The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-04
Washington, Jan. THAT for the
best part of a century Quaker set

best part of century Quaker set
tiers in Pennsylvania conducted an
unarmed government and left their
doors unbolted at night because it
was safer ia recalled by Violet
Oakley. a famous painter of mu-
rails, who has for 10 years been en-
| Pennsylvania state capitol at Har-
risburg, and in the course OF her
work has delved into the history
of the state.
The notes OF Pennsylvania his
tory from which she gained inspir-
alton for her paintings she has
placed in portfolio. beautifully
handpainted and illuminated Color
reproductions of her paintings on
the capitol walls accompany the
notes. This valuable portfolio Miss
Oakley loaned by request to the
| library OF congress, where it has
been displayed Now she has TAX
! en- it back to her studio at Philadel-
phia. 1t is of especial interest at
this time because of the holy ex-
| pertinent" in disarmament which
William Penn made in Pennsylva-
mia.
IT has been suggested that copies
of the portfolio be presented to the
| delegates at the conference, and
this may be done. 1t is pointed out
| by advocates of disarmament that
the pictures and story might serve
a purpose: they would show that
America did at one time offer an
/ honest example. not of limited arm
ament, but of disarmament
! Miss Oakley regards the holy
| experiment" as message to the
world from Pennsylvania, and a
valuable contribution to the dis
armament question. Quaker Penn
sylvanis. she says, is the keystone
| to the idea of disarmament.
! Her paintings at the Harrisburg
capitol tell wildly the old story of
William Penn and Pennsylvania.
There is Penn as a student at Ok
| ford listening for the first time to
Quaker preaching in field. The
young aristocrat is shown looking
with interest to the earnest, plainly
dressed Quaker.
Penn became a Quaker and was
expelled from Oxford for his oppo-
sition to the religious requirements
of the university. Another painting
shows Admiral Penn ordering his
| son out Of the house for his stand
with the Friends.
PENIS Principles.
When he found no peace or lib
erty in England for one who align
ed himself with the peaee-seeking
! Quakers, Penn began to dream Of
! a new land, where every one should
be at peace. and weapons should
! be barred The trust OF the colony
vas 10 be placed in the divine spark
| which the Quakers believed is in
every man, savage or civilized;
though Penn believed in organized
and night watchmen-armed only
with constables' sticks.
In what is known as Penn's
prophecy, he wrote: There may
be room there lin America) for
such a holy experiment that an ex-
ample may be set up to the ma
tons: and that 1T 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
! long erspread his troublesome prop
| longer spread his troublesome prop
( land So when Penn proposed that
the king pay a debt owed to Ad-
mirai Penn in American 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