The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-29
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... Hsrsss Asrslaus
There 10 no moro striking proof Of thu often
unmarked ANALOGY between the Europe Of the
Ainetsenth century and the Roman empire Of
The 40 Of the Antoninss than the recsnt No.
vival Of interest In Marcus Aurslius. Two hun.
ersd years ago an English version Of the
TnouGhts" was executed By Jeremy Oollior
Who 10 much better known By his diatribs
against the stage. but now Prof. George Long
has brought within our reach far more aocu.
safe and readable translation. One Of the most
noteworthy volumes 81 Ernest Remains Ot.iotV~e
du OhristiantsMs 10 expressly allotted to
N~e-AwSh Il "a In DIV Monde Antigua
III. Matthew Arnold also has written
eshort but suRGeative essay on the imperial
Stole, and Mr. y. ". II. Myers has contributed
70 tho FortNtVhttv RevisO Q valuable study Of
she subject. N. Taine. too has examined some
81 the questions bearing on the relation Of Mar
vus Aurolius to bis time. and tho Same topic 10
discus sed by many German authors OF reputa-
NON either In monographs or In special chap
sors OF historical or philosophical works. In
hsmuch. however. N the book of N. Rensn has
not been translated. therc was room for an
English biography. in witch tho life OF tho best
man who was ever clothed with supreme power
FOR good or evil should DO traced with all the
minuteness OF which the extant materials will
admit. such biography is offered % in
Marcus A,relius Antontnus. BY PAUL BARRON
WATSON tilarpsrsl
while the best Of tho THOUGHTS" are
eoncisely set forth in a score Of pages, tho
wise and humane legislation which gave
Marcus his best title to the gratitude Of con-
temporaries and Of postsrity b rscited with
fulnsss which the work Of NJ Renan lacks,
snd the Emperor's attitude toward Christianity
10 defined and explained with peculiar lucidity
and cogenoy. OF the three riddles which
most students OF Marcus Aurelius have
lound hard to solve. and which oven Mr..
Arnold has thought It difficult to reconcile
With wholly favorable Judgment ono at least
tho relation. namely. OF Marcus Aurelius
toward the Christians Of his time. should cease
TO be stumbling block. In view Of tho facts and
considerations marshalled by Prof. Watson in
this volume. 1t soems to US that his defence OF
tho Emperor against the charge Of cruel and
unjusti1ed persecution 10 even more conclu-
sive than tho strenuous effort OF II. Renan to
tho same end. He shows that as . matter Of
fact Marcus Aurelius was not q pereecutor;
that not only By suppressing the professional
informers. but by oil other means in his power
consistent with the practice already established.
he endeavored to protsct the Christians. OF
inc tnF00 prosecutions tn6t TOOK place In
his reign. the FIRST. In which Justin suffered
martyrdom. was instigated BY mob, and the
Investigation was carried ON. not before the
Emperor himself. but before the Project Of the
city. Again. the martyrdom Of Polycarp was
the outcome Of . sedltlon which had done it,
work and been ouieted by tho Proconsul Of
Asia long before the news Of the dificulty could
b brought to Rome. As to the disturbance
finally. at Lugdunum and Vienna. this was due
apparently quite a. much to the ianaticism Of
the Christians % to the rage Of their oppo-
nents. The Emperor was entirely unso-
qusinted with the proceedings until they wore
nearly over. and a. soon o. he heard Of
what the authorities had done, he do.
spatohod . messenger with the command TO 10
strict the punishment to the extent permitted
by Trajan's resoript Thus we see that his on.
boavor was always 70 mitigate the sufYerings Of
Ne Christians rather than 70 augment them.
Che strongest proof Of the lenisncy Of Marcus
Aurslius toward Christianity 10 found in the
estsem in which he was always held by the
christians OF his own and later times, Il No