Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-01-29
The Dfetutors 81 Roms and cur OyFE
DSnlfnE Dictator.

From the New York Heraldl
One of-he most interesting and, 70 tho Amer
ie4n people, most suggestive features Of ancient
Roman history is 70 DO found IN the terrific
struggle which ragged between the DlebeiREs snd
ps.Tieians, eon7ulsiug tho carly Roman rspub-
lie for over twO hundred years. L is unneees-
sary to 20 into ell the causes Of differences aud
strife which existed among these hostile eiasHea.
Suffice /! 10 say that the constant injustice and
oppression of the ono, and the equally stsEdy
/ protest and resistance Of the ether, cuimiDstod
in tho initiation Of determined stTugg for the
/ mastery and he streets Of Rome were deluged
with the blood o. her sons. This contest became
80 hsre0, and the attendant expenses so onoI-
/ nous, that tha plsbsianz were heavily Involved
I in debt, and the wisesl among thsm eoi pmeneod
/ to seek for some saie means Of escape from 30
much evil. Tho palricians, or wasiihisr Glasses,
frequently refused % serve in the array, throw
| ing the burden Of the fghting on the poorer Of
the population, H4o, having no other resource,
were compelled to submit 70 the terms Of their
masters
Tia ruling powers fUr the sfns being
seemed utterly incapable Of restoring peace
and order 30 the distracted community. The
consular Office, which bore great similarity 10
/ that Of tho President Of the United States,
/ was more than once found insufficient 20 con
{ troll the exigeneies Of the timAs, and On such
! occasions. when great danger threatened the
{ great republic, = supreme miiitaTy officer,
called q dictator, was appointed 20 enact Wig
I oFous msasuTs8 ior q liEaiied perI0d-geneT-
ally for six months at a time. This wes in
most csSos found TO be an effective modn Of
dealing with great pRblie cIises; and, hsw-
ever much we may objeet to the Roman form
Of appointing theiT diciators, il cannot be de-
MED that there were sound wiadem, and eVl
much foresight, IN the principle involved.
The American Republic is low passing
through far more important crisis hgn my
that aEeent Rome ever saw. In two years Of
civil WGr va have done moro mutual slaughter,
North and South, thsn shy other nation sincs
history begsn The largest armies have been
assanbIod, the most astounding amOunt Of
treasure expended, and i5e science Of naval
warfare completely reversed and yet, ss
Horace expresses it, another yesF is low
! wasting away in civil war" The fate of the
Republic, IN iset, hangs upon the next choice
Of the people for the presidential Office. This
ia the one great question That should occupy
. he public mind az this time. Ia the pTesencs
: Of ths great issaos 10 the nation which depend
upon il every other matter falls into minor con
9 sideFElon-
Z IA tho dificulhss between oetAvianus and
!, Anthony threatened the Roman world viii
;. general dissolution, sn9rossing the attention o
J. All the people, SO do the interests which con
center on the coming PreBidsntial contest trans
!, csnd all others in public Importance, and de
}, msnd tie united exercise Of our nsiisnal infu
: sncs. The duty Of tho people under these cir
|, cumslances Is 20 call vigorous, intellectual
patriotic and conservative man 70 the highes
gift that the republic can bosioW. Like the r.
e mans, we viii bring a brilliant military lesda
), 10 that post, who, by hs decisive sets. viii bFiH
q order out Of chaos and pescs ont Of war.
ihsFs any other man in The whols extent Of fh
country 20 ht icT this WsIk a. Gen. Grant. Il
Of hero Of Fieksburg and the c0neneTor at ChAth
!, 20 "a.
N Let she psople answer this At The next ele
i ticn By rolling in thsis ysies By lens Of taol
sands for 50 iliastFious name. The people
AmeTiSa val unanimously elsss their ue'