The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-01
1ror the Dispatch
william the COnQuerOr.

am always ready TO give the ucVll DIS
due y; ard when a man passes away VINO
possessed qualities which rendered bis lie a
benefit to his fellow. men | can cheerfully
turn away from any defects which may have
attached 10 his character. To the grave OF
Henry ~, of France, for example, could
come with my hat in my hand, although ne
was not faultless, and some Of bis faults
seemed rather the weaknesses OF child ;
for along with his fIuliS he possessed merits
of d lofty mould, which he earnestly en-
ployed for the happiness CT his people as
well as for the general good OF mankind.
But when we are told at this time OF day
tha, William the CoDqueror is to he reckoned
among the Gerry great men OF pal generations
| cannot help being little startled. At this
rate il might indeed be we'll to throw down
all barriers, aud concede to every military
man who has been favored by circumstances,
and mas posses scd the Instincts OF brute,
title 70 greatness. know not that this would
b. worse than the loose plan our religious
colleges have Of putting ID. ID. at the END OF
the names of their pets, until some OF the
mos brainless men In the land are kno vn as
doctors Of divinity.
On this scheme might we not, by.aDd-by,
place the "barn- burner" OF the Confederate
war upou the list Of greatness? 1t might be
trulhiully tolG that with handful OF men
he h4d invaded i country about as populous
as EL Gland was at the time OF the Roman
invasion had crushed The Peun govern
mcnt ut Il single blow; had rtInstated 60
yernment which could only 1--we in the light
of the bayonet; aud now, with the consent
of his patron, be felt able TO cruelty every
respectable man and woman in Louisiana
who had available property enough to make
them worth the trouble of reaching.
For my own part cannot help thinking
that true greatness is made Of better mate
rial than any that entered into the compost
ton of Williams character. Sill, as the
name may suggest some useful reflections to
Us of the South, use it as sort of hook on
which to hang L hasty essay. The condition
Of England ut tue time OF the Norman
conquest vas not unlike that OF the South
when Lee laid down bis sword 1T Appomat-
toX. For long series Of years the coasts OF
England bad been swept by sWarms Of reck-
less men, VINO came in the interests OF de-
yastation aid plumber. The spirit Of the
people had become gradually broken, and
thele were no leaders who fully com.
pretended the need of general unity
Of feeling and concert Of action.
ready prey TO some bold, sagaciouS man; and
just such man was William Of Normandy.
For some time William had been watching
the march OF events in England. He had
been equally mindful Of his relations with
the continent, where, for several reasons, his
position was one of great strength. At
that age the very name of Norman
throughout Europe was terror to
tIn mid nd in hn nf ja N
termarriage with one of bis neighbors added
additional terror. II was known, too, that
William had military skill, and that he had
gold, which, though he loved it with miserly
regard. he was willing to spend it 10 feed his
ambition. Throughout the surrounding ma
tions, wherever hardy and reckless men
were willing TO risk their lives for gold and
plumber, the agents of William were at their
elbows.
But here let me pause for a moment to say
that We sometimes make great blundcrs in
estimating the relations of men with their
times. We eXfol Cromwell, for example,
and with good reason for. saving Queen
Bess, no sovereign herhaps ever ruled Eng.
land to better purpose; and though his faults
were many, yet ia administering the govern
meut there was one lofty rule to which be
adhered with singular fidelity, which was to
make the public good the rule of bis con.
duct. Yet, in truly estimating the life and
merits Of Cromwell. we must not forget that
| he appeared upon the stage when the crisis
| needed just such a man AS he waS; and TO
this circumstance. in part, must We attribute
| his great success. Cromwell was "yery -
great; but he, as much as any man that ever
| lived, was debtor to the law Of circum.
stance.
| Iu the case of William, every circumstance
seemed operating in his favor. He was q
man Of great powers of endurance; had q
calm, calculating, military judgment; had
the bravery OF CHARLES of Sweden without
any portion of his raShness; and, what was
quite US much to the purpose, he had an ar
my ut his heels strong in numbers, and strong
in thirst for plumber aud gold. On the Eng
lish side We see population, perhaps un-
der million, the people dishearteDed by
continued disaster, the leaders at variance
among themselves. The battle of Hastings
was fought by two armies OF very different
mould. That of William was fresh. and
had been selected with strict reference to
the work before it. That Of Harold was, in
part, hastily drawn together, and was weary
with fight and toll. lis not wonderful that
at the close of the contest Harold was biting
the dust and William was ready 10 march
upon London. Nor docs j! seem very strange,
even at this distance OF lime, that chiyal-
rous people, weary with long, continued un-
rest, should, by prompt Submission, have
sought for quiet aud repose under the
shadow of strong hand.
The administration O! wi liam was begun
with favorable indications. To some Of the
English he gave assurances of regard, and
he adopted some wholesome civil regulations
which took The name OF q constitution. 1t
soon became clear, however, that the latter
was a presence, aud tina! bis regard for his