The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-18

1t was sad hour in the old capitol when
its blinded inhabitants were aroused from
the stupendous delusion that they were
invncible-when the crushing fact blaZed
upon them that the legons had been con-
quered-that province after province had
been overrun-that populous cities had
fallen-that the barbarians were advancing,
yea, to the very gates of Rome-that there
was no escape, no shelter, nor hope.
The ruin came from those barbarians
whom the Romans had despsed. They
were not more numerous than those which
Marius had defeated But the times had
changed, and vigor and manliness had fled.
The barbarians, with different names,
belonged to the great Teutonic race, and
had the same natural elements of char
acter. In the second century they formed
a general union for the invasion of the
Roman world. But at that time the Ro-
mans were able to raise barriers against
them. The magnificent victories of Marcus
Aurelius over them are still commemorated
by the column which exists in Rome.
The Goths were the first of these barba-
rians who signally triumphed, and yet
their invasion was raid rather than a
conquest. 1t was not contemplated with
general fear, and Rome was saved one hun
bred years by succession of warlike
Emperors, who derived their origin from
the martial province Of 1llyricum. All
that was in the power of Emperors to do
was done. Claudius, Aurelius, and Pro-
tens were uniformly victorious; but their
victories were in vain. The barbarians,
though hurled back, continually advanced.
In this crisis Theodosius arose, a native
of Spain, praised by all the fathers of the
Church, and such was the brilliancy Of his
victories that the Romans fancied that all
external dangers were removed forever.
But on his death, and under his feeble sue
cessors, the barbaric invasions were renew
ed with fresh vigor.
History has taken but little notice of the
leaders of the barbaric hosts until Alaric
appeared, King of the Visi Goths. He in
vaded Greece and sacked her cities and
destroyed ner WOTkS Oh dIt.
Only one great general remained to the
Emperor, and this was Stilcho, trained by
Theodosus AT his approach Alaric re-
tired, and the Roman general succeeded in
driving back once more the invading lead
ers. The Romans were overjoyed, and
abandoned themselves to absurd reioicings.
Scarcely was the Empire relieved from
the Goths, before another invasion of Van
dals and Burgundians crossed the Danube,
and without resistance entered Italy,
Again Stilicho commanded the Romans,
and still again was he successful, but the
Rhine was left undefended and Gaul was
invaded and devastated from the Alps to
the Apprentices. Two hundred thousand
Germnnic invaders crushed out forever
what remained of Roman territories be-
yond the Alps. But Italy remained, and
Stlicho, with his forces, collected from all
parts of the Empire, might have defied the
Goths. But envy and faction removed the
last hope of Rome. The frivolous Senate
he had saved, and the timid Emperor he
had guarded, were alike demented. The
Gothic King observed the revolutions of
the palace, and now, no longer held in
check by the only general capable of re-
sisting them, ad vanced to the coast of the
Adriatic. Following the Flaminian Way,
they crossed the Apprentices, ravaged the
fertile plains of Umbria, and reached the
imperial city, which, for 600 years, had not
been visited by a foreign enemy. Alarc
made no attempt to storm the ramparts,
but quickly sat down and enclosed the
doomed city with a Gordon through which
nothing could force its way. The city,
unprovided for siege, succumbed, and
condescended to sue for a ransom, and
AIaric retired with more riches than had
been taken from both Carthage and Anti
och. Peace was offered the miserable En-
peror, who had retired to Ravenna, but
was refused. The indignant barbarian
then renewed the siege of Rome. In the
dead Of night the Gothic trumpet rang
unanswered in the streets. For five days
and nights the Queen of the World was
exposed to lust and pillage. Tho lives of
ClllZeHS "clc SpdiCu, tHC SpOiiS
had been accommodating for centuries were
piled upon the Gothic wagons. The sons
and daughters of patrician families became
outlawed. The Roman world was filled
with CONSERVATION. The news Of the dis
aster made the tongue of St. Jerome cleave
to the roof of his mouth in his cell at
Bethlehem. Despair came upon St. Au-
gustine. The end of all things seemed to
be at hand
But still severer chastisement remained
to be inflicted by the Vandals-a fiercer
race, and whose King, Generic, was the
most hideous warrior who ever chastised
the Romans. He first cast his eyes on
Africa, and after Carthage had fallen he
turned his steps to Rome. The Queen of
Cities still wrapped around her the faded
folds of her imperial purple, rent by fac
ton, pierced by barbaric swords and tram
pied in the dust Yet not with the dignity
of Julius did she die. She begged for
mercy. No longer proud and stately, but
like withered hag-pale, CHASTITY, help
less, and forlorn. The last hope of Rome
was now her Christian Bishop, the great
Leo, who FASTENED to the barbarian's
camp. All he could secure was the promise
that the lives of the people should be
spared. The pllage lasted fourteen days
and nights, and all the Goths had left was
transported to the ships of GenserIc. The
statues of the gods which ornamented the
Capitol, the holy vessels which Titus had
carried from Jerusalem, the shrines and
affairs of the churches, imperial ornaments,
the Jewels of Senatorial families, sideboards
of massive silver-all were transported
into Africa. The naughty city met the
fate which she had inflicted on her rivals,
but fell still more ingloriously, and would
never have arisen from the desolation had
not the great Christian Bishop awed the
invaders by his dignity, and founded the
scat of a spiritual empire which remains
venerable to our own time.