Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-10
PRACTICAL DISARMAMENT
Quaker Settlers In Pennsylvania Con-
Quoted tnarmed Government.
PENN'S DREAM OF AN IDEAL STATE
First to Suggest a Parliament OF Ma
tions-He Described League OF
Nations as Far Back as 1693-Also
Advocated Union of American Col

tions-He Described a League oi
Nations as Far Back as 1693-Also
Advocated Union of American Col
onies. l.,
By Frederic j. Haskin.
~ Washington, d. C.-That for the
best part of century Quaker settlers
in Pennsylvania conducted an unarm :
ed government and left their doors
unbolted at night because it was
+, safer" is recalled, by Violet Oakley, a
famous painter of murals, who has for
nineteen years been engaged in decor
. a1ing the walls of the PENNSYLVANIA
s state capitol, at Harrisburg, and in the
course of her work has delved, into
the history of the state.
The notes of pennsylvania history
from which she gained inspiration for
her paintings she has placed in port
folio, beautifully hand-painted and IL
Illuminated. Color reproductions of her
paintings on the capitol walls accom-
pany the notes. This valuable portfol-
10 Miss Oakley loaned by request to
the library of congress, where 1t mas
been displayed. Now she has taken II
hack TO her studio at Philadelphia. 1t
Is of especial interest at this time De-
cause of the holy experiment in dis
armament which William Penn made
in Pennsylvania.
1t has been suggested that copies Oh
the portfolio be presented to the dele
gates at the conference, and this may
be. done. 1t is pointed out by advo-
Gates of disarmament that the pic
lures and story might serve a purpose;
they would show that America did at
one time offer an honest example, not
of limited armamepts, but of disarma-
ment.
Miss Oakley regards the holy eX-
pertinent as, a message to the world
from PENNSYLVANIA, and valuable
contribution to the disarmament ques-
tion. Quaker Pennsylvania, she says,
Is the keystone to the idea OF disarm-
ament.
y Her paintings at the Harrisburg
capitol tell vividly the old story of
William Penn and Pennsylvania.
There is Penn as student at Oxford
listening for the first time to Quaker
preaching in field. The young arls-
tocrat is. shown looking with interest
toward the earnest, plainly dressed
Quaker.
Penn became Quaker ard was ex-
PEELED from Oxford for his opposition
to the religious requirements or the
university. Another painting shows
Admiral Penn ordering his son out of
the house for his stand with the
Friends. a. ss. ....
Penn's Principles.
When he found no peace or liberty
in England for one who aligned him.
self with the peace-seeking Quakers,
Penn began to dream of new land,
where. everyone should be ct peace,
and weapons should be barred. The
trnst of the colony was to be placed in
the divine spark which the Quakers
believed is in every ban, savage or
civilized, though Penn believed in or
ganized government, laws, reforna-
tories, and night watchmen-armed
only with constables' sticks.
In what is known as Penns prophecy
he wrote: "There may be room there
Gin America) for such an holy expert
ment that AN example may be set up
to the nations; and that it may be the
seed of a nation, for the nations need
a precedent"
The king of England wanted to be
rid of Penn so that he would no longer
spread his troublesome propaganda OF
peace and liberty in England, so when
Penn proposed that the king pay a
debt owed to Admiral Penn in Amer
lean land, the king agreed.
Before Penn left England, he had an
amusing conversation with King
Charles. The king asked Penn cur
iously how he was going to obtain the
good will of the Indians.
81 will buy their lands" said Penn.
Buy their lands Of them." cried the
king. "W!y, man, you have bought
them of me already"
"Yes, know have, and at dear
rate, too; but did it only to get tiny
good will, not that / thought thou
hadst any right to the land
The interesting fact about Penn's
experiment is that for nearly 4 CEN
tury it actually worked. The Quakers
established themselves in the land in
the behalf that the Indians were by
nature trusting and friendly, and ac-
ccrding to the histories they were JUS
titled.
The Indians were used to promises
of Justice from the white men, but
they were not used to the promises
being kept. Penn became known
among the Indians as the one white
chief who kept faith with the red men.
1t is recorded that the Indian tribes
. became so friendly with Penn's set
tiers that children who were lost in
the woods around Philadelphia were
commonly directed to their homes by
the Indians.