Posted on 10/21/2005 10:56:59 AM PDT by Sam Gamgee
Sam Gamgee, you may find some refuge (or Cromwell may find it) for your argument in this observation by a later observer in France, one M. Voltaire:
What has made England powerful is the fact that from the time of Elizabeth, all parties have agreed on the necessity of favoring commerce. The same parliament that had the king beheaded was busy with overseas trading posts as though nothing were happening. The blood of Charles I was still steaming when this parliament, composed almost entirely of fanatics, passed the Navigation Act of 1650David Landes, from whom I found the quotation, points out that the Act was passed in 1651, but no matter: Voltaire was right. In his continental wars, his wars on religion, and so on, Charles I was messing with the core British mission -- to make money, and Cromwell and his set it straight.
One may also be reminded here of Pinochet.
I know little of Pinochet, but have heard he was tried by a leftist court and sentenced undeservedly.
I confess -- I know little about Oliver Cromwell that I didn't learn from Monty Python. Then again, I suppose that's more than most people...
You are probably right. Along with Franco and McCarthy he is one of the most internationally hated figures of history - but I am sure those that hate him (and them) so much have never investigated their history.
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