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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1877)
CltOMWKMi. 71 't W ii mined to uuikc an attack the following morning. At six o' clock the battle was commenced. The British gained a com plete victory, having killed three thous and and taken ten thousand prisoners, while their own loss was only thirty men. This was the last of the Scotch campaign except the battle of Worcester, which put an end to royalty in Scotland. They, too, submitted to the commonwealth and Cromwell lutumed to London with as great honor as Pompoy had returned to Rome, lie had conquered the foreign enemy and now he begins to destroy the internal enemy. He drove out the old parliament by force, and then he became the head of Power in Rrtitain. He called a hundred and forty men to act in this emergency, whom he thought were tried and true, but the', not caring to serve, resigned their j, 5, power to him, and, on the lOlh of Decem ber, 10.VJ, Cromwell was proclaimed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. This was more than he in his ambition had looked for, and not wishing to have the whole responsibility of that great na tion upon himself he called another Par liament. These, like their predecessors, accomplished nothing, and were soon dis missed with tliese worils: "God be judge between me and you." Every attempt at Parliamentary govern- ment having failed, Cromwell determined to take the reins of government in hand and guide her as best he could through the tempestuous voyage of that Religious Rcvolu tion. And well he might, for there was no other so capable as he. In all great crises of nations there are always some who are bct titled to take the lead. This was the right man in the right place. The people submitted to his rule and peace and prosperity reigned. Cromwell was even more successful in obtaining the respect of foreign powers. The Germans, French, Spaniards, and all the European nations, sent tokens of re spect and friendship to the Protector of the Commonwealth. We have seen how warlike Cromwell was, but ho had a heart, full of love, and was just as ready to settle all national dif llcullics peaceably. After the death of Cromwell's oldest daughter, his health failed very rapidly, and the man whom we have seen climbing the treacherous ladder of fame , and breasting the storms ' and perils of war, dies of grief leaving a nation in mourning, yet rejoiciug because of his labors. Cromwell not only protected the civil rights of the people, but he protected and even encouraged religion and education. Although not highly cultured, like Pym, the originator of the great revolution which he himself consummated, yet he had a classical education, and had associa ted with 'he great men of his day. He was the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and among their names Oliver standu pre-eminent. lie saved the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford from ruin. The University of Durham was founded by him. Puritans were placed at the head of the University, but they were men of learn ing, and education and religion were fos tered together. Thus was gained that for which ho had fought educational and religious freedom. There has been a great deal writtou about Cromwell, some false, some true. Some have called him an ambitious usur per, and a great many other such epithets have been attached to his name. And, we frankly admit that he was ambitious, but we look at his ambition from a diilcrcnt Qtaudpoint. He was ambitious to see jus tice and equity administered to all, and to serve God and Immunity. There have been men of larger intellect than Cromwell, but in that wonderful fac ulty of seeing the wants of the people and adjusting himself to their wants he seems to have no superior. J. II. W. -vr.Q'jr.- HsRwWSlHSw