The sun., 1882-08-20


expects that the original autographs OF the
Apostolic writings will oven be brought to light.
Those autographs arc lost beyond all reason
able hope of discovery. 1t is significant that
they are not even mentioned by the post-Apos-
tolic authors as being eNtant anywhere. or rs
having been seen by them. DR.. Schan has lit
tie doubt that. being inscribed upOn the brittle
paper then in ordinary use (the Egyptian
papyrusl, they perishcd before the close OF the
first century like all other ancient writings.
with the exception of aifew that were acciden
tally preserved in Egyptian tombs or under
the lava of Vesuvius at Herculaneum.
An American Edition or Montesquieu's Great
Work.
It may seem at first sight surprising that
n new translation of MontesQuieus famous es-
say on the greatness and the decline OF Rome
should be published at this time in this coun-
try. The scholar will perhaps evince some in
credulity touching the qualifications Of Mr..
JEHu BAKER for the task. and the man of busi-
ness may marvel that such experienced pub
fishers as the Appetons would risk money in
the undertaking. Whom we reflect. however.
that at every political meeting and in every
debating society throughout the land an at
tempt is made to interpret our own in
the Roman Commonwealth, we can see that
definite and trustworthy notions Of Roman his
tory are urgently required and should be
warmly welcomed. AS TO the authors compe-
tence TO correct and supplement the conclusions
OF Montesqueuby the fruits OF later historical
research and criticism. the candid reader who
is himself duly conversant with the subject
will acknowledge that it is here treated with
remarkable insight and fulness of knowledge.
Even the method adopted By Mr.. Baker which,
at first sight. might repe the student. will
be found to have weighty advantages in
tho case of popular handbook. In
stead OF giving us q continuous translation
OF Montesqueus monograph. and then
adding the critical and complementary matter
in appendices. Mr.. Baker inserts his minor
comments and corrections in foot notes. and
discusses the more important subjects raised
in each chapter of the original in an inter-
calated essay. In this way the general reader
is induced to examine the emendations or OBJ
Joctons to the French essayist's conclusions
while the latter are fresh in his mind. In short,
Mr.. Baker has taken the treatise Of Montes-
Quieu as a text on which TO build Il concise
summary of tho discoveries made in the field
OF Roman history by innumerable scholars
from Niebuhr down to Mommsen.
The utility of the work performed by Mr..
Baker may be illustrated by Contrasting some
of Montesquieu's remarks with the editors
comments. Montesquieu for instance had as
cribed the ruin OF Rome largely to the absorp-
ton of the old Roman stock. There is no doubt
that during tho last century OF the republic
there was a great influx Of strangers who lacked
the Roman consciousness and feeling. Never
thelsss, there was. as Mr.. Baker points out. n
considerable remnant OF the primordial ethni-
cal element. and Montesquieu had failed
to note that what remained of this
stock had. TO very great extent, lost
the Roman virtue from causes having
little or nothing To- do with foreign admixture.
What does Mr.. Baker mean by the Roman
virtue! He has in view that quality Of charac-
ter which consists in uprghtness and fidelity
on the part of the citizen in all his relations to
the State of which he is q member. This quail
ity. which is properly designated as civic vir-
tue. was characteristic OF tho Roman people
during the best ages of the republic. and up to
the commissions which took place under Marius
and Syila The old aristocratc and democratic
parties which mad always aGitated the State,
but which by their mutual forbearnnce
had hitherto been compatible with the en-
istencc OF imperfect Commonwealth.
now Itgenerrted into mere factions. seeking
each others destruction by the sword. and be-
came wholly incompatible with a republican
Constitution for the state. Mr.. Baker accord
ingiy, considers the descent OF the republic
into C,nsarlsm and the empire as merely the
adjustment of q low form of government TO the
already lowered civic character of the Roman
people. AS to the subjects OF Rome. we know
by tho testimony oi Tacitus that the .;reat
mass ut thcm were not aVer5v TO the overthrow
of the republican regime. disgusted as they
were. with Government pcrturbed by the
dissensions Of tho great and debased by the
avarice Of the magistrates and in which the
laws were invalldated by force ambition. and
bribery.
IN referring to the assassination OF Caesar by
BrutUs, Montrsuueu signifies no disapproval
OF the act. assuming upon this subject the tone
OF an ancient rather than a modern philoso-
pher. 1t is certain that the admiration OF tho
ancient assassns is dying out, and that it
would be hardly possible for another such
rhapsody rs that OF AkCnside upon Brutus to
bc produced at tho present day. As liberty
comes To be better understood. and as men
grow to be more capable of it, sympathy with
the doctrine of assassination of tyrants dimn-
isles. In proportion rs civilization does its
work, conscience more and more shrinks from
a doctrine which. while protesting to limit it.
sell to tho destruction OF the worst of men.
authorizes treachory falsehOod, and stealth
as means Tor the accomplishment OF
murder. Concluding some judicious remarks
upon this topic. Mr.. Baker uscribes the great
change Of opinion on the subject of tyrannicide
mainly 10 the comprehensive fact that ancient.
and, for that matter medieval societies, were
more influenced by tine passions and impulses
of men and less SO by their reflective powers.
than is the case with modern communities.
The result was that the spirit OF usurpntion,
the spirit of illesitimate domination of all
. sorts, was much moro audacious and unprn-
cipIed in ancient than it is found to be in
modern times; and II natural counterpart OF
this discrepancy would bo difference of opn-
ion in relation to the assassination of tyrants-
the propensity 10 excessive violence in the one
direction awakening a corrective excess in the
other.
Montesquieu's discussion OF the Roman sys-
TEN of intercommuncaton is a part of his
work which obviously calls for revision In his
note upon this subject the editor points out
that in respect OF intercommunication the
ancient world may be regarded as having
reached its ma Nimum during the period which