New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-10
THE THEORY OF DIVINE RIGHT.

THE THEORY OF DIVINE RIGHT
Englshmen. whether conscious or not Of the
fact had really passed through revolution In
the transfer of the throne FROM the Tudors to the
Stuarts The age was Of attempts at sharp
definition In matters religious II was easy but
dangerous to transfer these attempts TO politics.
and James I just the man to make the
change. The Tudors had been satisfied to WELD
a power practically absolute without inquiring
too curiousy as to the extent OF their preroga-
tive But James no: only wanted his preroga-
tive. but he was determined that It's unlimited
character should be conceded by all. The de-
cis,on in his mind on these points was really
toined II Mr. Hassas study in this volume Is
correct with the very clear anticipation Of a de-
NAL on the part Of the people. IF men began 10
inquire" thus James may have thought. Into
the origin of monarchy they were sure, sooner
or later to reach a conclusion which based its
authority on the consent Of the governed" Such
INQUIRIES as this had. In fact. already begun ana
the fact that the King was conscious OF their
tendency shown In the corresponding fact
that he always tried TO enforce the theory or lis
divine institution" Take the whole period from
Jamess time 10 that Of Anne. and there was
comparatively little change in the weight or
power actually welded by the morarch. In the
midst Of downright rebellion James would nave
been more helpless perhaps than his son. charles
J. Charles H. by the grant from the Commons
Of an enormous income for his lifetime, was en-
abled 10 do without Parliament for years to-
gether. Even William ILL., King only in the right
Of his Wife was hampered rather in form than In
fact He got all the money he required. though
Il was sometimes granted in way TO hurt his
self-esteem. But the whole theory of royal au-
thority held by the Stuarts had been swept away
in the mean while, and James, If he could have
looked on later events, would have deemed all
lost
But Jamess decision, futile as ii was. had an
extraordinary influence on the subsequent history
of England. The successor Of Elizabeth had all
the advantages OF Presbyterian training. But
the most significant lesson that he learned from
his religious masters seems to have been that
Presbyterianism and monarchy could not agree.
mo Bishop, King" was one Of his own SEN
fences. He could foresee how strong case
might be made out against royal authority, but
he also saw on the other hand, that the KinS
could shelter himself behind the episcopacy, the
supporters Of which held strong Views as to its
high origin and Its perfect continuity In history
That Scottish sovereign should take ground
against the favorte religious system of his own
country was the most potent single influence In
shaping for later times the Church Of England.
On the other hand. his attitude only made the
opponents Of the Bishops more obstinate. The
result was that from the outset of the Stuart rule
Englishmen found themselves in the midst Of a
conflict which as much political as religious,
and was only terminated by a complete revolu-
ton But their minds had never been more
active than they were in these days of dsputa-
ton. They had thoughts for many things besides
the federation OF Papists Of Independents, the
question Of Sunday observance, then almost
new and bitter enough. too. besides Calvin
ISM Armenianism and Angcanism In doctrine;
nor was their interest absorbed by innumeraDle
personal religious topics, of which the quarrel
between Laud and the Puritans was the most
noteworthy. With war in prospect. they had to
think, for instance. about weapons In the reigns
Of James and Charles all the weapons known
slaves, with the exception of the pike were
gradually abandoned Muskets. with rest and
callivers. lighter guns which could be fired on
hand with swords. used by the foot soldiers,
while horsemen armed with SWORDS, car
bines and pistols. Compulsory impressment. com
pulsory billeting the compulsory movement OF
militia beyond the limits of their own counties.
were among the incidents which not only showed
the inadequacy Of the ancient military system,
but FASTENED the downfall Of Charles 1t was
only when the Commons became interested In It's
own defence that real improvements were made
In the army. The Parliamentary army was well
paid. well appointed and veil drilled. In later
age the Commons demonstrated TO William III
that when they interested in military af-
fairs. and when their curiosity about foreign af-
fairs and the purposes OF the Crown was duly
satisfied, the money always forthcoming for
war. But the period other changes. The
matchbox, with its fuse which burned the SOL
dier's hand. was replaced by the fintlock, that
survived to "a time within the memory
still alive The wooden bandoleers strung over
the musketeers body, each containing a charge
OF powder. gave way. along with ball and wad,
to something like the modern cartridge. The
bayonet. first pike head stuck into the muzzle
Of the gun. was finally adjusted in the modern
fashion. Uniforms unknown at the outset be-
came the rule at last. Defensive armor disap-
peared. piece by piece like the medieval preju-
dices II symbolized