Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/171

 HISTORY

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

1689—1697.

accession of William III. is a marked event in the history of England, and more or less directly had an important bearing upon the development and progress of the American colonies. There can be no doubt that there was then a crisis in the affairs of England which had to be met; a state of things which required all the combined wisdom and energy of the patriots and statesmen of that day, to save the country from the tremendous evils which threatened to crush and destroy every vestige of constitutional freedom. It was then to be determined, whether despotism together with the dynasty of the ill-fated Stuarts, or the liberty of law and order in the supremacy of the legislature, was to prevail. The crisis was met, and the question was settled for all future time; and the dethronement of James II. and the election of the Prince of Orange to the throne declared to be vacant, both established the parliament as supreme and overturned for ever all pretence on the part of the sovereign to irresponsible exercise of royal prerogative and power. "By resolving that James II. had abdicated" says Mr. 