The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-11-25

Nevertheless, Plymouth began relatively TO lose
ground. Whole communities came over In a Dody'
bringing all classes from laborers to physicians
and clergymen; but few went to Plymouth. Inc
Pilgrims had no constituency. Their bitter OPP
position to the established church and to the Puri-
Qns, and their desire to be let alone, eftectuaily
Isolated them from their sister colonies.
In the next two decades Bradford, Brewster, ana
Standish died and Winslow returned to England
The creation Of thriving towns all about Massa-
chusetts bay and to the west as far as the Coh-
n~ecticut river, on the Sound, and even over ON
Long Island, powerfully reacted on the little group.
Up to 1880 Plymouth was the dominant force
in the New World. After that men and events
swept past her and around her until In 169l, siie
was swallowed up by Massachusetts.
Their absorption into the Massachusetts colony
was easy and natural. In 1851 their creed did not
differ materially from that of the churches founded
In Salem and in the later coNnies. All the New
England churches were as completely separated
from the established church as even Robinson
could have wished.
The political extinction of Plymouth was really
a triumph. The Pilgrims had conquered spiritual
ly. The New England churches were ruled Dy the
congregations. What they called poplsn pracUces
were everywhere ended.
Plymouth, losing her civic independence. became
first a general possession of all New England and
then a tradition of the nation.
The little Mayiower band had become a mighty
host, steadfast always in the maintenance OF
individual rights, and latterly stout defenders OF
religious liberty.
There are now more sons of the Pilgrims in the
Mississippi valley than in Massachusetts, none On
the Pacific coast than In Plymouth.
The revolt at ScrOoby, so unimportant that II
was scarcely noticed by the authorities, at first
registered merely u protest against established ef-
ror and power. Then, with little conception OF
the Significance of their acts, the men who ied
-. -o.oI. Ino NJ tho most SlpcpSSfui a1VpDturerS
In all history.
Europe generally regarded America much as
the Greeks regarded all the world beyond the I'll
lars oe Hercules-as uninhabitable, except by bar
borians, and full Of terrible monsters. Colonial
tion had previously been a failure because II Ead
lacked knowledge and a right purpose. Inc I'M
cbarted western seas and the unexpiored western
world were almost as mysterious In 162o rs they
bad been in 1892. The economic success OF Plym-
outh dissipated the mystery and made me CONT
nent q land for citizens rather than Tor :'dVen'uE'
ers. for workers rather than for prOfiiSate peers
Europe's attitude was Immediately chahgeo' aho
the New World was slowly transformed troin 4
uotopv hov into n place Of ilimitahle opportunity
The Pilgrims were politically impracticable and
remained economically unimpOrtant to the emu
They were spiritually brave. but as a BODY aparl
tbey were impossible to live with. They agreed
with few. and few agreed with them; but they
made the great demonstration, they ana not vi
umbus made the great discovery.
An ancient legend tells us that the two grea'
rocks standing one on the s~outherly point OF
Spain. the other over against 1t on the northern!
noint Of Africa, were torn asunder by Hercules
20 admit the Atlantic and form the Mediterranean
sea. This beautiful old myth. as Is the habit OF
myths. fitted itself to existing facts ana explained
q mystery by creating a greater mystery
The pilgrims did not mystify. They arSwereo
,he riddle over which Europe had gravelN pom
dered for more than a hundred years. They lifted
the curtain which for six hundred years had con
cealed the great mystery. With their feeble hands
they erected pillars that marked the entrance tt
a new continent through which speedily. poured
the aood Of life that has given America to tn,
world.