A History of Long Island, Vol. 1 by Peter Ross

Author:Peter Ross [Ross, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Geschichte
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2017-09-20T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIII. PERSECUTIONS— RELIGIOUS— THE TROUBLES OF THE EARLY QUAKERS— TRIALS FOR WITCHCRAFT.

It is often stated by newspaper and other writers — sometimes even by reputable historical writers — that Long Island has been free from those persecutions which form a blot on the history of some of the other sections of this continent. Certainly, they tell us, there were persecutions on Long Island' — there is no use denying it — but they were not such as came from the malignant passions of the people, passions aroused by ignorance, or hysterical enthusiasm, or prejudice, or popular caprice. Even those who admit the existence of such a blot assure us that what persecutions there were were official rather than popular. "It is true," says Dr. Prime (History, page 57), "that at an early period the Dutch Government of the New Netherland enacted severe laws against the Quakers and other sects whom they regarded as heretics; and in numerous other instances these laws were enforced with a degree of cruelty that was shocking to every feeling of humanity. But the people had no hand in the enactment of these laws and but few "i them could be induced to take any part in their execution." But we must remember that these were persecutions, and also that these persecutions were rendered possible in spite of (he arbitrary and paternal rule of the Dutch Governors only by the fact that the people either acquiesced in them or were indifferent to them. Obnoxious laws — that is, laws which were really obnoxious to the hearts and consciences of the people — could not easily be enforced in New Netherland even in the days of the Dutch regime, and a people who could defy Governor Stuyvesant and bring him to terms were not likely to be coerced into actively supporting any law of which they did not more or less heartily approve. The Director was a powerful potentate in the days when old Governor Pietrus stumped about, but he needed the help of the people when action was necessary.

There certainly were times of persecution on Long Island, as elsewhere; but they were never carried to the same extent as in many parts of New England; and indeed it seems to us that so long as a man behaved himself even in the western end of the island where the Dutch influence was most secure, his religious or other sentiments were seldom, if ever, interfered with. When we went around proclaiming his differences with the ruling regime, or with the views held by the mass of the people, then trouble began. In the eastern end, where Puritan ideas held sway, each community passed judgment on each new-comer, and if he did not prove acceptable he was told to pass on. If he obeyed quietly, that was the end of the matter. But even among the Long Island Puritans a Quaker or other heretic was never persecuted for the sake of his belief unless he persisted in proclaiming that belief "from the housetops.

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