Modern Republicanism: The Execution of Charles I [pp. 545-552]

1853.] 7Jfodern Repubiicani8m. 645
where the nursery of freedom. It marked
M O D ERN REPUBLICANISM. the republics of antiquity, it peculiarly dis tinguished the free cities of Italy, and was
The death of Charles the First has em- the support and safe-guard of the Hanse
ployed the historian, the painter, the poet, Towns of northern Europe, it aided materi the orator and the divine. The faults and ally to break up the feudal system, by free the vices of the man and the monarch have ing men from dependence on the nobles, and
been overlooked, because he died courage- by protecting them in cities and towns, and
ously and with dignity. He reminds us of it now became one chief means of indoctri what Lamartine says of the Girondins-they nating the English nation in the principles of
knew only how to speak well and to die well. liberty. Commerce opened their minds and
Charles knew how to present a graceful ap- taught them to rove as free in thought as the
pearance when on the throne, and to bear winds that carried their ships. As the class
himself with dignity when on the scaffold. of merchants rose to power and wealth,
He sat for his portrait, he looked romantic their opinions spread through England and
and melancholy, and he has been forthwith worked a great change in the mass of the
immortalized; he laid his head on the block nation, especially that part of it residing in
for crimes committed when king, and was towns and cities. This was seen very clearimmediately transformed into a martyr. ly, when in the contest between Charles and
Some iren are indebted to their lives, their his parliament, every large town and every
deeds or their learning for the fame they trading community ranked itself against the
have left behind them; he is solely indebt- the king. Commerce is the great democratic
ed to his death; for his whole life as king moving power of the world, and is a fair
had nothing in it to recommend him to pos- test of the freedom of a people. Holland,
terity. Let us look into this man's charac- England, and the United States are instances
ter and that of his times; let us see what of this truth. The Anglo-Saxon spirit does
men were thinking and doing, and how it not tend more to freedom than it does to
came to pass that Mary Stuart's grandson trade; and it is now extending its empire
also lost his head on the scaffold. over the earth, rather by its sails that whiten
Many causes had combined to stimulate every sea than by its force of arms and by
and to educate the English people since the the military posts, whose "morning drum
death of Mary. The establishment of the beat following the sun and keeping company
reformed opinions among them, definitely with the hours, encircles the earth" with the
decided by that event; and the presence of martial music of the Anglo-Saxon.
a still more free and pure form of church Commerce is now king, merchants are
government among their neighbours, the princes, the accountant's pen is the modern
Scotch, had, in some measure, united both sceptre, the ledger is the law of nations;
nations; and this, as well as the prospect of and instead of Kings grasping their neigha definite union of both crowns on the death bour's territory, the People regulate tariffs
of Elizabeth, tended to remove ancient ani- and arrange the terms of international trade.
mosities and to unite the inhabitants of the The merchant is the true standard of the
island of Great Britain into one nation. The Modern Republican, and as long as the diswar with Spain and the destruction of the position to buy and sell exists in human naArmada had given a character and an infiu- ture so long will the tendency to free govence to England among the continental na- ernment exist. Beside these two causes
tions, that she had not for a long time pos- acting on the English people, there was still
sessed. The establishment of foreign corn- another not without great influence also upon
merce with Muscovy, with India and Africa, the nation and' its destinies. Apart from the
the many efforts to explore a northwest pas- revolution in religion awakening the heart,
sage, the opening up of the coasts of North and the creation of commerce opening new
America and the settlement of colonies avenues to wealth and stiraulating the dethereon bad produced a wonderful effect on sire for money and power; there had been
the English people. Commerce is every vast strides made in learning; and literature
VOL. XIX-69
1853.]
,Modern Republicanism.
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