New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

commission OF fire and sword" and points OUT
that the practice Of taking vengeance upon az
connected with an enemy-men, women or Sni.-
dren-was common in those days OF SCOTCH
savagery. laying emphasis on the tact th"'
Montrose was even greater sinner IN TINS re-
spect than was Argyll But this cannot be SAID
to condone the others guilt. II is simply a
polite way Of Offering the defence You're an
other a defence which Mr.. Wilcox again
finds very useful in discussing the trial anu
execution Of Argyll by Charles H.
As a matter Of fact there were among AZ
syIFs judges men who had been equally guli'y
with him OF giving comfort and assistance U
Oliver Cromwell. but from the Kings stand-
point there was none so deserving Oh oe-I'-
True Argyll had crowned him at Scone. hau
loaned him large sums Of money. and had all
but become his father-in-law. yet Charles, IOI-
getting this remembered the weary days OF
his royal prison in Scotland-days rendered al
the more unendurabIe by Argylrs strict esplOn-
aga Of his every mOve-and, above an was
mindful of the influence which Argyll ndu OnO
exerted in Scotland against MS hl-s1aliI 60
father an influence which. should occasion MS
as the King saw it must. would unoouOts5
| be POWERFUL in turning the people or Sco1ldnu
against him. Strictly speaking. however the
execution Of Argyll was one Of the most us
graceful of the many acts by which Charles II
soued his reign. and it was rendered all the
more disgracefuI by the fact that Argyll would
NOT have been convicted had not evidence beeh
/ permitted after the case had gone 10 the SNiS
| so to speak Mr. Wilcox is seen 10 pest az
vantage. perhaps in his discussion Oh Iie '''i
and the judicial murder. as ne does AO
hesitate to term the execution of the harques9'
| or5 :, is small wonder that he feels especially
| at home in this portion of his WORK. fOr IN
| doubtedIy his hero never showed 10 peter az
| va,taga than in the closing scenes or MS Ine
| tragedy. Whatever his faults. it cannot DC
/ painsaid that Argyll met death CALAMITY.
| From, n purely political point of view there can
/ he little question that Argyll was great "S
\ he occupied in Scotland for a considerable 'hhe
! a position almost analogous to that OK Oll'ei
| Cromwell in England His method OF atldliiIns
| this eminence was such as TO provide MS enc
mics with further charges against him. ehSI go
| Of time serving double dealing. and the Ike
| which Mr. willcOck speedily answers For the
| Covenant itself he has undisguised adrnira-
| ,ion rs is but natural since he is United Free
| Church minister proud of his sturdy Presoy-
| terianism Yet he is not one TO comIleiu 'ie
! f.naticism which led the COvenanters TO ADOPT
| the very course that was hateful to them wheh
| practised by the King-the attempt TO eohhpeA
the adoption by the people at large OF one lofiil
| of reIigion-a course that in the very nature Oh
| things led to their undoing. OF necessity this
| work is much a STUDY Oh Ihe CO'eAAiiS "''-
| the Covenanters as it is Of Argyll, and as such
i, sbouId prove helpful to those Interested in the
| studv of both the Scotch and English history OF
| that period.
| So far as Argyll himself is concerned Mr.
| Wiucock has also rendered substantial service
| Even if he has uncOnsciOusy confirmed US IN
! our belief that the Great Marques OF the
! period was Montrose he has at least shown US
that, despite his many faults. Argyle was not
| the demon condemned to eternal infany ~
| Dugald DaIgetty and AytOun-