The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-07-13

- For nu10fnfTlg the 0roau@ GROUNDS
which surround the old hostel, is an ancient
graveyard and the inscription one OF the SIM
pie headstones In this graveyard tells the visitor
that underneath 1t lies the dust of what had
once been a man named William Penn Just be-
yond this grave stands a small brick building
which had once been farm house but which Is
now used as meeting house for those who call
themselves the Society OF Friends but whom we
know as the Quakers. Nearby. also. Is another
building which tells tale from American his
tory. 1t is only barn but the beams In 1t were
once the tlmbers OF the good ship "Mayhower'
In which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to New Eng
land and this barn Is now used as recreation
room by the Society OF Friends.
So this pageant recalled once more to both
England and America the name of an English
man whose influence In the history OF their
ton Is greater than most Americans realize.
What that influence was Is pointed out In new
biography of the founder OF Pennsylvania which
appeared recently 1t Is 4William Penn. Quaker
and Pioneer by Bonamy Dobree, published by
the Houghton Miff1n company. In an epIlogue.
which sums up the contribution Of Penn to his
tory, the author points to the gigantic statue Of
Penn which stands on the top OF the cupola on
the city hall In Philadelphia and says:
HE has, however, every reason to be proud
OF what he sees from his inhuman eminence-
the miles OF habitats containing some two mil
lion people, spreading away from between the
rivers to the foothills; the factories; the
wharves; the great bridge which swings irresist-
IDLY across the whole width of the Delaware:
the structures growing ever higher, II less gra-
clous, spaced out on the grid he had conceived.
Its history has been noble for though 1t hesl-
tated at the beginning OF the struggle against
England the still important Quakers being large
IT. -
precincts that the Declaration OF Independence
was signed, and that the first flag OF Stars and
Stripes was woven Later, In the Civil war, the
Quaker influence came into its heritage, for Phil
adelphIa was stoutly antslavery and as Penn
would have wished, convIncedly antiseeessionist
1.-THE United States OF America that name
would have pleased Penn, for In 1896, with his
startling capacity for seeing ahead, he had writ
ten booklet advocating the federation OF all
the colonies, though not. he would have pro-
tested vehementy, In opposition to the crown.
Moreover, Of those states his own has been one
of the most fourStlng 1t had been a -four
ishing colony from the beginning, for with what
ever troubles Penn may have had In govern
ment (and his Province was not BY any means
the only one to have such troubles) OF all the
proprietary colonies, his was easily the most
successful
anu even III government Hc hhu NV iniiSu
80 disappolntingly as he supposed; for with all
the alterations and tamperngs his old and SEEM
ingly battered Frame ('The Frame of Govern
ment," written by Penn In 1881 is yet the basis
OF fundamental liberties
.Nor does his influence cease with the state
government, for the present Constitution of the
United States in many ways reflects PENIS mind.
notably in the executive being separate from the
legislature, and In the Presidents appointment
of certain officers. 1t Is not Pennsylvania alone
that owes its shape to the constructive brain
Of William Penn"
Such was the man who began his pioneering
pioneering In departing from the beaten path
OF most mems thinking-eary In his life. Penn
was born in 1914. the son OF Admiral Sir VIII
hsm Penn OF the British royal navy. He entered