The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-09
HON the London Sun

FROM the London Sun.
We have already given publicity to the announce
ment that :" no place is left for OLIVER CROMWELL
amongst the sculptured representatives of the Soye
reigns of England, which to adorn the new
Houses Of Parliament" Such we presume is the
determination to which the Committee have come
to whom the supervision of all proposed internal de-
coratons and adornments for the most magnificent
structure which has been raised in this country since
The building Of st. Paul's Cathedral is confided -
The authority, however, of dozen printed Para-
mentary papers will scarcely convince us that the
Committee can have, designedLy, g committed"
themselves! Such an omission would be scandal
upon the gratitude and berality of this age libel
the veracity and import of all the traditions and
written history of the first half of the last two hun.
d.ed years. 1t would involve, if practically acted
upon, slavish and preposterous homage the mere
name of Royalty. 1t would proclaim TO posterty the
disgrace(ul fact that overawed were the people of
England, in the 18th century, by the prestige which
attends-no the right exercise Of kingiy power
but,-the wearing of Royal Crown that they thus
sgnally repudiaed their own obligations and those
oil their ancestors TO the man, who, uncrowned him
SELF advanced this nation the 18th century to the
foremost rank among the nations Of the world and
taught the Crowns of the other European nations to
recognise and to revere the paramount authority of his
simple Protectorate!
We know, by ia al experience, hat enormous alb
surdies &C COMMITTEES of Tasien as they are mo-
destly termed IN the parlance of that Parliament
which really dominates them, invariably commit
From former associations connected with similar DO
dies, and their patronage of Mr.. Wyatrs card-screen
Gothic and Sir John Soane's Venetian Creek and other
mems equally nou-descript caprces evidenced in the
late House of Lords colster and facade the painted
chamber, the restored Courts OF Law in Palace
yard, &c. &c.-it not without apprehension that
we observed the name Of Sir Robert Peel attached
to the list Of that Committee upon whose rack and at
whose pleasure the invention Of Mr.. Barry himself
and the designs Of uptors and painters EMPLOYED
on the same magnificent work, liable TO be dis
txrta H.. ,I..l.a
time. But our scepticsm to the character of the
Premier's taste or judgment in the arts although
equal TO our sceptcism 10 the results Of his foreign
the Of his domestic policy extends hard
ly far 10 question the soundness of his general
judgment and strong good sense in matters involving
no immediate objects of party political interest or
official administration. We cannot imag ne that
Minister who Is always forward TO boast that he
came into public life from the ranks Of the people
would be knowingly cognizant of so profound an in
suit TO the memory Of him whom we must emphati-
caly distinguish in our historic annals as THE man of
the people. For OLIVER CROMWELL was the imper-
sonation of almost all the best and undoubtedly of
some-thoUgh but a iew-of the worst qualities
moral and physical, Of Englisbmen 10 his single in
dividuality concentrated the selcexamining
selfconhdlng strongwilled but cool-headed impett-
Gus, yet dspassionale, resuue but calculating daring
though proyldent, iron-hearted iron-nerved IRON
headed English commoner, half saint half hypocrite
at once preacher and soldier, an excited enthu.
T.
as he called himself, and of the Parliament as he ap.
proved himself; marvellous but unconscious nstrIi-
men il the hands of Providence for working out the
destnies Of marvellous time he was in short what
the circumstances of that time made all who figured
in the important then transacted in his
own country, the creature Of external impulses
whether of good of evil But his was the glory
of so controlling, by the mastery of his own genius
and the force and discipline of his reason his own
actions and the actions OF others under the same in
81 .YI 81 IL
of his superiority, but still more anxiously to the
permanent establishment of the wealth, the power,
and the welfare OF his country.
Let it be granted that with the rapid evolution of
events-stormy, tragcal, and appalling as they were
which Immediately preceded aud followed the cx
ecution Of CHARLES l., tie better qualities of CRoM-
WELL underwent that deterioration which almost in
varably affects those Of other men, subjected to sim
liar influences. His first spirited exerons in vndl
cation of his couDtrys liberty, against the intoera-
bic eucroachmens of the Throne, degeneraied into
rebellion were then sued by the guilt of regicide
and determined in the unconstitutional assumption OF
despotic power over the people and the Psrllam
who had raised him. it may be said, after the manner
of the old Romans-on their shield, and proclaimed
him dictator" Let it be granted that the lawless
violences and plumber which he directed, abetted
sanctioned, against the personal rights and the
property of The Royallss, the Parliament itself, and
the political confederaces in the towns and cit es
were as incompatible with his socmnly professed re-
gard for popular liberty as his gross buhoonery and
private conversation com roniscd his still more sa-
cred pledges to the earnesness sincerity and zeal of
his religious convictions But after all we must
make large allowances Tor the confused notions of
moral right and wrong Of social Obligation political
allegiance, civil responsibility and religious duty
which had been generated in mems minds by the
wild, various and vlsion-like excitement Of that
strange period. King JAMES the FiRsr had be
queahed 10 his successor Inheritance of external
peace. But the furious elements of evil connection
were in intense action beneath the surface of this
specious patrmony. The long suppressed principles
of an on'agons'lc strife for existence and power be-