Here is an
excerpt from Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation, quoted here in
the original English, spellings and all:
The experience that was had in this commone course
and condition, tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may
well evince the vanitie of that conceite of Platos and other ancients,
applauded by some of later times; - that the taking away of propertie, and
bringing in communite into a common wealth, would make them happy and
flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this comunite (so farr as it
was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much
imployment that would have been to their benefite and comforte. For the
young-men that were most able and fitte for labour and service did repine that
they should spend their time and streingth to worke for other mens wives and
children, without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in
devission and cloaths, then he that was weak and not able to doe a quarter the
other could; this was thought injustice…..And for mens wives to be commanded to
doe servise for other men, as dressing their meate, washing their cloaths,
etc., they deemed it a kind of slaverie, neither could many husbands brooke
it…..God, in his wisdom saw another course fiter for them.”
Bradford
writes that once the Pilgrims headed out on that “another course fiter for
them”…aka capitalism, private property rights, with each reaping the reward of
their own labor:
This had very good success; for it made all hands
very industrious, so as much more corne was planted then other waise would have
bene by any means the Gov-r or any other could use, and saved him a great deall
of trouble, and gave farr better contente. The women now wente willingly into
the field, and tooke their little-ons with them to set corne, which before
would aledg weaknes, and inabilite; whom to have compelled would have bene
thought great tiranic and oppression.
Thus William
Bradford in his own words. Spelling out in detail a lesson the Left is
determined not to teach America’s children. Resulting in the astonished kids Paul
Kengor details as he teaches those very kids come-of-college-age.
