The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04
CROMWELL AND WASHINGTON
Each Hnd DiGcuity in Getting n
FirntinE Force.

Certain points of resemblance between
the experiences of Oliver Cromwell and
| George Washington are pointed out oy
| John Morley in the February Century
as follows:
a hundred and thirty years later
civil war again broke out among the sub
iccts of the British Crown. The issues
we're not in form the same. Cromwell
I fought for the supremacy of Parliament
within the kingdom Washington fought
| against The supremacy of Parliament over
| EnElishmen across the Atlantic Ocean. It
! is possible that il the Stuart King had
| only Possessed an ampler leaven OF the
| tough cunning OF the Hanoverian King the
struggle on English ground might have
run different course. However that may
| be- in each case the two wars were in
their earlier stages not unlike, and both
| Marston Moor and Bunker Hill rank
| among those engagements that have a
lasting significance in history, where mill
tary results were secondary TO moral effect.
1T was these encounters that first show
ed that the champions of the popular cause
intended and were able to make, stand
up fight against the forces OF the monar-
chy. In each case the combatants expect
ed the conflict to be short In each case
the battle of popular liberty was first
fought by weak bodies ll-paid, ill-dis-
posed to discipline mounted on cart
horses. and armed with fowling pieces,
mainly anxious 20 get back to their homes
ms soon as they could. AMI fuctuating
from month to month with the humors,
the iealousies or the means OF the sep
arate countries in England or the separate
states Ia America. Short enlistments.'
said Washington and mistaken depend
ence On militia have been the origin of
all our misfOrtunes; the evils of stand
ing army are remote but the consequence
of wanting one is certain and inevitable
ruin To carry on The war Systematically,
you must establish your army on perma-
.ent and national footing What Wash
ington said in ifI6 was Just what Crom-
well said in 1871.
ut is unjust to Essex and Manchester TO
Law all the blame on their want OF heart in
The cause The system had broken down.
Officers complained that their forces melted
away. because men thought they would be
better treated in other counties. and all
corners were welcomed by every associa
ton One general grumbles that another !
general is favored in money and supplies. |
The governors of strong towns are in hot |
ferd with with the committee OF the town. !
Want of pay made the men sulky and mt |
tinous. and there were always evil instru-
meuts' ready to trade on such moods Flu
rious passages took place between pressed !
men and the county committees.
with the knowledge OF all the discomfort
that must ne burning in the hearts of his
Cromwel's Unborn love OF
good order. and his passionate interest in
the good cause must alike have fired him
with the conviction that only new sys-
TEN of action could avert ruin. Hypothe-
ses Of selfshness or personal ambition are
superfiuous.
g" You will never get your service done
said Walter, until you have army en-
tirely your own. and at your own COM
mand.' This theme was the prime ele-
rnent in the New Model-the substitution
Of one army under single commander In
chief, supported by the Parliament, instead
of sectional armies locally levied and 10
calIy paid. The second feature was the
wedding ont OF worthless men. process
stigmatized by Presbyterians out OF tenn
per as a crafty means of filling an army
with sectaries, vile compound of Jew,
Christian and Turk. mere tools of usurping
ambition. The third was the change in the
The new army was intrusted to
Sir Thomas Fairfax as commander in chief,
with liberty 10 name his own officers, sub
ect to ratification by the two houses. The
honest Skippon, a valiant fighter and a
faithful man, was made major general, and
The higher post of lieutenant general was
eft significantly open. II is curious TO find
hat the army was reduced In numbers"