The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-05
saflisfellarreons.
ENGLISH LIBERTY.
The Struggle For Its Achievement.
ITS PERILS, VICISSITUDES
AND MARTYRS.
An Instructive Page From
History.

The aspect of Europe in the middle OF
the seventeenth century must have sug-
gested utter despair to the timid lover oil
freedom-to the pale doubterin the prog,
vess of humanity. Despotism enthroned
on the ruins Of the feudal system, ana
surrounded by disciplined armies depen-
dent on the sole will of the monarch, had
extinguished or enslaved all the inde'
dependent jurisdictions Of the continent
The Parliaments of Paris, which the war
oftbe Fronde vainly strove to maintain
in virility and power, were virtually SUD-
iugated and in that country a govern
ment of autocratic will, was by the genius
of Richelieu, rapidly consolidated, and
covered by the @gis Of success and VIC
tory.
The Councils Of CASTLE and Arragon
had long since disappeared and many
wears previously Cardinal XmeneS told
the deputies Of Castile-pointing from
window to the armed battalions ofCharles
What it was by virtue OF those men
the King of Arragon commanded in Cas-
tile. The United Provinces was repub-
lie but in name and form 80 that the faint
ly acknowledged liberties of these coun-
tries were the sole rights remaining to the
human rec.
Happily for Europe, for the world, the
English and Scotch people were faithful
TO their great trust, and neither kingly nor
sacerdotal force or fraud was found able
to bend them to the yoke imposed upon
the nations of the continent. To the
Puritans and Covenanters of that period,
England owes the freedom which she now
enjoys. The Parliamentary leaders-aud
there can be no higher praise-were
equal to the high mission imposed by the
time and no unprejudiced man, versed
in their histories, can refuse acquiescence
in the testimony borne to their merits by
Bishop Warburton, "that the interests of
liberty were conducted and supported by
a set of the greatest geniuses for govern
ment that the world ever saw embarked
together in a common cause"
The wars for the retention of France,
the conflicts of the White and Red Roses,
the troubles, conf cations, prosecutions,
strife and discomfort occasioned by the
change of religion, and the alternate tri
umphs of Catholic and Protestant, thrust
for a time all constitutional theories and
maxims out of sight. They seemed lost
amid the tumultuous hurly- -burly of pol
emical warfare and sanguinary reaction
but they were rock based, and again rails
ed their sun lit pinnacles above the
deep as the fury of the social storm sub
sided,
The long and weary reign of Elizabeth
closed amidst the rising murmurs of the
people against the despotic authority
which, taking advantage Of the troubles
of the time, had dared to tax the people
by means of patents for monopolies, with
out leave Of Parliament. Cecil, going
down to the House on the 26th of No
vember, 1901, was alarmed at the express
sion of the growing discomfort and warn
ed the Commons that a dangerous spirit
was abroad. His royal mistress would |
withdraw those patents, since they had |
proved hateful to the people. But, gen
tlemen," continued the minister IRE.
member that whatsoever is subject to
public expectation can not be good while |
the Parliament matters are ordinary talk |
in the streets. have heard myself, being |
in my coach, these words spoken aloud |
"God prosper those that further the over
throw of these monopolies God send |
the prerogative touch not our liberties"
think these persons would be glad that |
all sovereignty were converted into popu-
larity, we being here but the popular
mouth, and our liberty but the liberty of
the subject"
Elizabeth soon afterward died, and
James l. assembled the throne, his head
full of notions of divine right, and conf
dent that the devices of king-craft, on
which he plumed himself, would enable
him to govern the most restive and stub
born nation in the world a perilous ex-
pertinent a. all times, but especially so
now, when the printing press had become
a power, and men were reading their
Bibles after their own Interpretation, by
the light of the fires of Smithfeld, and
garnering up thoughts and aspirations
debased, it is true, but at the same time
hardened, strengthened, by an alloy of
bigotry-which were anything but favor
able to domination of any kind over the
wills and consciences of men.
The Parliaments which the necessities
of James obliged him to have recourse to
were much more lavish of advice and re-
monstranCe than of money; a mode of
help which terribly exasperated upon
the whole the good-natured, well-meaning
king. 1t was in this reign that the Com.
mons again drew forth their ancient but |
long-disused weapon of impeachment.
The first person that sank before it was
Lord Chancellor Verulam Bacon, accus-
ed of receiving bribes from the suitors in
his Court, and prosecuted to conviction. |
The Lord Treasurer, Cronford, Earl of
Middlesex, was next impeached of both |
oppression and corruption, and con-
Victed.
The Duke Of Buckingham-th favorite |
of the king and of Prince Charles-a weak
naughty man, in fit of popular caprice,
coincided with and supported the Com
mons in their attacks upon the great Off
GERS of state. James, who was shrewd |
observer, warned Buckingham-Steenie,
as he called him-of the dangerous nature
of the weapon the Commons were WELD
ing with such decisive effect.
"By God, Steenie n exclaimed the king,
fyou are fool, and will shortly repent
this folly; and will find that in this fit of
popularity, you are making rod with
which your own breech will be scourged.
You will live to have your belly full of
Parliamentary impeachments."
James, in this instance at least, was a
prophet; but he did not live to witness
the fulfllment of bis prediction, having
died "mysteriously" as was said, on the
1st Of June, 1924 mot, however, till some
time after he lad with his own hand
torn out of tue Journal-book of the
House of Commons "an insolent re-
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