The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-02
Oliver DOWN 70 DATE
JUDGE EGAN SAYS THAT GOLD
NoLL" WAS ANTI
TR4sST g
OPPOSED MAKING MANY POOR
In Order That Riches Might Be
AIassed In the Hands of the
Few In Those
Days. Is

day afternoon. Seldom has there been
as large an attendance or so much in
terest manifested
Judge Egan had been advertised to
speak on Socialism. But at the outset
he disclafmed any intention of doing SO
he said that he had given the matter
considerable thought, but had discovered
that 1t was a deep, an ella borate and. he
might say, a terrible subject. Altogether
1t was subject for the future. In full
nlilneht OF MS promise, however, he said
he would speak to them upon a historical
subject which was not without interest
and applicability to present-day condi-
tions, viz, the English revolution of 164O
Judge Egan said in part:
The subject of cavaliers and round
heads is interesting as embracing the
consideration of an important era in Eng
iish politics and history, around which
cluster some or the grayest questions con-
hected with the science of government
human rights and lives, liberty and nron-
erty or men. In a few pages and in q
few years may be seen worked out tyr
amy one day, then freedom. license an
archy and military despotism succeeding.
then reaction and human rights and civil
lioerty IN greater Jeopardy from absolute
monarchy than prior to the Civil war.
At the time Charles /. ascended the
throne of England there were no violent
political distractions in the nation. Peace
existed throughout the land The coun-
try was prosperous and the morning of
ms reign promised an aHspicious career
Under his predecessors :, ON the throne
the royal prerogative aud kingIy power
were strained to a very .tyrannical and
oppressive height. The glory of Henry
VIII. and Elizabeth among the nations
was reflected from absolute power at
home. Though notion, of general lib
erty pervaded the people. yet the par
ticular liberty, the natural equality and
personal independence of individuals were
little regarded; and, even to assert them
was treated as the height of sedition and
rebellion. But when learning became
more diffused, trade and navigation in
creased by the use of the. compass, wealth
became more general, and the national
exchequer exhausted from the spoils of
monasteries by lieentiousness and ex-
travagance, and the MOBILES had become
impoverished by luxury and idleness, the
people began to reflect, and claims of
kingly power were watched with suspicion
and alarm Elizabeth held sway with a.
firm but wary hand, James in fear and
L
feel the popular pulse, to realize the
strength and power of a people when
aroused, and to lose his head-an example
to kings and rulers claiming absolute
power, and warning to liberty for all
ages.
Let us take a glance at the rights
CHARLES interfered with. The English
parliament claimed from precedent and
right that no lord of parliament sitting
Ia hn
parliament, Is to be Imprisoned !, or re-
strained without sentence or order of the
| house, unless 1T be far treason, felony or
refusing to give. surety for the peace
The constitution of our own country has
1T, That in all cases except treason. fell
ony and breach of the peace, members Of
congress shall be privileged from arrest
during attendance at sessions of their
respective houses and in going to or re-
turning from the same: and for any
speech or debate in either house they
shall not be questioned In any other
place
The king In violation of the rights of
parliament in this respect committed one
or the earls to the tower and invaded the
house of commons with armed soldiers
for the arrest of some of its members
Arbitrary assessments were ex-
acted from the people, instead of the or
d1nary revenues Of government. A COM
mission was appointed to ascertain and
demand certain portion OF each mans
property, in land and goods, in lieu of
the ordinary method ofslevying taxes
upon revenue bill passed by parliament
NO excuses for non-paEment were ac-
cepted and imprisonment awaited the de-
nnquent. The slurnbering spirit of free
dom was awakened. In the counties and
districts the popular cIamor was "A par
Hament! A parliament! Else no taxes
The tax was not heaVy, but the thing was
wrong In principle-thato mems property
should be subject to the power Of one
man; and vigilant sentinels on the watch
tower deserted the cloud no larger than a
mans hand and prepared to protect and
defend themselves and. their country.
Ihe king granted monopolies without
number to certain favored ones, where
by the neeessa1'fes of life were increased
In price and the freedom of trade
abridged. These monopolles have ap-
peared in this country under special acts
of incorporation, whereby rights, fran
chises, privileges and monopolies all the
way from starch factory to street or
transcontinental railway have been be-
slowed so freely by our legislative as
semblfes that some day they will play an
important part in questions of civil liber-
ty. And today, under the name and
guise of trusts the same issues are stir
ring this nation to It's center, weaken
ing the rights of the people and debili-
tating the body polite. In the words of
CROMWELL: If any there be who make
many poor to make a few rich, that
suits not commonwealth
Monopolles then operated differently
from ours They paid a fixed duty on
their profits as we'll as large concession
for their original mono oDolieS-Wine, soap,
salt and almost every article of domestic
consumption fell into the hands of mo-
nopolies and rose in price out of all pro-
portion to the profits gained by the
crown. In all these usqrpations and out
RACES the king was without precedents to
sustain his course. Henry VIII. and Eliz-
abeth had exercised Hike powers at sew
eral times, but the Reformation had set
men wild on the subject OF religion, and
the spirit of the age was to break down
authority of every kind; to set UP private
opinion as the voiceI of. God.
Most historians agTeeelthat both sides
had truth and erroEsson iEheir side. The
king had stretched his prerogative, had
attempted to place the lives, liberties and
property Of men under his feet. In the
assertion and maintenancB Of their rights
the commons were undoubtedly justified,
and posterity applauds them in that re-.
spect If their liberties could only be
preserved by war, r,iithenathey exhibited
the true Anglo-Saxn spirit in lighting
for their principles
'The Long Parliament had finally pro-
claimed its own perpetuity. In resisting
the tyranny and epcroachment of the
King on the rightS, of The, people and
standing up for the, rights of man and
principles Of liberty, alas. the parliament
went a step further and proclaimed it
self the governing pawer, the sole author
lty of the nation. In redresSing wrongs
haU ffaI