The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-07-20
ANDREW JOHNSON AND THE ROMAN
MARIUS,

g of Marius, the Roman Consul. The re-
f. scmblancei is especially and painfully striking
. in Mr.. Jolnson's late harrangue to the
populace from the portico Of the White
I House, and in the habit, which seems to be
!. growing upon him, Of referring in his pub
0 lie speeches to the humble circumstances oi
his early life, and tracing up therefiom his
, triumphant progress to his present position
Of honor and power. Mr.. Lincoln began
life under as mean and adverse conditions
, as Mr.. Johnson nor did he seek moro than
, Mr.. Johnson to conceal his humble origin
but he never fell into the opposite weakness
Of exhibiting II as a merit. Mr.. Lincoln
had the true republican instinct: to be bon,
low or high was with him matter of en-
J tire indifference. Mr.. Johnson has the
demagog,le's instinct: he talks as II to be
born low was better than to be hon, high.
Aud in the affected humility, but real and
offensive egotism Of the Presidents re.
peaied inquiy-"When has Andrew John.
son ever betrayed the people awe see
again the demagogue involuntarily unmask.
Ing himself we can readily imagine from
Plutarch's account, that thus Marilis ex.
claimed Of himself to the lopulace in the
Roman forum.
This great Roman popular leader was
born Of obscure and INDECENT parents in
the humblest ranks Of the people. In his
youth, hc worked as a common peasant
for wuses. Entering the Roman army he
rose rapidly to celebrity us a soldier and
general, and through his great services for
Rome In war, became one of her most
favored and powerful political leaders. In
regular succession he was elected to all the
grades of civil office-was tribune, edile,
prptor-and finally reached the highest,
the consulship. But through all his good
fortune, AMI even afler his assent to the
higher power in the State, hc never forgot
the obscuriy of his origin, hut rather took
constant pains TO mention 1t rs i' he were
proud Of it, and used il as one of the
means by which he kept his authority with
the people. ltis recorded Of him:
"lIc made it n glory and boast, that,
mean us was his origin, he could excel his
lIigl'.bom alvenarics in virtue, ability, and
courage. He took every oppor.
tunity Of insulting and trnmpling upon the
mobiles Of the Senate, aud proudly COM
pared his own wounds and military ex.
perience with their indolent habits and ig-
nonnce Of wur." "'l'hese things" re-
marks Pluiarcli, "not out Of mere vanity
and arrogance, or needlessy to cmbroil
himself with the nobility but he saw the
people took pleasure in seeing the Senate
insultctl, and that they measured the great.
ness Of a mans mind by the Incidence of
his language and, therefore, to crafty
them, he spared not the greatest in the
State"
Yet Mnrius, during his successive ten.
ures Of Office, did great deeds, especially by
his military genius, for the safety and re.
nown Of Rome. In many respects he was
the true friend Of the people and he pro.
claimed liberty to all slaves who would nd.
here to his standard in time of war. At
the end of his f6ll consullhip, il was de-
ci,lcd that he should be honored for his
victories with the festival Of" the triumph. +"
He was hailed by the populace as the saviour
of the State and third founder Of Rome.
But from this time began his fall. II
would have been fortunate for him, says
Nicbuhr, IL he had died on the day Of his
triumph. Hitherto his career had been in
the main, glorious; but altsrward, the bad
qualities Of his nature got the mastery and
ruled him to his ruin. And mark the
steps by which he went down carrying
Rome with him. 'utarch says:
"He aspired to a sixth consulship with
more ardor than any man had ever shown
for his first. lie courted the people aud
endeavored to ingratiats himself with the
n,eanest Of them, by such servile condes.
tensions, as were not only unsuitable to lis
dignity, but even contrary to his disposi.
ton; assuming an air of gentleness and
complaisance for which nature never meant
him. It is said, that in civil affairs, and the
timultuous proceedings Of the populace,
his ambition had given him an uncommon
timidity. That intrepid firmness which he
discovered in battle forsook him in the rs.
semblies Of the people, and the least
breath Of praise or dislike disconcered him
in his address. Yet we are told. that when
he had granted The freedom Of the city TO
thousand Camerians, who had dis
tinguished themselves by their behavior in
the wars. and his proceeding was found
faul, with rs contrary 10 law, hc said (:
'rhe law spoke too softly to be heard
amidst the din OF arms However, the
noise that he dreaded. and that robbed him
Of his presence Of mind, was that Of popu-
lar assemblies. In wnr he easily Obtained
the highest rank, because they could not do
without him; but in the administration lie
was sometimes in danger OF losing the
honors he solicited. In these cascs he lad
recourse to the partially Of the multitude
and had no scripls Of making lis honesty
stibseryient 10 his ambition"
To gain his points lie was led to join
himself with somo Of tho most turbulent
and dangerous spirits in Rome, and to com.
init acts Of the most ungenerous deceit
and peridy toward his friends and asso-
ciaics In tho government considering
"thst he was giving the rcins to destroy.
ing fury who was making lis way in blood