New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07

narrative of the sub1ugatlon or lrcldhu ''0
controversy between Cromwell and the Long
Parliament the short career Of the Nominated
Parliament and opens the Protectorate. 1t
was the time. also. Of the forcible EFFORT 10
pacify Scotland. But with all these great events
to consider, the remarkable feature Of the book
is the clear light 1T casts on Cromwell's virtual
failure In treating the foreign relations OF Eng
land. In the bitter conflict with royalty other
nations were forgotten. But as soon as the revo-
lutionary forces became supreme and began to
evolve an experimental government. England
found herself in contact with the outside world.
In the interval there had been great change.
The dominant party in England was still toned
10 the high key Of past age. But Europe In
general had recovered its equilibrium some
what lower down In the scale. Material inter
csts had taken the place Of the religious AMI
mos!t!es that embittered the Thirty Years war.
The regions in which Professionalism was secure
and those in which II had failed were accurately
defined Thus the statesmen OF the Continent
began 10 see new problems before them. But
Englishmen still absorbed in the con-
flicts between independency and prelacy. They
were still looking for the advent of that fIfth
Monarchy which has not come even yet. and
they were hammering away at Popery az II
they were still in bonds Of the sixteenth cen
fury. Suddenly II dawned upon them that other
peoples were getting the profits of the WORLDS
commerce. The affairs OF this world. II was
found had to be attended TO as well as those or
the world TO come. Some people say that these
interests can be judiciously mixed. Apparently
the Englishmen O: the interregnum did not
know the formula Their first fight was with a
nation whose Professionalism was as sterling as
their own, and this fight was as exclusively
matter OF pounds shil.iags and pence as any
that was ever fought Good came OF +, but the
inconsistency between principles and practice
was fragrant.
Cromwell was as little prepared as his coun-
trymen for the change that had como over the
face Of things. 1T might SEEM, says MI
Gardiner that OF all men living. Cromwell was
best suited by nature to stand forth as media
tor between the old enthusiasm and the new
commercialism. He had proved himself Jealous
for religious and social reform without being a
mere zealot. Indeed. his instincts were on the
side Of moderation. He wished for much
wider liberation than others were willing to
give II he had had his way the death penalty
for minor offences would have been abolished In
his time. He aimed to have England fulfil his
religious ideal and he was also deeply interested
in it's material greatness and prosperity. He
was as eager in the seventeenth century as
Chatham in the eighteenth TO foster commerce.
and the necessary condition Of COMMENCEMENT
time power" At the same time II is certain
that when he and other Englishmen reached the
practical questions in which England felt the
rivalry OF other nations the day OF enthusiasm
was over Yet the mental habits of the past re-
NAMED
Cromwelrs mind stiTl worked on the lines Of
the Eizabethan period. when the championship
of Professionalism was imposed on Engshmen
by interest as well by duty" In those earlier
days war at meant war with Catholic Spain.
1t meant conquest Of new lands and COLOMBIA
ton. and the triumph OF new IDEAS that hac be-
,Come sacred But now war at sea meant war
with the Netherlands II meant division Of the
Protestant world and an apparent desertion OF
those ideas for which Englishmen had fought
before It Is no wonder that Cromwell felt the
bitter pain Of such a conflict. He tried to avoid
1t IN every way that seemed possible TO him.
But there was nothing compatible with the
interests Of England which could be accepted by
the Dutch. Peace and war on England's terms
meant the same thing. namely. the destruction
Of Dutch commerce. Even Dutch nationality
was threatened. Full OF the idea that Protest
entism was the sum Of all good. the English
authorities offered to the Dutch what Mr. Gar
made by Engshman to the Minister Of
foreign State" In It's first form this was a
summons 10 the Netherlands to become part OF
the English Commonwealth. Later II took the
form OF a perpetual alliance in which each
nation should be bound TO share all the quarrels
Of the other All countries in which the Papacy
was supreme were to be treated as enemies. and
the English and Dutch were to do what the
Spanish and Portuguese had vainly attempted
in the previous century-dvide the world be-
tween them. the Dutch TO have Asia and Eng
land the New World. The Elizabethar flavor OF
this proposition must have reminded the Dutch
that they had received in their long war with
Spain more fine promises than real help from
England. SO the went on at intervals until
long after Cromwell was in his grave and the
Stuart rcigned again in England. The Dutch
were certain TO lose. AS one OF their statesmen
said. they We're attacking a mountain Of iron
while the English were attacking a mountain OF
gold But they have much OF the sympathy oc
Mr. Gardiner in this history as they had tina.
of Cromwell. to degree. In their time.
There a body Of Protestants whose hard
ships appealed to the English nation. A war in
behalf OF the Huguenots might have weakened
France at the outset Of the reign Of Louis XIV
II it had been waged with the intensity OF previ-
Gus religious wars II might have made later per
secutions impossible. 1t would have satisfied the
conscience OF Cromwell. But here. too. the
change that had come over Europe was evinced
by the fact that the Huguenots under Condo
were already in alliance with Spain the home Of
the Inquisition. Even the English Purtans
were attracted to Spain for the prosaic reason
as Mr.. Gardiner suggests that she had no more
Professionals to prosecute. The civil turmoil in
France had taken such shape that the English
could no longer act solely In behalf OF the
Professionals. They would really be attacking
the spirit of the French unity and nationality
In such an aggression on human rights there
was no principle for which Cromwell could