The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-07-02
EDITORIAL CORRESPOND.
81 800 ENCE.
Let fools sp't,m ,ohile ,oise me,,
read and ponder the parallels
Of History. 49, .-
MADISON, Wis. June %, 80

q HISTORY. .~ .n
MADISON, WIS. June %, 80
Were not the subject too serious
for ridicule, the wincing Of the as
sumcd friends Of republic, under
the CALLING application of truth
would indeed be amusing. Repudi-
ating rs we do the namo of IMpERI-
ALrsrs, let us calmly compare our
present situation, with that of
Rome during the decline of its lib
critics. that from actual comparison,
we may determine if there is a dis
tinction in our real situation, or if
they are as similar in character as
in analogy. xeo~. ri ...
New forms Of civil administra-
ton naturally follow the formation
Of new dynasty. An intricate
policy like that introduced by Do
Giles, improved by Constantine, elab-
Grated and completed by his success
sors will, while presenting the pho
togrsph Of , great Empire, illus
tssts the cause Of it's rapid decline
ana decay. F, .. ..... ....'
Rome in its republican simplicity
Was content with substantial power,
while the East INDUCED the forms
and ceremonies of sstenta tious
greatness. But whom its people
lost even the semblance of the vir /.
tues derived from their ancient
freedom, adopting tho pomp and of.
fectation of the East it soon corrupt
cd and destroyed their republican
simplicity. =ss "a
The distinction of influence bas-
cd upon personal mcrit-always
conspicuous in republic. however
obscure under an autocrat--was
abolished and in its place was sub
stituted the rank of Office, from
the titled slave pressing tho steps
Of tho throne, to the meanest instru-
'nent Of arbitrary rule constituting
1.-The power behind the throne. :"
Other classes acquiosced from the
dread of revolution, while tho alb
jcct dependents and miserable in
struments of the throne support
the actual government lest it's de-
cline should blast their hopes Of
promotion, or intercept the antici
pated reward of their services.
The type CT "grcat moral ideas"
is the embodiment of this hierarchy,
which marks every rank with per-
feet exactncss, displays its false
dignity with triling ceremonies
which aye study to learn, eau
ton to behold. and a sacrilege to
omit. Their titles were legio n,
while every circumstance of retinue,
demeanor, dress, ornaments and
equipage. was arranged to inspire
ave Of the vicegerents Of supreme
power and majesty.
Pretorean Prmfects, Consuls,
Masters of the House. and Minis
tiers. exercising the sacred function
Of their Offices about the Emperor,
were exclusively entitled to the dig
mites Of the new titles Of "The
Industrious "The Magni6ce mt, :"
: or Tho Clarissimi." In times
Of Roman simplicity the last title
Was ranked with our title of - The
Honorable" and was only used
IS vague expression Of Difference
to members Of the Senate.
As long a. Rome was free state,
and it's Consuls the Chief Magis.
trates. their right to power was de-
rived from the choice Of the people
and aherward. while tho Emperor
10 disguise tho abject subsection b,
imposed upon the people. he per
mitted their election BY the appar
eat suffrage Of the Senate,
But fron' the reign Of Dioclesia,
evon these forms Of liberty wer,
abolished. and SO abject were thos,
annually invested BY the Empero
with the honors Of the Consulship
that thew Affected to lam emit the Do