Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-04-25
Cromwell. William III, and Washington.

Guizot, the we'll known French statesman and
historian, has published work, whick has recent
ly been published in England, On the Causes of
the Success of the English and American Revou-
the following extract giving portraits OF the lead
ing men of three Revolutions
Three great men--Cromwell, William III. and
Washing ngion-remain in history as the leaders and
representatives OF those critical occurrences which
decided the fate of the two great natious for ex-
tent and energy of natural talents. Cromwell is
perhaps the most remarkable of the three His
mind was remarkably prompt, firm, supple. iuven-
tive. and perspicacious. He possessed vigor of
character which no obstacle could discourage and
no conflict could tire. He pursued his plans with
an ardor as inexhaustble as his patience. travel
ing sometimes by the longest and most circutous
roads, sometimes by the shortest and most pre- :
cipitous paths. He excelled equally in gaining
and in ruling men in personal and familiar inter-
course; and he was equally skilled in organizing
and conducting an army or party. He had the
instinct of popularity and the gift of authority.
and he was able. with the same boldness to let
loose or quell factions. But born in the midst
OF revolution. and carried by successive con-
vulsions on to supreme power. his genius was by
nature and always remained essential revolu-
tionary. He had learned to understand the ne
cessity OF order and government, but he was una
bic either 10 respect or practice moral aud per-
manent laws In consequence Of the defective
ness of bis nature, the vciousness of his situa
tion, wanted regularity and serenity in the exer-
else OF power had Immediate recourse TO ex-
treme measures, like a man continually assailed
by mortal dangers, had perpetated or aggreva-
ted the violence his remedies, the violent evils
that be wished to cure. Tho formation Of Gov
ernment is a task that requires proceedings of
more regular character and more in conformity
with the eternal laws of moral order. Cromwell
was able to subdue the revolution that he had
made, but he could not succeed in establishing
it.
Less powerful, perhaps than Cromwell by ma
tural gifts, William III and Washington succeed
ed in the enterprise in which h. failed they fixed
the destiny and established the government of
their country. This may be accounted for by the
fact that even i'll the midst of n revolution, they
never accepted nor practsed revolutionary
policy they never were placed in the fatal situa-
ton of having at first anarchical violence rs a
stepping stone. and then despotc violence MS
necessity of their power. They found themselves
at the very outset in the regular way, and under
permanent conditions of government.
William was an ambitious Prince. 1t is pue-
rle to believe that, until the appeal was made to
him in 1858. he had remained free from all desire
of ascending the throne of England and ignorant
Of the schemes which had long been on foot for
raising him to IT, William followed step by step
the progress of the scene without taking any
part in it, but without discountcnancing it; Civ
ing its author no encouragement, but affording
them all the protection in his power. His ambi-
ton had also the characteristic Of being assoca-
ted with the triumph of great and Just cause
the cause of religious liberty and the European
balance Of power. No man ever made great
political design more thoroughly the idea and
exclusive object Of his life than William did. He
was ardently devoted tQlthc work which he was
accomplishing. and h6Tconsdered his own ag-
grandzment as meE4y means Of that end. In
his designs upon the Grown Of England he did
not attempt TO succeed by violence or disorder
his mind was too lofty and too well regulated to
be ignorant Of the incurablc viciousness Of such
success, and to submit to its yoke But when
the career was opened 10 him by England her
self, he gave no more heed to the scruples Of the
private individual he was anxious that his cause
should triumph. and that he should receive the
honor Of the triumph. A glorious mixture OF
ability and faith. OF ambition and devotedness.
Washington had no ambition His country
had need for him he became great TO serve her
from duty rather than from choice. and some
times even with a painful effort. His experiences
Of public life were bitter. and he preferred the
independence Of private life and the rcposc Of the
mind to the exercise Of power But he unhesi-
tatingly accepted the task imposed upon him by
his country. and, in performing it, he allowed no
concessions to be made, either toward his conn
| Try or himself, Tor the purpose OF Tightening It's
burden. Born to govern, though he took no
pleasure in it, he told the American people what
be thought was the truth, and maintained, in
! governing them, what he thought was wise. with
simple but immovable frmness and n sacrifice
of popularity, which was all the more meritorious
because it was not compensated by the joys Of
dominion, The servant Of a nascent republic in
which the democratic spirit prevailed, he obtain
ed its confidence and secured its triumph by
practising that modest and severe. reserved and
independent policy which seems only to belong
to the leader OF an eristocratic Senate placed at
the head of an ancient State. His success was
remarkable, and does equal honor to Washington
and TO his country.