Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-08
European History.


 Another Lecture by pr. E. A. Freeman,
 of EngIand--The Rise and Fall of the 2 Roman Republic.
 Another lecture in the course on European History was delivered by Dr. E. A. Freeman at North Sheffeld Hall last evening, his sub ject being Rome as Republic and an Em- pire. After his introduction the speaker al- lnded to the fact that the Roman dominion grew up as one of the greatest dominions the world has ever seen. We have seen, said the speaker, the older Greek cities combining together. Athens became a ruling city, but she had no public interest in the conquest she had won. The questions of peace and war were settled by the ruling cities. But of all these cities came Rome, who on the Fiber created city on the seven hills and grew to- be the foremost community. The difference between Rome and any other city was that she dealt justly with her inhabitants and came to be the ruling power which gained In the end. The Latin cities in Rome's imme- diate neighborhood received whatever good Rome saw fit to bestow
 The Roman territory became too large to be represented in it's citizen capacity. Rome advanced to the head of the town, and Ital ian and Greek towns became subject to
 
 nearly two hundred years The towns re- mained commonwealths, although separate commonwealths. A province in the Roman republic was 8 corporate sovereign. Athens for centuries remained in theory not a sub- ject of Rome. In the days of Roman domin- ion it took up the whole civilized world. The commonwealth of San Marine was referred to, standing by itself and over which. Italy really had no control, and the speaker said | the same was true in regard to cities of the Roman dominion. We have passed from the days of the commonwealth to the days of the Empire. Though the destiny of Rome was not carried out, it was perfectly plain | what the destiny of Rome was to be- The fate of all was plain, that Rome was to l be swallowed up sooner or later. Rome let ! down her victims very easily, and all sooner \ or later must be swallowed up by Roman I dominion There is no more instructive his | tory than that of Rome. The only wonder I is that no one thought of the federal system | in the government of Rome. Although such 8 position would not have satisfied Roman | pride, yet it was the only means that | could be adopted. The work of Rome is
 now practically done. Just as the Roman | glory had reached it's height the Empire | was begun. Offices deemed incompati- | ble with each other were united I and all the inhabitants of the Roman ! empire became Romans. It may be doubted ! whether the change was advantageous. To ! the Roman Senate the people and provinces | under Emperor Augustus were simply pos | sessions. No doubt the establishment of the [ empire did some good in benefting the prov l inces. The good Emperors came gradually to rule for the whole dominion. The poht- I ical lesson to be drawn from the Roman com- monwealth was dwelt upon by the speaker, and it was that the failure of Rome as re- public was no argument against freedom. The rule of commonwealth was often worse than the rule of 8 king, and there is no doubt but that there was good need of reform under the Roman republic, and when all became Romans all necessarily became Emperors and the Empire became the prize of the most valiant among them. Untram- melled by the provisions of the common wealth, they took to themselves the outward appearance of kingships and in all divisions of the Empire the dominion abided. Con- stantinopIe remained under Constantine the seat of empire, until it gave way to the Turks. Then days of distress came, but old and new Rome knew but one Empire but it vas split asunder forever. Step by step the western Empire became a Greek power, and step by step the eastern Empire became German power, until theERoman Empire was broken in pieces. Among all of the ruling cities of the world we may pick out two. Venice with her islands, queen of the ruling cities of romance and speech, shows us city thelgreatest in her dominions and the most positive in her rule.
 When Rome last produced citizen too great to be citizen Rome fell. Venice has twice groaned under a foreign yoke. And now what immediate practical lessons may we learn? I venture to tuink that we learn much and that as a, rule there is no government ! except from common center. The system of provinces with rulers seems to me to be ! vicious idea. Let foreign dependencies not exist at all. Referring to England, the speak 1 CT said that the title of Queen of Great Brit ain sounded better to him than Empress of India.
 The history of dependencies is no small part of the history of the world, ard among the darkest pages in history are those of de- pendent lands, and among the brightest pages of history are those who have gained l their independence. The days of free cities seem to be passed, though unhappily I think. Railways telegraphs and the like really alter the status of the people who live in them. No such country or unon could be kept together without these appliances. We have passed through many ages and many lands but have never lost sight of the Seven Hills' and the Roman power. which was the center of thought in the middle ages. Bear in mind again the Roman Elm pire that survived your republic for many years, while it was thing for which men were ready to live and die.
 The distinguished lecturer was heartily cheered at the close of his interesting lecture, brief abstract of which is only given. T,Hxx nd ha