The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-02-19

Il 4
$lHS|/h iron," seemed
aS@ ~ like an appeal
MZW to the demons
--------J of the dark ages
of man. Yet Cromwell the seventeenth
century apostle of blood and iron. was
a child of the golden age of England.
In his day the loftiest minds were fed
on Bacon, Spenser and Shakespeare,
andfthe divine Milton was the spokes-
man Of the dictator's will.
lf the crisis comes to a nation that
cElel and corrupt potentate or system
MUST go. there isn't much choice of
method or agents. When Patrick Hen
~, amid the cries of "Treason!" from
Virginia loyalists, exploded his famous
declaration, Caesar had his Brutus,
Charles his Cromwell. and George III
may profit by their example," he fixed
for all time the place Cromwell will
& hold in the minds of democratic people
struggling against tyranny. With re-
spect to Cromwell. over against the
term "regicide" there stands the Chris
tan moralist's conception, Gods mes
senger clad in mail.
AS d SOlulGF SEOInWGIl WAS IL SIOEuGT
of towns and castles, leader In the
breach, thunderbolt of war. AS a
reform statesman he first believed in
men as fit for freedom, then in free
dom, not men. He first tried to lead
men and ended by driving them. When
the march of events had installed him
as lord protector. he said to parliament,
81 am man standing in the place l
am in, which place l undertook not
SO much out of hope of doing any good
as out of a desire to prevent mischief
on the nation. for we were running into
confusion and disorder and would have
necessarily run into blood"
That Cromwell was no fiery agitator
by nature is shown in the fact that he
remained a simple farmer until he was
49, Then he took up the fight for mo
taxation without representation" which
found its analogy in the American col
onies in 1915. He was elected to the.
long parliament, which ended in the
commons taking issue with the king.
The king in person invaded the house
and demanded five of it's members, two
The outrage brought things to a head.
and after the great Pym had moved
that the house go into committee of the
whole on the state of the kingdom
Cromwell moved the proposition to
consider measures for the defense of
peoples rights.
In this long parliament Cromwell
made his first speech. which was very
much hearkened unto" clad in "a
plain cloth suit made by a country tai
lor. with plain linen, not very clean.
and a speck or two of blood upon his
little band; his stature of good size,
his sword stuck close to his side, his
voice sharp and untunable. his elo-
quence full of fervor."
A compact and strong figure. with a
head stored with native wisdom, fiery
temper, generally under control. a read
mess of speech. strong, masculine. per-
suasive. this was Cromwell at 40.
when, with the powers of calm intel
lect and impassoned earnestness. he
swayed and led the house of commons.
Charles | hoisted the signal OF war
= and made the famous Prince Rupert
and raised troop. only troop OF
Roundhead cavalry, and this was his
command in the army of 10000 pa
triots which fought the first campaign.
1t was then he fixed the stamp for the
famous Ironsides He said that the
Royalists would. bring the gentlemen of
the kingdom to the field, and they must
be met by men of parts. of substance.
of conscience. "men who have the feal
Of God before them"
After the first campaign Cromwe
raised regiment of horse of the same
pattern as his troop. Whether at the
head of a small body or an army Crom-
wells method Of fighting was by
launching thunderbolt. He always
held back reserve and always follow.
ed up his success. AS a horseback
fighter CromwelIs parallel in modern
war is Forrest, the Confederate cav
airy genius. He led every charge ant
didn't stop until every enemy was
down. The Royalists began with the
watchword. Thorough" Cromwelltooi
it out of their mouths and made it his
own with vengeance.
Cromwell's genius for keeping the
revolution alive was best shown in the
crisis before Marston Moor. Ppm ana
Hampden We're dead. other leaders haf
dropped out or were tired, the king wa!
victorious everywhere in the field, ant
the fires of resistance were cooling
Then Cromwell appealed to his owl
stronghold. the eastern section. to cease
talking and go to fighting. to prepare
TO whip the Royalists or be whipped
for good and ALL "Out instantly" sait
he. "All you can. Raise all your bands
hasten your horses. Spare not, but bt
expeditions. Industrious. There is moth
ing to intercept an enemy but ou
horse You must act lively. withou
distraction. Neglect no means"
The common soldiers on the field o
Marston Moor understood that it wa
win or die Waiting all day in tn