Satanstoe

Satanstoe

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Satanstoe, by James Fenimore Cooper
#17 in our series by James Fenimore Cooper
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Title: Satanstoe
Author: James Fenimore Cooper
Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8880] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 20,
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SATANSTOE ***

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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS.
A TALE OF THE COLONY.
BY J. FENIMORE COOPER.
"The only amaranthine flower on earth is virtue: the only treasure,
truth."--SPENSER

PREFACE.
Every chronicle of manners has a certain value. When customs are
connected with principles, in their origin, development, or end, such
records have a double importance; and it is because we think we see
such a connection between the facts and incidents of the Littlepage
Manuscripts, and certain important theories of our own time, that we
give the former to the world.
It is perhaps a fault of your professed historian, to refer too much to
philosophical agencies, and too little to those that are humbler. The
foundations of great events, are often remotely laid in very capricious
and uncalculated passions, motives, or impulses. Chance has usually as
much to do with the fortunes of states, as with those of individuals; or,
if there be calculations connected with them at all, they are the
calculations of a power superior to any that exists in man.
We had been led to lay these Manuscripts before the world, partly by
considerations of the above nature, and partly on account of the manner
in which the two works we have named, "Satanstoe" and the
"Chainbearer," relate directly to the great New York question of the
day, ANTI-RENTISM; which question will be found to be pretty fully
laid bare, in the third and last book of the series. These three works,
which contain all the Littlepage Manuscripts, do not form sequels to

each other, in the sense of personal histories, or as narratives; while
they do in that of principles. The reader will see that the early career,
the attachment, the marriage, &c. of Mr. Cornelius Littlepage are
completely related in the present book, for instance; while those of his
son, Mr. Mordaunt Littlepage, will be just as fully given in the
"Chainbearer," its successor. It is hoped that the connection, which
certainly does exist between these three works, will have more
tendency to increase the value of each, than to produce the ordinary
effect of what are properly called sequels, which are known to lessen
the interest a narrative might otherwise have with the reader. Each of
these three books has its own hero, its own heroine, and its
own---picture--of manners, complete; though the latter may be, and is,
more or less thrown into relief by its pendants.
We conceive no apology is necessary for treating the subject of
anti-rentism with the utmost frankness. Agreeably to our views of the
matter, the existence of true liberty among us, the perpetuity of the
institutions, and the safety of public morals, are all dependent on
putting down, wholly, absolutely, and unqualifiedly, the false and
dishonest theories and statements that have been boldly advanced in
connection with this subject. In our view, New York is at this moment,
much the most disgraced state in the Union, notwithstanding she has
never failed to pay the interest on her public debt; and her disgrace
arises from the fact that her laws are trampled underfoot, without any
efforts, at all commensurate with the object, being made to enforce
them. If words and professions can save the character of a community,
all may yet be well; but if states, like individuals, are to be judged by
their actions, and the "tree is to be known by its fruit," God help us!
For ourselves, we conceive that true patriotism consists in laying bare
everything like public vice, and