The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-07-05
THE FAILURE
OF AUTOCRACY

Just now We need a modern Plu
tarch to draw for US a parallel be
tween Washington and Cromwell
Why was it that Washington gave us
great republic for the enlightment
OF the peoples and 20 establish new
principles of government, while
Cromwell failed completely with much
better chances Of success? Washing
ton watched a nation grow out Of its
cradle under his care. Cromwell took
charge of a nation possessing already
all the elements of greatness though
brought low by the follies and crimes
OF its kings. Why did one establish
his work on foundations that promised
long life and prosperity, while the
other gave greatness as fever DIT and
strength as that Of insanity? The an
swer to these questions need, just now
to be driven home for the good of our
people.
When Washington was confronted
by a cabal of his officers that threat
ened the life of the cause for which he
stood, he refused to save himself and
the nation by illegal means though
he had the army with him and was
urged to act.
Washington referred the facts to
congress and the law; under the same
circumstances, Cromwell or Napoleon
would have pleaded in justification
that they were compelled to save the
country.
Roosevelt, in his life of Cromwell,
says: by the time he became Lord
Protector, he was too impatient OF
difference of opinion, too doggedly con-
vinced of his own righteousness and
wisdom. to be really fit to carry on a
free government" Here Daniel
came to judgment, but what If the
critic be now convinced of the sin he
decried? Cromwell was better cap
tain than Washington-a greater
statesman; we can hardly doubt that
Washington would have failed to do
Cromwell's work while Cromwell
would have achieved our independ-
ence sooner than did Washington But
this country builded upon the wisdom
and virtues of the man Washington,
and there Cromwell would have sap
ped the foundation stones of the tenn
pie he could have builded
AS men there can be no comparison
between the two; had Lee been given
the opportunity, we hope and believe
America might have gloried in two
Washingtons, but we fear the oppor-
tunity has now been forever lost.
Cromwell founded the England Of to-
day on military and naval power, but
Washington built more surely in the
hearts and cOnsciences of people.
Again we quote from Theodore Roose-
welt: Tits very essential that a man
have in him the capacity to defy his
fellows if he thinks they are doing
the work of the devil, and not OF the
Lord: but it is even more essential
for him to remember that he must be
cautious about mistaking his own
views for those of the Lord" The
criticism is sound. Had the English
people rebuked Cromwell when he as
sumed to speak for the Lord and stood
by Sir Henry Vane when he showed
them the way of redemption, the
Stuarts need not have brought an
other century of corruption and scan
DIAL on her people If America does not
rebuke Roosevelt when he mistakes
his views for those of the Lord, we
shall entail a generation of corruption
and scandal-possibly of war-on the
1t is well to distinguish clearly be-
tween the characters of Washington
and Cromwell in our day and genera
ion.
Neither of them has a fellow in our
line and country, but small man
nay initiate the faults of a great one
10 that the people, for a time, mistake
he appearance for the man.-Knox-
lille Sentinel
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