Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-06-23

Julius Caesar, at the age of forty.seven,
was master of the greater part of the
Roman world. The ancient forms Of re.
publican government were carefully pre-.
served but not the less was the whole
power of the state welded by one man.
He appeared to desire to use bis power
for the good of the country. He built
temples, established new military posts,
sent forth colonies, restored the cities
injured in the civil wars, corrected the
calendar, projected survey of the en-
pire, and codifcation of the laws
But he was not satisfied with these peace
ful conquests. He seemed, as Plutarch
remarks, as jealous Of bis old renown as
though that renown belonged to another
man, and he burned for new triumphs,
so dazzling that they should cast into
the shade all his previous achievements.
Aiming at nothing less than the subjec-
lion Of the world to his imperial sway,
he prepared to transport his legions to
the remotest frontiers of the empire, and
saw, in prospect, the whole earth under
Roman laws and institutions, governed
by Roman lieuenants, all owing allegi-
ance to the central power-himself.-
This was Napoleon's error, too. Ma
poleon appeared entirely great until he
assumed the trigialties of the imperial
dignity, and pretended TO give away
kingdoms. 1t is the error natural to men
whose talents are immense, and whose
souls are little.
In the plenitude Of his power, Caesar
became naughty, irritable, harsh towards
the mobiles, impatient of contradiction,
restless. He needIessIy wounded the
self>love of those who served him an
error he had never committed when he
was climbing to the throne of the world
An error which truly great men never
knowingly commit. In the midst of the
execution of his gigantic schemes, con-
spracy was formed against him, which
aimed at his life. OF the men engaged
in it, all but Brutus seem to have been
actuated by personal and petty motives.
Soma of theoo wave ofFended tANt OO old
comrade should have attained such
height above them. Some had grudges
to avenge, and others hope to rise upon
ruins of his power. Brutus alone Rp-
pears to have thought that the death of
the despot would restore TO Rome its
ancient liberty, and it was his name that
gave something of dignity to the plot.
The spring of the yerr forty-four, p.
c., arrived. Rome was all astr with
the departing legious and the noise of the
Djcator's mighty schemes. Caesar still |
walked the streets Of Rome unattended, |
and no guard about his house, nor any
escort when he went to the Senate house.
Rumors were industriously circulated
that he meant to assume the title of
King-a name of horror to the Romans.
True, he had thrice refused the profered |
crown, in the sight of the people; but
many imagined, and Brutus among
them, that he had refused it as woman
often refuses the thing she covets most
refused it that it Nigh be the more siren.
uously thrust upon him.
On the morning of the Ides (the 1jth) |
of March, Caesar entered the Senate
house. The Senate rose, as usual, to do !
him honor. He took his usual seat
On the pretence of asking the recall of
man whom he had banished, the coDspi- |
rators gathered round his chair. He
gave them, at length, a positive denial,
and, as they continued their importuni- |
ties, he grew angry. One of the men
then seized the collar of his robe aud |
drew it off his shoulders, which was the |
precoucerted signal of attack. Another,
with nerveless hand, struck at his neck |
with his sword, inficling a slight wound
Caesar, astonished, laid his hand upon
his sword, and said
"Vllain! Casca what do you mean ?"
At once the whole party drew their
swords, and Caesar saw himself hedged |
about with bristling points. He stood !
at bay, with his drawn sword, and de-
Tended himself as became him, until |
Brutus thrust his sword into his groin
Then, it is said, he uttered the memor-
able words:
"Thou, too, Brutus'
and, dropping the point of his sword,
gave up the struggle, and fell pierced |
with twenty-three wounds.
Fifteen years of civil war followed the |
assassination Of Julius Cesar. At the
time of his death, his nephew, Octavius,
a youth of nineteen, was travelling with |
bis tutor. No one supposed that this