The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-08-30

new treasures and increasing their
means of extending them more. They
had beside the merchant vessels belong
ing to individuals, great ships of war
belonging to the State. These vessels
were called gallies and were rowed by
oarsman tier above tier, there being
three or four banks Of oars.
History tells us that the tendency to
cultivate different modes of warfare
was greater than now even in these
days of new discoveries and inventions,
of new machines for the determinations
of nations. 1t is said that the mothers
of the Balearic Isles used to place their
boys breakfast in the tops Of trees and
not suffer them to have any food until
they could bring it down with sling.
Their government was very much
like that of England, at the present
day, only that of England is based on
ancient birth and landed property,
whereas in Carthage it depended on
commercial greatness, combined it is
true, with hereditary family distinction,
the great mass were kept in state of
servitude and vassalage and in this re-
spect the analogy with England, holds
good that very efficient and energet-
ic government was created. The gov
ernment of an oligarchy makes some
times very rich and powerful state,
but discontented unhappy people.
Rome itself was very differently situa-
ted, it had been built by wanderers
from Troy and it grew for a long time
by sort of internal principal of life
and energy, one region after another of
the Italian peninsula was merged in
the Roman states, they seemed to have
been possessed of refined and SUPER
ior organization which gave rise to a
character of firmness, energy and force
both of body and mind which has ex-
cited the admiration of all mankind
and they were characterised by genius,
courage and strength, giving rise to a
certain calm and indomitable resolu-
ton which has since in every age been
strongly associated in the minds of
men with the word Roman.
The progress of nations was much
more slow in ancient days than now,
and they grew up in opposite sides OF
the Mediterranean sea for 500 years un-
til at last the collision came and at this
time Hannibal was nine years old, the
war being carried on by his father
Hamilcar. Young Hannibal was at
this time boy of great spirit and en-
ergy and entered with much enthusiasm
into the arrangements made by the
priests to offer sacrifices and libations
to the Gods which was always done
before going to war. His father
brought him to one of the affairs in the
presence of the other officers of the
army, and made him lay his head up.
on the consecrated victim, and swear
that as soon as he was old enough and
had it in his power he would make wal
against the Romans. This was done
in part to amuse young HannibaPs
mind and to relieve his disappointment,
in not being able to go to war at that
time, by promising him great and
mighty enemy to conquer at some fu
ture day. After Hamilcar's death his
son in-law, Hasdrubal acted as regent
until Hannibal was 21 years of age, anG
at that time great deal Of curiosity
and interest was excited to see theil
new commander on his arrival in Spair
to take command of the army. Wher
the tide once turns in any nation il
, favor of war, it generally rushes OF
with great impetuosity and bears al
before it. This is owing in part te
the natural contagiuosness of the mar.
tial spirit, which when felt by one
catches easily in the breast of another
1t is fire that when it begins to burr
consumes all in its way. When tht
young Hannibal gained possession o
Sagantum he found immense treasures
there which he used to strengthen an,
confirm his military power. The Sagan
$ tines doing everything in their powe
| to prevent their treasures from falling
into his hands, they refused all term!
of surrender, and became so insanel,
7 desperate in the end, that according t,
Livy, when they found that the wall
. and the towers of the city were fallin.
. in and all further defense was gone
they built fire in the public streets
heaping upon it all the treasures the,
could collect that fire could destroy ant
i then many of the inhabitants leapet
: into the flames, in order that their hat
r ed conquerers might lose, their prison
: ers and their spoils. In the mean tim,
Hannibal was moving on towards tn
4 hanks of tho THe~<,s fh . = .oot;r, ,4,.<