Commonwealth, early
in 1649, his preeminence in both military and political
leadership gave him almost absolute control of the English
government.

In 1641 there had been a Catholic uprising in Ireland which was
attended with considerable success, won at the cost of
slaughter often characterized as massacre. Although Charles I
made peace with the insurrectionists in 1643, and soon
afterward most of them became Royalists, disorders in Ireland
still continued. At last the English Parliament resolved to put
an end to these tumults, and in March, 1649, Cromwell was
appointed to the supreme command in Ireland.

Among the many able writers on Oliver Cromwell none has treated
this portion of his career with greater clearness and
impartiality than Frederic Harrison, whose history of the
campaign in Ireland has been selected, particularly for the
sake of these merits, for presentation here.

The reconquest of Ireland was by all felt to be the most urgent interest
of the young commonwealth; there was almost as much agreement to intrust
Cromwell with the task; and after some consideration, and prayerful
consultations in the army, he accepted the duty. The condition of
England was precarious indeed; service in Ireland was not popular in the
army; and an ambitious adventurer would have been loath to quit England
while the first place was still unoccupied. It was at great risk to the
cause, and at much personal sacrifice, that Cromwell accepted the
difficult post in Ireland as his first duty to his country and to
religion.

His campaign and the subsequent settlement in Ireland are among those
things which weigh heaviest on Cromwell's memory, and which of his
stoutest admirers one only has heartily approved. Fortunately, there is
no part of his policy where his conduct is more simple and his motives
are more plain. The Irish policy of Cromwell was the traditional policy
of all Englishmen of his creed and party, and was distinguished from
theirs only by his personal vigor and thoroughness. He was neither
better nor worse than the English Puritans, or rather all English
statesmen for many generations: he was only keener and stronger. When
he, with Vane, Fairfax, Whitelocke, and other commissioners, went to the
Guildhall to obtain a loan for the campaign, they told the common
council that this was a struggle not between Independent and
Presbyterian, b