We  are  not  "Kriegerisch"  (disposed  to  fight).  We  are  not  "Qudker-
isch"  (of  Quaker  mind).  This  in  homely,  laconic  style,  expressed
their  position  at  that  juncture.  They  would  not  organize  for  aggres-
sive activity  against  the  savages,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  they  would
not  fail  to  adopt  every  measure  required  to  defend  the  town,  and,  if
it  came  to  the  most  desperate  pass,  would,  of  course,  resort  to  arms
to  protect  those  who  were  dependent  upon  them.  They  thought,  too,
that,  as  things  were,  they  would  do  all  that  could  be  expected  in
merely  maintaining  a  defence.  They  were  sufficiently  clear  and  well-
balanced  in  their  conception  of  the  relative  importance  of  the  several
classes  of  religious  scruples,  principles  and  duties,  to  realize  that
singling  out  not  taking  up  arms,  as  the  one  supreme  standard,  to  be
stubbornly  held  under  all  circumstances,  could  in  some  emergencies
be  regarded  as  not  only  fanaticism  but  criminal  folly,  as  much  as
if  a  man  refused  to  take  active  measures  against  a  conflagration,  out
of  religious  scruples.  They  were,  moreover,  not  housed  in  com-
fortable homes,  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  imperiled  frontiers,  as
were  most  of  those  who  in  the  Assembly  were  delaying  the  legislation
needed  to  provide  for  adequate  defences  and,  with  exasperating
calmness,  saying,  'T  told  you  so,"  when  the  tales  of  horror  began  to
come  in ;  or,  what  was  yet  more  trying  to  the  harassed  people  on  the
frontiers,  as  well  as  to  those  in  Philadelphia  who  clamored  for  harbor
defences,  were, under  the  lead  of  astute  politicians,  employing  dilatory
tactics  and  quibbling  about  the  formalities  and  technicalities  of  pro-
cedure, in  order  to  press  concessions  from  the  Proprietary  govern-


322  A    HISTORY    OF    BETHLEHEM,    PENNSYLVANIA.
