American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-28
Reported for the American Republican,
CROMWELL AND HIS TIMES.

The above formed the text of lecture de-
Evered by JOHN K. KENLy, Esq, in the Eng
hsh Lutheran Church, some evenings since, be-
ing one of series of highly interesting lee
lures in course of delivery, by various gentle
men. We had intended to have given at an
carly day what we now furnish, but want of
time, and the crowded state of our columns,
have caused the delay.
Mr.. Kenly commenced his lecture by brief,
graphic, and eloquent reference to early i'm
pressions in favor of Republican institutions,
resulting from education, habit and direction of
thought; which, in maturcr age, enabled the
mind to look into the history of the past and
by counselling with the present, to arrive at
lust conclusions in reference to the course of
those who have figured in the history of nations
discriminating between Wanted ambition,
misguided patriotism, purity ofmotives, actions,
and results. In selecting the history of "CroGl
well, and his times" subject to which the
lecturer had evidently given much mature re-
Election, aside from what incidentally attaches
TO the scholar, he passed in review tine condi-
ton of England at the time Cromwell over
threw the monarchy, and supplanted, instead
Of the Star Chamber edicts u republican form
of government; in which, he followed Crom-
well so closely and so truthfully and dealt in
arguments so clear and iorcible, in defence of
than have felt the full force of his conclusions
We cannot, for want of space, follow the
lecturer in review of the times or his hero, du-
ring the struggle, but content ourselves with
referring more particularly TO the period of his
success.
The revolution was now com pleted the COM
monwealth firmly established, and Cromwell
assumed the reins Of government as Lord High
Protector. Monarchy was destroyed, its repre-
sentative a wanderer and stipendiary upon
foreign Court, whilst the Huntingdon farmer
had become ruler of Britain-not through cant
and hypocrisy-but because he was the ablest
and the greatest man in the kingdom, and the
only one in it, who could give peace to the land
and security to its citizens. For the five years
which he administered the government, we are
called upon to admire his profound sagacity of
views and eminent fitness for the station. The
power of England was never more respected
abroad, and so great was the renown of his
name that it is said an Asiatic Jew came to
England for the purpose of investigating his
pedigree, thinking to discover in HIM the Lion
of the tribe of Judah. His pride and his great
est boast was, that he had made the name of
Englishman as much feared and respected as
was ever that of Roman. His ships rode the
seas in triumph, and his armies gave laws to
the naughty Cardinal. With one hand he grasp
ed the State secrets of the Cabinets of Europe
and France, and with the other he held the ba-
lance ofpower among the mighty of the earth.
He extended the broad shield of his protection
over the oppressed consciences of all lands, and
the thunder Of his cannon was heard in the Pa
pal Palace at Rome. Under his government
England was freed from that curse upon peo-
ple-an established Church-freedom of con-
science was granted to all, and the pure fire OF
federation burned brightly upon the affairs Of
the land
lie died as Christian, calmly resigning his
soul to its maker, and his last words was a
prayer to the throne Of grace for the welfare
and happiness of the people of England.
No casual glance at the history of the Eng
lsh revolution or at the life of Cromwell can
give us an insight into his character; we must
study the causes of that revolution, the state OF
the kingdom at its commencement, the differ
ent parties to which it gave rise and the differ
ent ends which they proposed to effect. We
must then remove from the mind the different
opinions given us Of Cromwell by friends OF
enemies, and starting with him at the com
mencement of the first civil war, forget for the
time that he afterwards attained supreme DOW
or. Then to assert that this Colonel of ca valry
without friends, family, or wealth, should in
tend to subvert a we'll established monarchy
bring the King to the scahold, and Danish tn,
most powerfully allied family in the world, anc
this through hypocrtical cunning, is to ute
All absurdity which no unbiased mind can en-
terrain; yet we know that this idea is supported
by large majority of the writers upon thu
subject Historians and biographies err in this
that they commence with the close of his life
and draw their conclusions from it as to VIVA
was his character at the earlier part of his life
mt Hra Nun oil from
ments, they draw arguments from the conclu
sion,-they know Charles the LIST was behead
ed, and Say Cromwell did it, because he rue'
III his place; then assuming this as base, the
say he was hypocritc, because, through max
ing professions of religion, he killed the King
and he must have been a cunning knavc to hav
effected all this. AS little did Cromwell at tn
outset of his career, imagine or intend to be
come ruler Of England, as did Bonapare So