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 al
connected with an eneny-men, women or chill
drer-was common in those days Of Scotch
savagery. laying emphasis on the fact thaI
Montrose was even greater sinner in this re-
sreet than was Argyll But this cannot be SAID
, to condone the others guilt. IL is simply
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 III.
As a matter of fact there were among Ar
cyIPs Judges men who had been equally guilty
with him Of giving comfort and assistance 20
Oliver Cromwell. but from the Kings stand
Point there none so deserving OK del'i-
True Argyll had crowned him at Scone, hau
loaned him large sums Of money, and had an
but become his father-in-law. yet Charles 1or-
getting this remembered the weary days OK
his royal prison in ScOtland-days rendered al
the more uncomfortable by Argylrs strict esplon-
aga Of his every mOve-and. above al, WAS
mindful of the influence which Argyll had once
exerted in Scotland against his lh-sIArreu
father an influence which. should occasion arlse'
as the King saw it must would undoubtedly
be powerful in turning the people or ScotIano
against him. Strictly speaking. however the
execution Of Argyll was one OF the most us
graceful of the many acts by which Charles II
more disgracefuI by the fact that Argyll would
not have been convicted had not evidence peen
permitted after the case had gone 10 the JurS'
SO to speak Mr.. Wilcox is seen 10 pest az
vantage, perhaps. in his discussion Oh the uA'i
and the judicial murder, as he does AOS
hesitate to term the execution Of the MarquesS'
and it is small wonder that he feels especllNS
at home in this portion of his "orA' lOr ui1
doubtedIy his hero never showed 10 better al
fha pIOG m q
tragedy. Whatever his faults. it cannot Dc
rainsaid that Argyll met death CALAMITY
From purely political point OF view there can
be little question that Argyll was great dS
he occupied in Scotland for a considerable ZINE
a position almost analogous to thar OK OHNel
Cromwell in England. His method OF ATTAINING
this eminence such as TO provide MS enc
mics with further charges against him. charges
Of time serving. double dealing. and the like
which Mr. wiIlcOck speedily answers For the
Covenant itself he has undisguised adnira-
tion as is but natural since he is a United Free
Church minister proud Of his sturdy PresDy-
terianism Yet he is not one TO commend the
fanaticism which led the COvenanters to ADOPT
the very course that was hateful to them "heh
practised by the King-the attempt 10 cohpel
the adoption by the people at large OF one 1orih
of reIigion-a course that in the very nature Oh
things led to their undoing- OF necessity TINS
work is as much a study OF tne COFeHah1 anu
the Covenanters as it is of Argyll, and as such
it should prove helpful to those interested in the
study of both the Scotch and English history Of
that period
So far as Argyll himself is concerned Mr.
WiIIcock has also rendered substantial service
Even if he has unconsciOusly 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 infamy by
Dugald Dalgetty and AytOun-