The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-07


After detailing the wars Of Cesar, the En-.
peror proceeds to the political events at Rome,
the recall of Cicero, the quarrels of Pompey,
the ambition of Clodius, and by his death the
narrowing OF the issue TO the struggle between
Caesar and Pompey. The reflections on the
death OF Clodius are singular, as instance OF
the Emperor's fatali5m, and how he regards oil
men below the calibre of Cesar rather as pup
pets than as movers 'Thus by the SIMPLE ac-
cidents of his life, Clodius seems to have been
destined to call forth the elements of discord
which the republic cont .,ined within her bosom.
He is surprised in the house of C@sar's wife
during a religious sacrifice, and this violation Of
the mysteries of the Bona Dea leads TO a fatal
schism among the first bodies of the State. His
accusation irritates the popular party; his
acquitta dscloses the venality of the Judges,
and separates the knightly order from the
Senate The animosity with which he is pursued
makes him formidable party chief, who sends
Cicero into exile, who makes Pompey tremble,
and who accelerates the elevation of Cesar. His
death will rouse up all the popuarpassions, and
will inspire SO much fear in the opposite faction
that il will forget It's enmities and jealousies to
throw itself into the arms of Pompey, and from
one end of Italy to the other all the people will
be in arms"
AS remarkable too, in its way, is the clever
suggestive reasoning by which it is sought to be
shown that the republic had failed to ensure
order within or peace without; and thus
"whilst the popular instinct, which is really
deceived, saw the salvation of the republic in
the power OF one alone, the aristocratic party
on the contrary, saw only danger in this general
inclination towards one man,
Occasionally the author draws a semi-parallel
between the first Napoleon and the third Napo-
poleon and the hero of his work.
Caesar began his political career by trial
which is always honorable-persecution borne
for great cause. The popular party rested on
the recollections of Marius; Caesar did not hesi-
tate to revive them with splendor. Hence the
prestige which surrounded him from his early
youth, and which never ceased to increase with
him. His constancy to his principles was worth
more to him than all the honors and dignites
which were conferred on him; nominated
successfully military tribune, quastor, grand
! pontih, curator of the Appian Way, edile,
urban prator, proprietor in Spain, finally Con-
sui, he could count these different testimonies
OF public favor as so many victories obtained
under the same flag against the same enemies.
This was the cause of tie violent passions of
the aristocracy; they made one man alone re-
| sponslble for the decadence of an order of
things which was sunk in corruption and
anarchy"
In a foot.note, referring to the duration of the
pro consulate in Gaul, the parallelism so often
indicated takes more open expression In the
following passage:-"In all times" says the En-
peror, 1--WE see the assemblies endeavor to
81, thn pfY rrix Nv thn
people to a man not sympathetic with them.
This is an eXample-the Constitution Of l848
decided that the President of the French Repub-
lie should be nominated for four years. Prince
Louis Napoleon was elected the 10th of Decem-
ber, 1S4S, and proclaimed on the goth of the
same month. His powers were to expire on the
goth of December, 1852. Now the Constituent
Assembly which provided for the election oil
Prince Louis Napoleon fixed the term of his
Presidency on the second Sunday OF the month
Of May, 1852, thus derriving him of seven
months"
The parallel here is most apparent. We will
close our review with the utterance of the EN-
peror upon the crossing OF the Rubicon. 1t is
rather long, but will repay quotatlon:-
''The supreme moment had arrived. Caesar
was reduced TO this alternative, to keep himself
| u
Senate, or to give himself up to his enemies
who would have reserved for him the fate OF
Cataline's accomplices, condemned to death, il
he had not, like the Gracchi, SaturnInus,
and so many others, been killed in
riot. Here this question naturally offers
itselt--0ught not Caesar, who had so often con-
ironted death in the battlefield, have gone to
confront it at Rome under another form, and
have renounced his command rather than en-.
gage in a contest which must cast the republic
into all the agonies of civil war? Yes, if by his
abnegation he could pluck Rome from anarchy,
} corruption, and tyranny. No, If this abnega
tion would compromise what he had
most at heart, the regeneration OF the republic.
Caesar. like all men OF his character, cared little
ior liie and stil less Tor power for powers sake
but the chief OF the popular party, he felt that
, great cause was behind him; 1t pushed him
/ forward, and obliged him to vanquish, in spite
of legality, the imprecahons OF his adYersaries
l and the uncertain judgment of posterity.
Roman society, at the point of dissolution de-
manded master; Italy, oppressed, representa-
tive of her rights; the world, bent under the
yoke, savior. Should he, by deserting his
! mission, deceive so many legitimate hopes, so
r many noble aspirations? What Caesar answer
, | able TO the people for all his dignlties, and
strengthened III his right ought he to have retired
| before Pompey, who, the docile instrument of q
factous minority in the Senate, crushed right and
Justice under his feet; before Pompey who by the
confession even OF Cicero would have been after
9 his victory cruel and vindiCtive despot, and
I | would have allowed the universe to have beer
tTaticked in Tor the interest OF certain families
incapable besides of arresting the decadence o
: the republic, and OF founding an order of things
T, solid enough to retard the invasion of thu
|. barbarlans Tor several ages He should have
- | recoied before a party who made 1t crime
l in time to repair the ills caused by the fury o
1 Gulla 40 70 nf fVaV oil