Under a great elm-tree, long known as Penn's elm, he met the Indians in council, soon after his arrival in the territory which had been ceded to him.
He said to them:
"My friends, we have met on the broad pathway of good faith. We are all one flesh and blood. Being brethren, no advantage shall be taken on either side. Between us there shall be nothing but openness and love."
And they replied, "While the rivers run and the sun shines, we will live in peace with the children of William Penn."
It has been said that this is the only treaty never sworn to and never broken.
William Penn lived to see his enterprise achieve a grand success. Philadelphia had grown to be a city of no small dimensions and no little importance. The colony had grown to be a strong, self-supporting State, capable of self-government.
"I will found a free colony for all mankind,"
said William Penn. Were these the words of a great man?
Unswerving integrity, undaunted courage, adherence to duty, and devotion to the service of God—are these the characteristics of a great man?
Then William Penn may well be placed in our Alphabet of Great Men.