The sun., 1910-06-09

Some months ago, moved by that
reverence for ancestors which makes
Americans Of US all, THE Sun joined in
a nation wide protest against the desc
Grafton Of Plymouth Rock by the van
dals Of its Massachusetts, vicinage Re-
Gently there has come tO IA an appeal
for aid from the Pemaquid Improve
mcnt Association, which Ia endeavOrinG
10 Identify and preserve the venerable
landmarks Of this ancient port Of the
State Of Maine
Too little familia. with the history Of
that shore which stretches from Christ
mas Cove 10 MedOmak and fronts
Monhegan. the land where the pOrgy
still survives but from which the ancient
sailing master is vanishing 30 rapidly,
we confess 20 a certain surprise at see
ing set down in impressive compaCtness
and ON the unimpeachable authority Of
the local historian the record Of the
things which in America were done for
the hrst time at Pemaquld.
Yet We shall not conceal the fact that
for us the Photographic reproduction Of
the Rock Of Pemaquid had greatest aP-
real Let n say at FIRST that the Rock Of
Pemaquid is real. Here Is no pebble Of
doubtful history like that Of Plymouth.
moved from place to place, the itinerant
sport Of native iconOclasts. Here il no
shattered fragment, but a boulder ample
enough TO give foundation TO fortress
About its enduring bulk. moreover. still
stand the fragments Of castles which
as our historian informs us, once resisted
the shock Of the first shell exploded in a
now world
Not like Plymouth, moreover, q sand
girt town given to intrOspection and
the saddening spectacle Of OverErown
righteousness and exclusive goodness,
was this sturdy outpost Of Pemaquid
Behind its forts Plymouth and Boston
alike perseCuted their inhabitants, safe
from the attacking French and Indian
warriors. To Pemaquid. moreover. in
1877 the Pilgrims sent 70 borrow corn.
Il was a town Of fighting men. not
preachers; given over 10 contest, not
theology, and for a hundred and fiity
years the British. French and Indians
from Captain JoHN SMITH to Sieur
D'IBERyILLE fought for il, held Il, and
built about il the forts and dwellings
whose walls still survive.
Il was the raising Of a cross on Georges
Island and a landing at Pemaquid in lGO5
that gave the land between the Kcnne-
bee and the PeRObscOt TO New England,
the local historian afiirms. Not until
the great question was settled at Quebec
did Pemaquid, like old Saratoga. sink
back into obscurity and give place TO
towns 1ich "A Plymouth and Boston,
which under its shelter had established
themselves in tho ways Of righteousness
ard the occupations II profit Yet even
Obscurity has had its advantage, for
while Plymouth and Boston have sacri-
feed to gain their ancient landmarks and
historic relics, the fortresses, the paved
street, the stone walls Of Pemaquid sur
yive. end an intelligent and patriotic
people uniainted by commercial greed
laboE for their further preservation.
Above the Rock Of PemRquid there
stands Fort William Henry, once a San
Juan d 4 ilOa ~ the north, the surviving
castle Of four which cost British mai
esty a considerable sum to build. On
holidays the French, British and Ameri-
can flags are displayed in recognition
Of the three nations which have ruled
in Pemaquid, In the harbOr below was
launched the Virginia. which the native
historian asserts was the first vessel
launched in British North America. We
have no doubt he Ia right
The undertaking at PemaQuid de-
serves success. such spirit ~ that dis
played by those who have undertaken
il insures success Nor will IL be less
pleasant to see a revival in Maine Of
a spirit long dead in Massachusetts, and
a perpetustiOn At Pemaquid OF msno-
rials more considerable than those AT
Plymouth. and perhaps AZ least equally
deserving II the aheCtionate regard Of
all patriots.