Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-25
WASHINGTON, The PATRIOT
Written By Re0. W. Kiltvue, Pas
tor Of tile CongI Church.

land in the early part of the 17th CEN
tury when people were greatly
oppressed by the king and his cavaliers
In the providence of God, Oliver Crom-
well and John Hampden rose in parlia-
ment to plead for the rights Of the
people, but failed to secure them. The
king became more intolerant; the
temper of the people was rising,
and they were becoming more deter
mined to have redress, until the time
came, that Cromwell, foreseeing the
issue, began to train his immortal
"Ironsides." They were the free
holders in the Fen Country. Their
training under Cromwell, was even
more religious than military-the battle
was to be for freedom, political and re-
ligious. Oliver preached to them, and
prayed with them. They were puritans,
men who refreshed their courage by a
study of Gods Book, which, when
rightly understood is always on the side
of right and truth. "God is with u.s.
was their battle cry. The strife waxed
hot and the opposing armies were soon
in the field, and after several engage
ments the ''Ironsides' turned the tide
of battle at Marston Moor, and dealt a
crushing blow to despotism at Naseby-
the power of the king was broken, and
soon Cromwell sat as protector of Eng
land. He soon signed the death war
rant Of the king and disposed of that
idea, ''the Divine right of Kings" so
long the theme of Bishops. Freedom
was secured, Cromwell dies, and again
a king rose to the throne, but not to
oppress the people as in days of yore.
But why do | refer to this? Because it
was struggle for freedom on the part
of the people Of England-a struggle
which inspired the colonists with a
similar purpose which they fully car
ried out. SO that there is an intimate
connection between these two events.
A little while before this terrible
struggle, this country was settled by
cavaliers from England who located at
jamestown, and in 1920 by the Pilgrims
and Puritans who landed at Plymouth
Rock and Boston, they came to establish
political and religious liberty, to secure
personal freedom for all. The cavalier
ia The south, had been in the old
country, loyal to king and church, he
loved broad acres and field sports, his
great ambition was to own large plan
tation and multiply the number of his
slaves. He cared nothing for popular
education, and thanked God that there
was neither school house nor q print
ing press in his domain.
The pilgrim and the puritan in the
North had been accustomed to city life,
and were familiar with literature and
commerce, they had made their homes
in New England because they desired
to have "a Church without Bishop,
and State without King" They
earnestly promoted education and re.
ligion, and everywhere you might see
the meeting house and the school
house The belief was that democracy
is Christ's government in Church and
State" Of the pilgrims, it has been
said that sin pursuit of religious free
dom they established civil liberty; and
meaning only to found a church, gave
birth to a nation; and in settling town
founded an empire.
In an evil hour the British govern
ment invaded the rights of the colonists
The two brothers were aroused, and
joining hands as they had never done
before, they declared that they would be
free. 1t seems almost incredible at the
time, that a small people, numbering il
all, perhaps three millions, scattered
along the narrow strip bordering upor
the Atlantic, coast, with every harbol
open to foreign ships, SHOULD assert anC
establish It's independence against the
mightiest naval power, and one of the
mightiest military powers then on the
face of the earth. Yet it was accom-
plisheC, as we know, largely through
the wisdom, the military sagacity
the fortitude, and the absolute self-pos
session of Washington, on whom the
whole nation rested in critical anC
threatening times, and without whom
apparently, that great struggle coulc
not have been successful.
Whittier Sings
There Puritan and Cavalier
In shout and psalm contend,
And Rupert's oath and Cromwells prayer
With battle thunders blend
He seems as distinctly providentia
man as ST. Paul had been in his day, o.
Luther in the days Of the Reformation.
1t is fitting that we should bear hin
in remembrance at this season, anC
learn some lessons as 10 how we may
discharge cur duties as citizens of this
great Republic he did SO much to form
You are all familiar with his early
history, his beautiful filial regard anC
transparent truthfulness; you know
how carefully his father directed hi:
mental and moral training, and although
the advantages for securing brillian
education were not good, yet he re
ceived the elements of good Englisl
education; how his regard for hi:
mother led him to forego the pleasure!
of the navy; much might be said abou
his rules written when he was a voun:
man,-57 in number. 5l.-"Speak no
evil of the absent, for it is unjust
55.-'When you speak of God, or Hi
attributes, let it be seriously in rever