y The Fall of the Confederacy. 547 
the death of Charles I. Again and again was the word of 
the faithless monarch accepted, Flagrant invasions of 
popular rights were submitted to under firm but respectful 
protest. Many wrongs were endured before the Commons 
resorted to arms, and finally they did so for de- 
fence and not for aggression. We may be sure that 
the ardent patriots denounced the repeated protests as 
cowardly, and clamoured for immediate action. We may 
be sure that when Charles dismissed his parliament and 
essayed to reign without one, it was thought that the hour 
had come for revolt. But the fathers of the English revolution 
were wise. They waited until the people felt the practical 
ills resulting from the violation of the Constitution, They 
foiled the king by this waiting. If Charles imagined that 
their patience was due to pusillanimity he was soon unde- 
ceived, He might have won if the Commons had been in 
haste to wage war ;.but unfortunately for him the patriots 
were men who had faith to wait for, as well as zeal to use, 
opportunities, The American colonists followed the 
example of their revolutionary forefathers, They began 
with protests not with revolution. It was only after years 
of remonstrance and petition, after years of agitation and 
association, it was only after George III. had struck the 
first blow, that they issued the famous Declaration of 
Independence, and prepared for war. The patient waiting 
for the opportune moment is a mighty power. To be long 
suffering, to bear with affliction until the cup runs over, and 
until Providence opens a door of refuge, is the sure presage 
of ultimate triumph, If at the outset of the quarrel the 
colonists had rushed into war, George III, might have 
retained his empire intact. And Europe affords a later and 
striking illustration of this principle. Charles Albert 
precipitated a conflict in Italy and he was beaten. Cavour 
knew how to wait and the kingdom of Italy is the fruit of 
his patience, 
It may perhaps be suggested that the war was inevitable, 
and that the South merely struck the first blow. And 
here we may remark, that during the contest, no point was 
disputed with more warmth, than the question of which side 
began the war. Why? When the conflict commenced, 
could it hurt the North to confess that it began the war? 
Both President Lincoln and President Buchanan —the 
latter especially —were censured for want of decision. 
It was said that the Southern rebellion might have been 
nipped in the bud, and was allowed to attain to maturity. 
NEW SERIES.—VOL. I. oe Y 
