The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-27

The Rsnan and Tannany Kings.
The classical spectator who assists at the
scenic splendor and ornate oratory Of the
Roman play which is now rampant upon the
boards Of the Booth Theatre can easily draw
parallel between Roman and the Tammany
Ring. As in these latter days, so in those
Immediately preceding the Christian era, there
was q political triumvirate parcelling out
power and riches. There was Roman forum
and there was a New York Court House. In
the former Cesar was an original Tweed. In
Gaul Cesar conquered and Wanted himself
as Tweed used to in the Knickerbocker
country round about Albany. If C@sar wrote
commentaries, did not Tweed pen charters3
If Caesar conquered Brennus, did not Tweed
come it over Brennan? Then in the Roman
triumviate there was Connolly. This was
Crassus who made Syria his fiscal hunting
grounds, and thence collected the spoils
whose possession made him forfeit popular
confidence. Finally Crassus was killed by .
Parthian arrow, as was Connolly by one from
the bow Of Judge Learned. OF the Roman
triumvirate Pompey was the solid brains.
He, however, met his fate on the grassy slopes
of Pharsalia, as Pompey Sweeny encountered
his amid the evergreen glades of Central Park,
when, upon last election day. Caesar Tweed
triumphed at the polls; but Pompey Sweeny
fell by bis own suicidal act of resigna-
ton. Of the Roman Ring Marc Antony
was the Fisk. His Erie was Egypt. His
Mansfield was Cleopatra. And if the Egyp-
ton correspondence did not live In history it
was probably for want of reporters and the
plain sailing in the sea of letters that no craft
of hierogyphics ever managed.
At last the breaking up of the Roman Ring
left Caesar Tweed dictator of the Latin
Sachems, despite all their struggles for inde-
pendence. But Roman reformers soon after
ward began to agitate. Caesar Tweed had
risen to power upon the ruins of Marius
Mozart and Sylla Sickles. yet only to encoun-
ter the distrust Of Cato Cooper and Cicero
OConor. The power of Caesar as dictator
was broken when Brutus OBren and Cassius
Brutus gave Caesar, on the day of the Luper-
cal, the last blow, as O'Brien gave it to Tweed,
not in the ides of March, but in the Kalends
of last November. Well might both Caesars
pathetically exclaim, under the respective cir
cumstances, EFT tn Brute !" The dagger Of
Cassius Tilden, however, deprived Tweed not
only Of power, but of wealth. The indignant
Sammy performed Cesarian operation which
smote Tammany hip and thigh, even as the
daggers of the Roman conspirators extirpated
the old despotism. Cesar fell in the Senate
chamber, as it is said Tweed's destiny is to be
at Albany, when Casca Hardenburgh shall
makean envious rent. All that remains in
discussing the parallel, or in remembering how
truly history repeats ITSELF is to ask if 1t be
reserved for Cassius Tilden to fall by his own
sword, in consequence of disagreements among
the reform generals, or if Cato Cooper is to
be exiled by his own Citizens Committee of
Roman irmness, or if Cicero O'Conor Is to
be made victim of by any Fulvia among the
committee of old women aged Seventy" or
thereabouts? Yes, there are one or two
more important queries which the theatrio
spectator of to-day, as witnessing the
Shakspeariau play of Julius Cesar" may put
himself. Will Augustus Schell come in at the
general death to enthrone himself in Tam
many war paint over the debris of the past as
Grand Sachem, just as Augustus Caesar consti-
tuted himself Emperor in imperial purple?
And will the poet Bryant resume his old r6b
of Virgil to the democratic Mecenas of the
day?