Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-11-22
An Election Day in Ancient Rome.

FROM repuoiicaI IIoue-out eaiiy Ieaeu
er-we borrow most Of our political ideas,
and even language. Our elections vary
little from those of the Roman forum. To
the Latins we owe cur candidates and our
orators, our tribuaitiau arts and tribunitian
veto the ballot and ballo: box, the register
aud the polling, the conception of personal
independcnce, the sovereignty of the peo-
pie. The free Roman would bow to no
man; aud Cicero and ;rsar were forced to
solicit the votes of their fellow citizens with
a humility that was never feigned.
To obtain an Office at Rome the candidate
toIed for months, and even years. Clad in
his white robe be walked the forum and the
busy streets of the city salutins every ore,
asking votes, and seeking what we now call
popularity. He spoke to every citizen he
met familiariy, he grasped his hand, be
begged his support, he spoke of bis own
merits, dccricd his opponent, promised to
advocate some liberal measure, and some.
times q hribe. Cicero, who was above
bribery, has left Us in his letters Il curious
picture OF the tolls, anxcties, and interior
life cf the Roman candidate.
An election day at Rome was u scene oil
singular excitement. Every year the chief
magistrate Of Italy was renewed, and every
wear tho voters crowded the capitol. The
city was agitated by intense party feeling.
The rural population from Latium and the
distant colonies over the Tiber FASTENED TO
exercise the priced right of suffrage. Chari-
OTIS filed with citizens came from the Sabine
villages, footmcn crossed the Sublician
bridge, great multitude wandered through
the streets Of Rome, astonished at the mag
rifcence of the city.
II it was consular election the people
gathered at sunrise in the Campus Martius,
where the voting was to take place. The
candidates in their white robes, before day
break were seen mingling with the voters,
followed by their partisaus and proclaming
their political principles. Sometimes they
stood on = high position, where they could
be seen ny all sometimes the great multi
tudc covered the tops Of the houses and
filled all the extensive plain from the capi-
tol to the river.
At length, at the sound ofa horn, the vo-
ters assembled in the Campus Martius. If
the auspices were favorable and no peal OF
thunder heard, Il standard was raised on the
Jauicuuu. anu tho consul began the cere.
monies with prayers and sacrifices ;th" neu-
pie, deeply superstitious, awaited awe
stricken until hc closed The sp; ctacle was
one Of rare interest," it was al as:embage Of
Roman freemen. In the latter comitia, ut
least. all were equal The rich noble, ac-
customed to luxury and power the equities,
who had sprung from poverty 10 wealth;
The prosperous traders OF h" Forum and
th. Suhurra; the farmers, even sometime
the freedmen the manumitt ed slaves were
blended by the Roman law i"!o one f1armo-
npt,s ani momcntary equality. Each was
.!lca Will II vote.
The voting next began. The excitement
rose. The people, arranged in centuries or
hundreds, passed over bridge of wood
inlo the polling place. Here, in the earlier
age. they voted orally, and later with
wooden tablets Each vote was recorded
aud counted at once, and the result an
nouEced. The ba!lot-box and the register
were watched over by citizens of undoubted
homer, AMI fraud was scarcely possible. AS
cne by ono ;he centuries gave in their bai-
lots ,he excitement was redoubled. The
candidates and tho people hung breathless
upcn the cries of the herads as they pro-
claimed the progress Of the election. Livy
has iefs many picture of these fierce polit-
lea! struggles. Now on one side, now on
another, the balance hung. at last 1t was
fixed forever. A Scipio, Il Cato, Graccus,
a Caesar, had triumphed, and the victors
shouted in wild strain of Southern enthu-
siasm that echoed far away over the capitol
aud the crowded hills. The beaten party
turned silently homeward. The excitement
was over, and the Roman voters went
quietly again 10 their usual pursuts.-Hor-
per's Weekly.