The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-05
ii.

TOT u byI1DdtutbiC IL W Ootthb vol a
tive OF Falkland's life we must refer the
reader to Mr.. Marriptt's book, but We would
not pass over a chapter in which the authors
conclusions are summed up. We have seen
that Falkland, so splendidly eulogized by
his friend Clarendon in a passage con
fessedly modelled on Taoitus's portrait OF
Agrioola. has escaped neither criticism nor
detraction. We have seen how he has been
treated by Walpole. Macaulay, Carlyle and
Gardiner. Sanford C"Studies in the Great
Rebellion writes OF his 'morbidly sensitive
disposition and declares that want OF
balance OF judgment was the defect in
Falkland's character Forster. on his
part, has not hesitated to describe him as
'far more Of an apostate than STAFFORD, for
Falkland's heart was really with the Parlia-
ment from the first. which Strafford's never
was, and never to the end did Falkland sin
oerely embrace the cause with which his
gallant and mournful death has eternally
connected him.
Mr.. Marriott denies that the charge OF
@apostaoy' can justly be levelled against
Falkland. He was at once a genuine re-
former and a genuine conservative. Abuses
he abhorred; change. for its own sake. he
detested. Where it is not necessary TO
change II Ia necessary not to change This
was the quintessence OF Falkland's political
creed. and from the outset TO the close Of
his career he was consistently faithful to
the principle 1t embodied So long as the
question at issue between the King and
Parliament was simply that Of the destruc-
ton OF the machinery OF Stuart ~despotism
Falkland was the most ardent Of reformers.
With STAFFORD and Laud he had no SYM
pathy, and no man denounced with greater
vehemenoe the principles which lay at the
root OF the ship money judgment. On
the other hand, for the humiliation OF the
ancient constitution in Church and State,
for the virtual efaoement OF he monarchy
and the substitution OF Presbyterianism for
E~piscopacy, Falkland was not prepared.
The fact Is recalled hat during the first
few months Of the Long Parliament the
subject Of this biography acted whole
heartedly with Hampton and Pym. The
time came when II was obvious that they
were determined to 60 further than he
could follow. Was IL. asks Mr.. Marriott,
the Part Of q weak mar or was IL the part
OF n strong man to say: thus far, but no
farther'H Ia it the act OF an apostate TO
decline 70 follow ones companions over
the brink Of a precipicei Falkland desired
the destruction Of tyranny In Church and
State; he food for an ordered freedom in
things Of the mind. OF the soul and OF the
body polite, So long as Pym and Hamp-
den strove for the destruction OF the ma
chinery devised 20 carry out strafiord's
policy Of Thorough and sought safe
guards against q reconstruction Of II, Falk-
land stood by their side and s~trenuously
seconded their efforts. When, however, they
In their turn threatened as he believed the
cause OF well ordered liberty. he withstood
Ppm and Hampden as he had previously
withstood STAFFORD and Laud.
Our author knows Of NO modern writer
who has interpreted with hneS discrimina-
ton the principles Of Falkland or vinidl-
Gated more amply and moro oonclusively
his policy and aims than the hrst Lord
Lytton. The fact 10 recalled that in an
essay contributed forty years ago 10 the
Quarterly Repies he wrote: Falkland, from
the first TO the last, wa a lover Of Liberty,
but Of Liberty az her image would present
itself TO the mind Of a scholar and the heart
OF a gentleman. II lie no proof OF apostaoy
from the cause Of Liberty II be thought that
a time had come when Liberty was safer
on the whole With King Charles than with
King Pym.' Here We are reminded that