The New York herald., 1870-05-09

Romans Came To esteem the Greeks as the most
worthless OF creatures.
wholly corrupted their ancient love Of ireedoII and
o mean seryllity became substituted therefor. at
na % ae fourth century me creeks
characteristics OF simplicity and grandeur and thus
Greece passed INTO her condition Of unimDorsance.
Rome originally was but an insignificant city.
founded on the banks OF the Tiber. by some herds.
men whose small numbers were sweied somewhat
..by strangers and outcass from all the country
about.n Tne hcrdsmen were without doubt relqs-
gitns who had previously occupied tnc more eastery
bears unmistakaDle evidences OF similarly 70 Inc
Creek. Tnat people SO humble as the orlgnal ko'
mans were, who labored principally upon an unpro-
ductiye so for sustenance should have increased IN
numbers, power ana influence, so as 70 RUE tne
world seems almost lncre iible; but SO II was.
A three lold division Of the people was early
spoken Of, probably representing as many d.nerent
tribes Each OF these tribes was diyded inso p .en
smaller bodies called "Curial;" in war these dvi-
SONS Were represented by thirty centuries tnat maue
There were very few women among the early
Romans. They seized on some Sabine women VINO
came among them to wituess their games which
seizure caused war with the Sibines; the result OF
the war was the uns0n OF tte Saoiues with tne
Romans and the extension among them of the same
rules and divisions that existed among the Romans
This first conquest was prophetic OF all luure CON
gu sts terminating 1t did by the conquered country
being added to Rome to increase It's territory AID
Continued with more more or less activity DUNG
four centuries, when Rome had acquirel
Rsaa a ss eDaHy ss nr @ sas' last 6 @
Was expelled by the Senate, anu the Roman repuDhc
began During its first century contentious among
extending their conqlests. About the clghticth
year OF tile republic the Gau!s first attacked, captured
until the banshed Consul Camillms was recalled to
command tins armies. Soon after this raDfd strides
to greatness were made and Rome became the ccll-
pou
already Roman, sought alliance, thereby hoping 10
escape conquest.
first admitted and practsed BY Romans; and, as in
ali other countries il laid the foundation Or future
ruin, b. Introducing into use ccnuls VICIOUS AMI
eneminate practices, where simplicity, purity and
honor had previously had fun sway.
Two hundred and eighty years .. G.. the Cartha-
genians forming an alliance Win the King OF Syra-
cuse brought on the first Punic war. The Syracusans
soon dcseried to the Romans and ever remained
constant TO them. The Romans had now acquired
such love Of and thirst for glory that they were con-
sidered unconqueraDle In Sicily they gained great
naval Victories aud Africa trcmbled when her meets
neared Its snores. The CarthageD Dans thro Ugh the
advice OF the Lacedemonian Xantppus defeated
the army commanded by Reguus and capturei him;
he subsequently lost MS lie al the hands OF tue Car
thagenians for opposing at Rome the conclusion Of
peace. Tne war continued by the advice OF Regu
lus, turned In favor OF tue Romans and the Carha-
gen ans were compelled 10 accept the terms OF peace
offered by the Romans, thus ending the nrst Puaic
The conquest of seguntum by the Carthagenians,
contrary to the terms VI peace led TO the second
PunIc war, IN which the celebrated Hannibal d a ell
SO cOnsplcuousy and for time made Rome
tremble. From this temporary fear The Romans
emerged more terrible than ever. They not only put
stop the victorious career OF Hannibal, but con-
quered SPAN, and, crossing into Afri "a. compelled
tue recalling Of Hannibal to defend Garth ge. The
famous batle OF Zama ensued. IN which Doth Han
niba ana ScipiO displayed the grea est military
ta.ent The study ol this battle has since been the
admiration OF all great military Captains Ihe VIC
t0riOus Romans dictated again tile terms OF peace,
which Carthage was obliged 70 accept. Thus ended
the second Punic war.
The ambition OF Rome now increased to such an
immode.a extent y, to threaten the reduction or
the whole world to Submission. MacedOn and SYRIA
enieasored to make head against them, but nothing
could Withstand the irresistible power OF tue per
fecty disciplined Roman Iegions MacedOn WAS glad
to end the war by becoming Roman province, and
SYRIA to escape toIa destruction by celing TO Rome
the arger portion 0f her territory.
Carthage, the former powerful rival Of Rome, still
existed which SO annoyed the Romans that its de.
Structon was de erinined upon and accomplished
by the third Punlc war, which ended las years
before CHRIST The complete supJugation o. all the
Greek and Spanish provinces Immediately followed,
ana Roman power was unparai elei. This begat
spirit Of Intolerance which goaded many Of her con-
arinies they lor q time successfully resisted the
Romans. Pomiey, coming into command. rapidly
between the several factions at Rome quickly fol-
lowed the reducuOn OF the formidable revolt.
Cesar, Ponpey AID Orassus, more active than the
rest, divided tile government between themselves
| This was the first trlumvirate Caesar wouid have
no equal and Pompey coala endure no superior:
The rivalry between these two powerful
| dtions That ruined the republic. Cesar OH
tanned the Consulate aud government OF Gaul,
and began lay the foundation FOR mis- future gre
ness by extending his military enterprises In all d.
! rectOns he defeated the SWISS, conquered tle
Germans, suDdued the Belgians, reduced the who c
| OF Gaul, invaded Britain, Imposed tributes upon
the people everywhere and became the master spirit
| Of the time. When Cesar returned to Rome Pom.
| pey hed. Cesar then became perpetual dictator.
THIS was about nIty Years before Christ. Pursuiag
battle Of Pharsaa. ana Iii as 0vercame all opposition
TO uniMlred power. In this poss .ssiOn Caesar be.
came SO intolerably overbearing tnaG aconspiFacy
formed against him, which resulted his death
| o. Inc hands OF Butus. The love Of the people,
] especially the women renamed Caesars 80 the new
Bras Htony and oetvs wasea wa and
| Rome, as IN the days VI Marius and
Scyila, became the scene OF mfamy and horror.
| OctlvluS AID Antony overcoming all opposition
| divided the empte between them. Octavus re-
manned In the west. Antony went TO the east and
Queen, for wnom he abandoned Octavla, the sister
Of Octavius. This brought about conflict between
Antony and Oclavius VINO projected to the east
with great army to chastise him. By the treach cry
Of Cleopatra whose ariny and navy deserted to Oc-
tavus Antony Was tot lily defeated. The treachery
OF Cleopatra determined Ilm to take his life, which
III turn caused her such grief that she sought and
| found relief ffom the aspen's bite.
Ocravius thus became sole master Of the migltiest
empire The world hal ever b held. 1t Comprised
nearly every country then known, under a uni-
versal monarchy. Cctavus assumed the title
mighty empire forty-iive years with the most coa-
sulnmate skill and prudence and with pro-
lOulu appreciation OF the pOaltlOn ne occupied.
IL was daring MS reign that literature ioursnel
extensively. The best literary age 0f ali countries
has since been called Its Augustan age as kened to
| tnat OF Rome under him. In the thlrueth year oi
his reign Jesus Chr,sG was born. TIE Roman en-
prc III this time assumed us proulest and grandest
plch OF power and glory, which will ever be the
wonder and admiration of coming ages. urli anoth
nation shall arise 70 greater and still more glorious
condition. of which Rome Will forever remain pro-
phetic until fulfilled. From the reign OF Augustus 10
Constantine the Great, who tanserred the capital
to Byzautium, tine empire sustained series OF good
ana bad rule, ana declined somewhat from
its previous proud position. On the death
OF Constantine tue Great, Constantine H..
Constanils and Constance divided the empire.
Constantine II. had all Europe west Of the Alps,
COnstantius Italy, Sicily and Africa Constancs
ASIA, Egypt and ihe whole East rms division was
the beginning OF the great disasters that fast
upon Rome Constantine and Constanilus being dis
| posed Of by treason, Constance usurpei the whole
power; being destitute nob only or all capacity FOR
extended rule but also OF al honor, the empire