Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-03-22

scrupulous demagogues In any sehem
; of turbulence, disorder and lawlessnes:
This state of things was the legitimat
result of the injudicious iberality wit
which the Roman government so Ion,
| acted toward aliens. But as we befor
remarked. the Romans, at length sensi
J bic of the error they had committed
, endeavored as far as possible to repai
it. They accordingly resorted to tn,
expedient of sending out colonies {,
various parts of Italy which had beel
conquered by their arms. In this wa,
a temporary outlet was provided for tn,
elements of mischief which were a
work in the metropolis. But this policl
did not eradicate the mischief; it only
postponed the evil day. When tn,
whole country had become settled, M
more colonies could be sent out and thu,
this vent for the fermenting humors o
the Roman State was closed. 1t wa:
then that the Senate sought to arres
the progress of the evil by causing &
law to be proposed, expelling alien:
from the city on election days, and re-
quiring the country towns to reclaim
their denizens who had set themselves
up as citizens of Rome. The law
passed, and further steps were taken fol
putting additional restraints on the
naturalization of foreigners. But for
eign influence, as may well be imagined,
was very powerful in Rome, and there
was no lack of demagogues in that city
ready to avail themselves of it, for the
accomplishment of their own factious
and selfish purposes. Foremost among
these stood the two famous brothers,
Tiberius and Caius Gracchos. Among
their other disorganizing and revolu-
tionary schemes, these reformers pro-
posed to enroll all the free inhabitants Of
Italy as Roman citizens. This stupen-
dous innovation was of course strenu-
ously resisted by the conservative par
ties of the State, and with temporary
success. The elder of the Gracchi lost
his life in attempting to carry out his
schemes of reform, and the younger on
renewing his brothers measures ten
years after experienced the same fate.
The proposition to naturalize all the
Italians was repeatedly brought for
ward however, after this, but with no
better success, the Roman people hav-
ing apparently become convinced at last
that greater caution and circumspection
should be observed for the future in be-
slowing the freedom of their city on
aliens. But unfortunately this wise
policy was not destined to be enforced
The Italian States finding that they
could not obtain admission to Roman
citizenship by peaceful and lawful means,
determined to resort to force. They ac
cordingly renounced their subsection to
Rome, and took up arms for the pur-
pose of compelling compliance with
their demands. Then followed what is
known in history as Social war, in
which it is very evident that the Ro
mans were worsted, inasmuch as we
find that on the termination of the
they yielded to the demands of
that force, and acknowledged all the in
habitants of Italy from the Rubicon to
the straits of Messina, as Roman citi- /
zens. Thus was this extraordinary /
measure consummated at last by force,
in opposition to the deliberate judgment 4
Of the Roman people. 1t only remains
for us to add that the Republic did not
survive this shock more than forty
years, and that even in this brief in
.erval the State was a constant prey to
action, disorder, conspiracy, bloody
prescriptions and civil strife. The
sblest historians of Rome assign the
wholesale incorporation of the Italians
With the Roman people prominent
'lace among the causes that wrought
he downfall of the Roman common
wealth, and the ruin of public liberty.
To complete our historical summary
We may add that Rome under her EN-
'eror was overrun by the vilest foreign
population that ever plagued State
be dregs and off-scourings of all the
ations she had subdued. The political !
feet of this state of things ceased to /
e of any importance when all political S
over was transferred from the popular /
ssemblies to the hands of the Emperor. 7
Tut the moral and social contaminations i
-hieh this class of persons spread :
trough society was of the most hideous '
iscription, and is painted in the most /
svolting colors BY the Roman poets II
nd historians. The Emperor Cara d
ala, put the finishing stroke to the d
policy of his country by o
ranting the freedom of the city to all P
lie inhabitants of the Roman Empire. 1
The whole history of the Alien ques- : :
on in ancient Rome, may be studied by ,
lie American people with profit and in
ruction. 1t furnishes lesson which II
icy should not disregard, and judging O.
ON the recent indications of the popu- &
r sentiment, we incline to the opinion h,
Iat they are prepared to decide the "
1estion, more judiciously and wisely n,
an did the republicans of antiquity .,
is high time, indeed, that the matter II
ere taken into serious onsideration.-e ..
is true that we are not like the Ro- i
ans, pent up within the walls of sin m
e city, and that we aaye wider field q;
an they had for the dispersion of the
I'll elements of society. But there are
nits even to oar territorial possessions, n