Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, March 01, 1877, Page 71, Image 11

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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.
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