8

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CRAP.

XXIII.

1697 .

Contro-

versy

touching

standing'

armies.

Commons as member for Tiverton, and had, during twosessions, conducted himself as a steady and zealous Whig.The party to which he had attached himself might per-haps have reasonably considered him as a hostage suffi-cient to ensure the good faith of his father; for the Earlwas approaching that time of life at which even the mostambitious and rapacious men generally toil rather for theirchildren than for themselves. But the distrust whichSunderland inspired was such as no guarantee could quiet.Many fancied that he was, — with what object theynever took the trouble to inquire, — employing the samearts which had ruined James for the purpose of ruiningWilliam. Each prince had had his weak side. One wastoo much a Papist, and the other too much a soldier, forsuch a nation as this. The same intriguing sycophantwho had encouraged the Papist in one fatal error was nowencouraging the soldier in another. It might well beapprehended that, under the influence of this evil coun-sellor , the nephew might alienate as many hearts by tryingto make England a military country as the uncle hadalienated by trying to make her a Homan Catholic country.

The parliamentary conflict on the great question of astanding army was preceded by a literary conflict. In theautumn of 1697 began a controversy of no common interestand importance. The press was now free. An excitingand momentous political question could be fairly discussed.Those who held uncourtly opinions could express thoseopinions without resorting to illegal expedients and em-