The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-28

There is a rough and ready generaliza-
ton which divides the men who have ac-
quired distinction in the world into two
classes. those who have done things and
those who have written about them Gov.
Roosevelt has the almost unique distinc-
ton Of being fairly entitled to high posi-
ton In both of these classifications. He
lives up to his ideal of 4 strenuous life:
for while performing the exactins duties
OF the various public positions which he
has held. with the most scrupulous fidei-
ity and earnestness, and with exact at
tention to even the pettiest detail, he stili
manages to spare time for keeping UP the
literary WORK which first brought him
prominently before the public.
Thus. during the past year. filled with
arduous labor in his public life. he has
written life OF Oliver Cromwell which
has just appeared In book form from the
press OF Charles Scribner's Sons. after
first running serialy IN scribncr's Maya
to be laborlous historical review " the
life OF the greatest OF the rulers Of Great
Britain. 1t is more character sketch:
the thread Of history showing the growth.
the development. the weakness and the
strength of the one figure In English his
tory that lowered above all of his con-
religious liberty. as now understood in
all the Enslish-speaking countries. was
first blossoming.
This is the standpoint which Roose-
Welt has chosen; and in this. al in
all Of his work. he has handled
the subject clearly. vigorously and
honestly. His admiration for cron-
wells extraordinary executive capacity.
his tremendous force, and his undoubted
honesty Of purpose. is frankly expressed.
Tho savage barbarity and merciless sever
ity with which Cromwell at times acted
is neither palliated nor disguised. The
sols excuse offered for him is that In
these respects Cromwell was neither ahead
OF nor behind his times. He followed the
ruthless practices OF war. as they were In
his day.
The lesson which Roosevelt has drawn
from the rlse and downfall Of the conn.,
monwcAlth IL that while the movement
brought into being the first germs OF the
modern idea Of religious and civil lis-
erty. the people OF that day were ripe Tor
neither On the former question Cromwell
describes the attitude OF his fellow Eng.
hshmen admirably as follows:
Every sect saith. On. give mo itbsr.vt
But given u and 10 spare ne Will not
Yield L to any ore else. Liberty OF con-
science Is natural right, and he that
would have Il ought "a give &; 7
deslra u from my heart. I have prayed for
~ I have watched FOR the CAV TO see
union and rish, understanding between
the Cody people~SCots English. Jews
Seutiles. preshy'eriaus Independence
ApAbaptIst. and all"
In THIS. however. Cromwell Was far In
ADVANCE az his time. The PurI,ans Of his
day woald not consent. and In fact could
NOT conserve OF liberty Of eonseienoe for
any save themselves and This was tAe
cause OF the reaction against them which.
when death removed Cromwell. brought
the staarts back 90 the throne
IRE commonwealth Of England under
Cromwell was the legitimate ana losical
precursor a the American republic OF To-
DAY. As Mr.. Roosevelt observes.
Nevertheless the revolution OF YsES wa.
Ia rValsfy bat the carrying ON AZ the vrnrk
which had been done ln the middle az ths
century. The mRa % the second
reVoluten had learned the moderation
vhieA tie men q th1 first had
lacked, The men e. ifSs we've as
whole, actuated by sa- less lofty mo-
lives than th@ men 81 is4S. bat .hey pos
ssssed the iRestimah&a Advantages ~
common sense. 81 moderation, Of reaai-
ness 20 acccp, compromises They naaae
no attempt 70 realize the reign Of tAs
saints upcn earth ard. therefore. thev
were able 60 work a permanent better
fnent IN mundane arAtrs ard 70 avoid
provoking violent reaction"
As a Ansl summing up Of crozswslFs
work. Mr.. Roosevelt says;
There are dark Slots on IA. career;
especially his Irish policy--hut on the
whole ne WAS a mighty force for good
and aEainst EVIL, and the good THAI he
Gid, though buried for the moment with
his bones. rose again and has lived far