The Washington herald., 1915-04-23

TT was 4 thing for statesmen 10
take note of, and all to wonder at.
how Englishmen of all sorts and
| creeds began to think of America. and
| to desire homes there, when once II
had become evident that Virginia ana
Plymouth and the Massachusetts set
Elements were certainly permanent,
and colonization no mere scheme of
| the foolhardy.
There were others besides tine Puri-
| tans who felt uneasy at home in Eng
land because of the troubles in church
and state and the threatening face OF
affairs. For men who loved novelty
and adventure, life in the New World
had always charm which even
direst hardship could not take away;
but such men were nowhere in ma
jority, and 1t was not mere love OF ad-
venture that made the English swarm
to America. 1t was the spirit of lib
erty and of mastery. 1t was the most
spirited men who were the most I'M
easy in those evil days of the Stuart
kings; and because they were cramped
and thwarted and humbled at home
they thought the more often and the
more wistfully of the freedom they
might find in America.
1t happened that Roman Catholics
felt almost as uneasy as Puritans.
lanes. it was true, had proved himself
no Presbyterian, after all. and Charles
had put Laud at the head of the
Church. as if to cary it back as far
as possible toward Rome, if not all
the way to Rome itself. But it need
ed no seer to perceive how the temper
OF the nation darkened at sight of
these things. and no thoughtful Ro-
man Catholic could find sound reason
TO hope for long period of liberation.
America would no doubt prove q frcer
place for Roman Catholics as well as for
Puritans, and their exodus began the
very year Laud became primatc. 1t was
for them that Maryland was founded by
Cecilus Calvert, Lord Baltimore 1t was
a scheme lie had inherited from his
father. Sir George Calvert had been Il
very noticeable figure when James was
King His position at court had become
untenahle, and he withdrew both to save
his interest and to give candid cNprcs-
sion to his religious convictions. James
had created him Baron Baltimore AT
parting. as n special evidence of his good
will. and then Calvert had turned to de-
vote himself to plans of colonization. He
had been a large subscriber to the funds
of the East India Company. had become
a member of the New England Company,
and had served on the commission ap-
pointed in 1924 to wind up the affairs of
the Great Virginia COMPANY. As far
back as 1920 he had interested himself In
colonizing schemes of his own. while he
was yet in the midst of affairs-before
Plymouth was founded. He had bought
an extensive tract OF land lying on the
southern peninsula of Newfoundland; had
put colonists upon it: and when he turn
ed from holding office under the King.
had himself gone to reside among his
settlers
But single year In that rigorous climate,
with its icy cold from October to MAY.
convinced him 1t was no place in which TO
build colony. especially with the French
near at hand to be reckoned with, in adj
dition to the weather. He turned his
southwark. therefore, and in
very year Parliament ceased to
sit and the Massa chusetts pcople got
their charter-asked King Charles to
grant them lands on either side the great
Bay Of Chesapeake, close by Virginia:
from the Potomac northward and cast
ward across the bay. to the fortieth de-
gree of north latitude and the river and
bay OF Delaware. The NirGinian coIonists
were not against the grant and many
cd to hope still TO see the Old Virginia !
Company revived. protested to the Privv !
Council against 1t. But though they held |
the matter off for year and half. I'M |
til Calvert was dead. they did not pre- !
vent it The charter was issued IN 1852 |
and Cecilius Calvert. the second Lord |
Baltimore. carried out his fathers plans |
in his fathers spirit.
His colonists reached their now home !
in March. 1854. and chose for their place |