Evening journal., 1915-06-08
Sheds NEW LIGHT
ON STATE HISTORY
DR.. KonkIe Says Penn Was
Granted Second Royal
Charter for Delaware
PUTS NEW DATE ON
INDEPENDENCE MOVE

That he has discovered a second
ROYAL charter granted by James II
to William Penn for Delaware. then
known IS lower Pennsylvania, which
gave the colony the right TO maintain
government by an assembly-some-
thing no other of the thirteen ORR
einal States had Royal authority 20
do. was the assertion last night Of
Dr. Burton Alva Konkle, Of Swarth-
more. Pa. who addressed members
of the Delaware Historical Society
and their friends al a special meet
ing on the subject. Some New AS
pccts of the First Half Century Of
Delaware" The document, which DR..
Konkle SAYS he found among the
archives of the Pennsylvania His
torical Society never was signed by
the King, but was drawn up at his
command before he fed TO France In
1858. The speaker urged the local
historical body to secure a copy OF
the instrument
Another discovery Of Dr. Konkle
is the fact that the struggle for in
dependence began in this country IN
1cSS and not In 1916. as the date given
ia preseAt. histories. DR.. Konkle, who,
under the patronage of William =.
Bancroft, President Sharpless. OF
Haverford College: Henry c. Frick,
of Pittsburgh, and others, has been
preparing a book to be entitled THE
Life and Times of David Lloyd, 1906
1881, a Colonial Commoner. In the
course of his studies Or. konkle de-
clared no has made exhaustive study
of the first half century of Delaware
and has found heretofore unpublished
history that will demand the re-writ-
ing of the present text books on that
neriod in this State. Among the
professors said to be astounded by
the results of his work are Governor
Fennypacker. Of Pennsylvania, ana
Professor Claiming. OF Harvard.
Mir. Konkle. who was introduced 20
members of the society by President
George A. Elliott. declared that most
of his study during the past seventeen
wears, he has been engaged IN histori-
cel research has been in original rec
ords in England The last two years
Ne has been working on his book leau
him 10 the finding in Philadelphia OF
the original second and liberal charter
granted Penn by James ii. The Father
of pcnnsvlvania, he declared, was the
foster son of the English sovereign and
wanted 10 unite Pennsylvania and Del
aware 10 control the Delaware river
valley. which partly was in the hands
~ ne Kings brotner. the Duke Of
York.
Aft1r MANY wears in the attempt 4
;o;n delaware hv Royal decree TO New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. Nill'er
Penn, the speaker said. was granite
charter by James without the flgn
20 assembly form of colonial govern
ment. This Penn knew better than .
prosent 10 the colonists OF TINS state
and he is believed to have destroye'
the Instrument Later ne orough
prcssure upon the king, who was nav
Inc his hands full with the revolution
Of Oliver Cromwell. who rose again7
the Stuarts. and the English monarc'
in final effort to check the Ill feelinl
AGAINST him. called his chancellor, ~
William. and directed him to give Penn
anything he wanted.
Sir William prepared charter
granting Delaware TO Penn as lower
pennsvivania and giving the right tc
maintain a government by assembly
10 which the king always had beer
opposod. but finally agreed 10, under
nressure of the revolution OF 1888. DR.
Konkic said he has found document
"a bear out that King James approved
formally of the draft of Sir william
and ordered a final copy made to b.
presented to Penn. On December 10
1855. when James was waiting to sigl
tho document he was forced 10 ne
and the instrument was lost
Years afterward, David Lloyd, VIII
had represented the colonies in IN
English courts in their fight for liber
ties. was told by Sir William of tn
charter and in 1854 found IL and pre-
rented II to Penn. The documen
never was signed by the king The OF
iginal copy now is in the rooms G
the Pennsylvania Historical Soclet!
according TO Or. Konkle
Present historical authorities, ID
Konkle said have set the date of th
beginning of the struggle for Amer
can independence as 1776. This, b
said is nearly a hundred years afte
II really began with the revolution {
Cromwell in 1888 AZ that time tn
government Of England. he said. pras
tically was turned upsidedown. Th
power, instead Of being in the KIM
was vested in the House Of Common
and the House cf Lords, az that tim
While fhe rfphf IN sneak in their OW