New-York tribune., 1882-02-19
TIE WEAENESS AND STRENGTH Ol
CH1RLES l.
Eron Gnrdiner,s FaN Of ckalles


From whatever SIDE Charess conduct is ap-
preached the result Is the He failed because
morally, intellectually and politically he WAS $50.
lated III the midst of his generation. lie had 10
wish TO erect a despotlsm, TO 90 injustice. or 10
heap zap wealth at the expense of his subjects If
he had confidence III his oNn judgment, his cont
dcncc was not entirely without justIncatIOn. lie
was shrcwd critic OF other men 5 Mistakes ana
usually succeeded III hitting tie weak point Of an
opponents argument though 1t often happened
that taken whole, the argument of his oppO.
nent was far stronger than his own. Especially on
theological questions he was able TO hold his own
against trained dIsputants On all matters relating
to art he was an Acknowledged MASTER HIS colec-
EnTopeir - lie had thit tccinicaI knowled which
enabled him instinctyeiy TO distinguish between
the work of one painter aud another. lie wa,
happier than when he was ccnyersng with mnsl.
clans, painters. scuptOrS ana architects. He
treated Rubens and Fandyke as lis personal
friends But the brain winch could test an argu-
ment or a picture could never test a man. Nothing
cOud convince hun OF the unwOTthIncss
of those with whom he had been in the long habit
of familiar intercourse Nothing could ever per
snade MIN of the wOrthiness OF those VINO were con
scientiously opposed to his Government. There
was no giadatiOn either in his ennity or his friend
ship. Au Eliot or Pym was to hlm Just the same
viruent slanderci as Leighton or a BaStwlck.
Wentworth and Holland we're held III equal favor,
and some who were ready to sacrifice their lives
his cause were constantly finding obstacles thrown
in their path through the Kings sOftheared rcad-
nes, to crafty the prayers of some needy COurticT.
In his uuwairanted sclt-Tehance Charles enOr-
mously underestimated the difficulties OF Govern
ncnt and especially of Government such as his.
He would have nothing To say to thorough be-
cause he did not understand that thOrOughness was
absolutely essential lie would not get rid OF sOth
full or incompetent officials, would not set aside
private interests for public ends, would not give
himself the trouble to master che details of the bus
ness on which he was engaged. lie thought that he
had done everything in Kidding himself OF PaTlg-
ments though in reality hs had done but little He
did not see that Parliament had roots III the local
organizations of the country, and that, as long
these organizations remained intact. they would be
ready TO blossom into ParlIaments again at the first
faN orabe opportunity. Sheriifs and justices of the
peace, no doubt, were appointed by tho King. In
his name they admin steIed Justice or executed the
directions of the Council. But they were not
the lntendants of the old French Monarchy or Pre-
fects of the Empire entirely dependent upon tho
master IN whose name they acted. Tney were coun-
try gentlemen with the same habits Of thought the
same feelings of independence. rs their neighbors
around them. If they collected ship money, they
collected it unwillngly. and there were few indeed
amongst them who did not sympathze with the
gallant resistance Of Hampden.