The Omaha morning bee., 1924-02-17

Stuart kings were attempting to
fasten absolutism on that country.
The Stuarts were the enemies Of Eng
lish liberty, but by one OF the strange
paradoxes of history were the unwit-
ting friends of colonial liberty
1t was because their hands were
full at home that, they did not lay
them on the colonies. James I, who
had granted the first colonial char
ters, died before the colonies had taken
root. Charles l came to the throne
and began a contest with his people
that occupied all his attention. His
policy came to be expressed in the
single word, Thorough" the word
Of his able and ambitious minister,
Thomas Wentworth, earl of Strafford,
who paid with his head for inventing
It, II Thorough" had been success
full in England Charles would have
applied the system to America, but
after a contest OF a quarter of a
century, during which the colonies
had no place in the minds Of strug-
Cling king or parliament, Charles. too,
paid with his head.
The commonwealth succeeded and
gave new strength TO the civil and
religious liberties OF Englishmen at
Il z
Stuarts were to follow, one more con-
cerned with affairs of the heart than
with affairs of state. and one who
tried to revive absolutism and lost
his throne In the attempt. Charles
II. who was chasing moth about
the room with a lady's slipper while
the Dutch were burning shipping in
the Thames, was not likely TO bother
his head about what Englishmen were
doing in Massachusetts and Virginia.
James II, last OF the Stuarts, had only
one idea in his somewhat thick head,
and that was to place the authority
OF the crown above the laws of Eng
land. In his pursuit of that object
1t took him just three years to ALLEVIATE
parliament. aristocracy. church and
nation. All arose against him and he
fled to France. throwing the great
seal into the Thames as he went.
These brothers. Charles and James,
"Belial and Moloch,' and their father,
Charles l. misgoverned England for
a half century. but England kept them
so busy doing ii that the English
colonists during that time virtually
governed themselves. By the begin
ming of the 18th century the political
institutions of the colonies had grown
strong enough to bear the strain OF
the royal governors whom Anne and
the Georges sent over. the Cornburys,
the Androses, the Fletchers, the Gull
pepers-that run of court favorites
that Sam Adams called "haughty
bashaws." which seems to have been
the way he spelled pashas In his
haste.
The political history of the colonies
during the first three-quarters of the
18th century Is the history OF the at
tempt OF these royal governors to
suppress the provincial assemblies by
limiting their activities TO the passing
OF supply bills II was the history OF
the English kings and their parlia-
ments over again. The governors al
ternately begged and threatened. They
dismissed assemblies. they called them
back. They got money for public pur.
poses and put IL in their pockets.
Their office" says Franklin, "makes
them insolent; their insolence makes
them odious: and. being conscious
that they are hated. they become
malicious. Their malice urges them
10 continual abuse of the inhabitants
In letters ito the ministry, misrepre-
senting them as disaffected and re-
bellious. and as weak, divided. timid
and cowardly. Government believes
all; thinks 1t necessary to support and
countenance its officers. Their quar-
reling with the people is deemed a
mark and consequence Of their fdel-
ity. They are therefore more highly
rewarded. and this makes their con.
duct still pore insolent and provok-
ing
Some Of them tried Establishments
the failure of which reminds Of
James lis attempt to win the rebel
Ayloffe, caught in Monmouth's upris.
ing.
You had better be frank with me.
Mr.. Ayloffe," said the king when the
captive was brought before him, You
know It Is In my power TO pardon
you.''
1T may be in your power" replied
Ayloffe, but It Is not In your ma.
| ture'
The colonial assemblies had learned
u was not In the nature OF the Eng
llsh pashas to give good government.
| Copyright. the Kansas City starD
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