The Swedish Beginning of Pennsylvania and Other Events in Pennsylvania History #268215

When the President a year ago invited me to address this notable Society at one of its annual meetings, but one answer, of course, could be given. And as I am a Pennsylvanian by almost two and three-quarter centuries of inheritance, I have chosen some events in the history of Pennsylvania as my theme for this occasion. Pennsylvania, as her name of the Keystone State implies, has had a notable history. During the Colonial period, owing to her geographical position, the large number of her population and her important commercial development, she was truly the Keystone Colony. And since the Declaration of Independence, owing in part still to her geographical position and also because of the influence that, through the large number of her people moving Westward and south westward, she has exerted in shaping and moulding the institutions of the Nation beyond the Alleghenies, Pennsylvania has come to be known all over the country as the Keystone State. Like every one of the other colonies or original States, Pennsylvania has contributed her share to the building and maintenance of the Union. Unfortunately the people of Penn sylvania possess only in a small degree an admirable quality which you here in Massachusetts have in large measure, a quality which I admire you for; and that is, that when anyone in the community has done some thing which is really worth the doing, to make it known not only locally but also in all the world besides.