Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-07
HANNIBAL

Caesar, uud C~fcero-Ihe Cntiitne
Conspiracy.
HANNIBAL.
Humilisted Carthage had lost the command of
the sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Rome, on the con
trary, had strengthened herself by conquests in
the Mediterranean, in Ulyris, and IN cs Alpine
0Anl- All at once the scene changes; the perils
which threatened the African city vanish, Car
thage starts to her feet. and Rome. which had
lately counted her eight hundred thousand nen
10 condition 10 carry arms, will soon tremble for
her own existence. a change so extraordinary
Is effected by the appearance in the ranks Of the
Carthagenian army OF a man Of genius-Han-
The story Of his Italian campaign lie given at
some length: and II Is interesting 70 know the
opinion of the conqueror at Solferino on that
much debated question. Why, after the battle
Of Thrasy meme, Hannibal did not march on Rome.
Many writers think il would have been easy 10
have gone direct TO the capitol. Napoleon ia OF
another opision-l 81
In Rome the alarm was great; but the con
queror. after wasting Etruris, assaulted Spole-
tum without success. crossed the Apennines.
threw his troops into Umbria and Picenum,
whence he marched by way Of Samnium towards
the coasts of Apulia. In truth, when he had
reached the center OF Italy, cut of from cOmmu
aication wilh-the mother country, without the
var engines necessary to conduct a siege, with
out a safe line of retreat, and having the army
Of Sempronius in his rear what could Hannibal
dot Put the Apennines betwee himself and
Rome; get closer to the people who were better
disposed TO him, and then, by the subjugatiOn OF
southern Italy, establish : solid base of opera
tons, In direct CORRESPONDENCE with Carthage.
Notwithstanding bis victory at 4 h~rasymene, his
position was dangerous: for, excepting the els
Alpine Gauls. all the Italian nations had re
NAMED loYal to Rene. and not \ man bad vet
joined his standards.
fSpeaking Of that critical state OF Roman al
fairs when the soldiers. seduced by glory aud Ell
riched by plumber, forgot that they we're Roman
citizens. and only remembered that they were
masters of the world. the emperor says
The remedy for such an overflow OF unruly
passions was, on one aide. 70 ..allay the longing
for fresh conouests. on the other side to dimin-
ish the number of candidates for Office by elect
ing for a longer period. The people themselves,
guided by their own instincts. remedied the vice
of this Institution 10y continuing in power the
men xho possessed the popular confidence. Thus
they wanted TO make Scipio AfIicanus perpetual
dictator; while the pretended reformers, ike Ga
TO, the slaves Of habit. acting in n spirit Of exsg
gerated self-denial, would have made laws to dis
qualify a man from aspiring 10 the consulate a
second time. and 20 postpone the age AZ which
one could stand for this high Office.
By sccusingthe chief citizens. especially Scipio
Africanus. Cato taught the Roman people to
doubt Of virtue. By attacking men without
caGse, and denouncing them with passion. be led
them 10 suspect Justice. By cOndemning the
faults Of which ne was himself guilty, be de
priyed his censurers of moral force. When be
scourged men both as accrser and a. Judge. with
out trying TO elevate them by laws and education,
he resembled, says q learned German, that Per
sian king who beat the sea with rods 10 make il
quiet. His influence. powerless to prevent the
new civilizations from supersedirg the old, was
strong enough 20 impress an evil spirit on his
time. The senate, renouncing the justice and
moderation for which it's acts had been hitherto
remarkable. replaced them by Graf. and AFRO
gance and by = system Of determination
rIsKRIus sExPRoSrUs GRACIOUS.
nlustrious by his birth. distinguished by his
eloquenee snd by his personal beauty. he was the
son of that Gracious who had been twice con
sui, and of Cornelis. daughter of Scipio Africa
nus. At the age Of fourteen yesrs be had serv-
Cd under his brother in-lsw. Scipio Kmilianus,
st the siege OF Carthage. and had been the FIRST
TO mount the breach A questor under the Con
sui Mancinus. in Spain, be had aided in making
the treaty of Nunantia. Inspired by the love
of virtue. far from being blinded by these mo-
menLary splendors, he fOresaw the perils which
2 OLLAI HHA ~ ~ NV ~ WhAAN
there was yet time 10 do 30. When he became
tribune Of the people. in 62l. be revived. with
The sanction Of statesmen and philosophers of
The greatest esteem, the project which Scipo
Enilisnus had conceived for distributing the
public lands among the poor. The people cried
out for the adoption Of this project. ard the walls
OF Rome we're covered With inscriptions in is
favor.
In a speech. which would now De denounced
A. socialisfic and revolutionary, Gracious pro
posed TO deprive the mobiles of 4 part OF the lands
which they had acquired. This project does not
shock the critic of Gracious: indeed. he refers
TO the opinion OF all the ancient authors"
without naming them. that this proposal was
lust and moderate
Napoleon SAYS of the concluding scene Of the
tribune's short career.
Gracious proposed a reform, and, without
knowing il. be had commenced a revolution
But to complete that revolution he had none OF
the necessary qualities. \ strange mixture OF
~soitness and audAcity, he unclaimed The storm
but dared not launch the thunderbolt. Guarded
by his partissns. be walked 10 the Comitiaw with
less confidence than resignation. The tribes, as
senbled in the capitol, began 10 vote, when the
Senator Fulvius Flaceus came TO warn Grscchus
that the senators, the rich men. surrounded bv
their slaves. had resolved 10 DESTROY him. This
news excited a brisk agitation about the tribune.
and those who were ats distance shouted 10 knov
the cause of this tunult. be raised hs hand to
bis temples as = sign that bis lie was mensced,
when bic enemies ran TO the senate house. and
giving their own Interpretation to his gesture, de
nounced him as aspiring 70 the royal crown.
The senators, preceded by Scpio Nasica. the
sovereign pont.f. went 10 the capitol; the troops
of Gracious we're dispersed. snd the tribune, 20
gether with three hundred Of his friends, we're
slain near the gate OF the Sacred War.
sILLA's NsT.kK.
ISpeaking of Sylla. IN The day Of bis great vie
tory over The popular party. when be exercised q
power az absolute as any Of the C@ssrs Who sue
eeeied him. Napoleon says:
The mistake Of the dictator was 10 suppose
that q system founded by violence. and on selfish
interests. could outlive him. It i, easier to
chsnge laws than TO arres. the progress Of ideas.
=rLIUs CksAE.
About the period A. which Marius. bv his con
quest Of the CimbT and the Germans. saved II,
zly from . formidable Invasion, there Was horn
nj Rome q man Who would one day. by renew
ing The subiugation Of Gauls and Germans. post
pone for several ages the Eruption Of the bar
barians give TO oppressed %natonsa knowledge Of
their rights. assure the existence Of Roman civ
iliaation. and bequeath- bis nsme TO the future
chIefs Of nations. As q synbol conseersIsd 70
power.