty," and the common law was. by our
wise fOreiathers, Incorporated In the
Constitution. And of all there Is of our
national life whether of our strength
wealth, power, whatever we may have
achieved for the human race from its
moral, social and political standpoint. |
there has been at our back aud our de- |
pendence the rock ribbed Constitution.
guaranteeing life. liberty and property,
which Is due all the credit. We have re- |
spected It. Whsn we fail to respect It |
our liberties are endangered.
The beginning at jamestown, evolving |
the virile principle of government by |
representation. gradually developing /
our free institutions. has made itseli 1
superior to all principles and forms OF /
government OF the worlds history. The /
friends Of liberty In every land have
looked to IL for the ground from which /
to spring, and building upon II have
overtbrown despotism and brought in-
TO being great republics modelled after
our own. Such was Old War France.
Such the grand host to the south Of US
wrestling world domain from Spain.
They have initiated our Institutions.
Our Institution OF separation OF church
and government has been copied and is
gradually unfolding aud extending to
all South American republics. and Is ex-
tending to Europe in France and Italy