The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-07-26


play a part adapted to the circumstances
in which he was placed; and yet. we are
not aware that the vicious influences of
this ingredient in his character extended
much or seriously beyond himself. Dis
stimulation, however, is a hateful vice, and
Cromwell is fully deserving of all the re-
probation that should be directed against
all who practice it.
Cromwell began his career as a pous
man. He entered on the field of public
service from n sence of duty. He desired
to serve the men of his generation, and
this was the governing motive of his ear
Iy acts in the Parliament, and though
modified alterward by scGshness, it new
or ceased TO exert some influence over
him. As things progressed. some splen-
did prizes were offered the daring. the
+strong, and the resolute. The trophies
of victory dazzled him, and in the vain
attempt to run the race for the gIttering
prizes of ambition, and at the same time
preserve a dutilul allegiance to the foot
stool of Heaven, he reached dilemma
in which he was forced to choose be-
tween the gilded baubles of an earthly
throne or the revcrsionary glories of the
realms beyond the grave. He was al
ready drunk with success, and apology
zing to himself for some enormities, by
promising future good to his species, he
shipwrecKed his early faith and staggered
into the English throne. The act of
Selling the reins Of the government be-
trays at once his strength and his weak
ness, the force of his genius and the III
stability of his resolves in favor of right
and duty.
We have thus Swallowed forth the out
| line of CromweII's character and history
The filling up of this outline would occu-
py more space than we can afford the
theme, though the labor would by no
means be ungracous. For we regard
Oliver Cromwell to be one of the most
curious and amazing heroes that figure on
the pages of history. He made himself
what he was, namely, the head and
source of power in the greatest nation in
the world.-The mere fact of such an
achievement stamps the intellectual pow
crs OF the man as miraculously great.
HIS competitors were not pigmies; they
were men whose moral and intellectual
natures were fortified by the most invct-
crate and unqualing energies AeXan-
der said he would be a competitor in the
Olympic games of Greece, if his antago.
nIsts were princes. Cromwef's compe-
tltors were princes in the realms of intel
ect, and his success over all of them is a
proof, not to be questioned, that his mind
and heart were constructed on scale Of
grandeur rarely paraIeled.
Under his rule England prospercd be-
You'd all precedent, not in spite of his
blunder, but because of wisdom and the
energy that characterized his counsels.
The inlleXbility of his will, like springs
of steel, might bend beneath pressure, but
ii was terrific in its rebound. The crea-
ture of revolution, his hand was all pow
errul in crushing the spirit of rebellion
within the regions over which his sceptre
waved. His sternness yielded to persua.
sion what opposition could not force from
it. His edicls in favor of religious liber-
ty prove him to have been in advance of
the age in his convictions on this most
important subject. In fine, we regard
him as intellectually superior in wisdom,
genius, and general powers to any other
sovereign that has yet occupied the Brit
ish throne.
And this is the man whose statue it is
thought by the wise men Of England,
would be out of place among those of the
sovereigns of that nation. We think so
too, but for reasons differing widely from
theirs. What they call illcgitimacy, we
call legitimacy, what they call absence
Of right to rule, we call heaven derived
right to govern. Heaven sends great men
into this world to rule little men, and
Cromwell's usurpa,on, in worldly
sense, is a clear right in the view Of truth.
lie stands forth among the panoramic
professions of the past, one of the tallest
and most luminous of spirits. The back
ground which gives his prominence re-
lief, is dark and full of evil things, which
in the ligot of Christianity, authorizes us
IN melting out much reprobaton on his
head; but over ALL and through all, is the
justification of fiery soul swayed fire.
quenuy by the motives Of seldshness, but
generally 10y an anxious desire 10 confer
benefaciions on his day and generation.
Tact aud Talent.
Talent is something, but tact is every
thing Talent is serious, sober, grave