The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-10-24
Tho Menace OF Money.

A body of ten or fifteen thousand guards
will strike terror into the most numerous pop
nace that ever crowded the streets OF an
immense capital. The praetorians band,
whose lcentious fury was the first symptoms
and cause of the decline of the Roman en-
pre- scarcely amounted to the last mentioned
number. The praetorians had violated the
sanctity of the throne by the atroclous muir
der of Pertinax. Amidst the wild disorder
Sulpicianus, the emperors father-ln-laW,
the governor of the city, who had been sent
to the camp on the first alarm Of mutiny,
was endeavorng to calm the fury OF Inc
multitude, when he was silcnced by the clam
orous return of the murdererS, bearing on a
lance the head of pertinaX. Though history
has accustomed us to observe every principle
and every passion yielding to the 1mperlous
dictates of ambition it is scarcely credltable
that, in these moments of horror, Sulplclahus
should have aspired to ascend the throne pol
luted with the recent blood of so near a re-
lation and 50 excellent prince. lie had
already begun to use the only cfectua ar@u-
ment and to treat for the imperial dignity;
but the more prudent of the PraetorianS, APP
prehensive that in this private contract they
should not obtain 4 just price for so valuaDie
Il commodity. ran out upon the rampaftS
and, with loud voice, proclaimed that the
Roman world was to be disposed Of to the
best bidder by public auction.
This infamous offer the most lnSolent
excess of military license, diflused 4 universal
grief. shame and Indignation throughout the
city. 1t reached at length the ears of
Julian. a wealthy senator, who regardless of
the public calamity, was INDUCING himself IN
the luxury of the table. His wife and his
daughter, his freedmen and his parasites, eaSl-
" convinced him that he deserved the throne
and earnestly conjured him to embrace so ey-
celent an opportunity. The vain Old man has
tened to the praetoran camp where Sulpl-
49, do a
began to bid against him from the foot OF the
rampant. The unworthy negotiation was
transacted by faithful emisSareS who passed
alternately from one candidate. to the other
and acquainted each of them with the offers
of his rival. Suipicianus had already prom
sed a donation of 1900 drains (above 100
pounds sterlingl to each soldier; when Julian.
eager for the prize rose at once to the sum OF
$3.50 dramS or upward Of 200 pounds Stcr-
ling The gate of the camp was instantly
thrown open to the purchaser; he was declared
emperor and received an oath of allegiance
from the soldiers. who retained humanity
enough TO Stipulate that ne should
pardon and forget the competition of Sulpi-
cianus. On the throne of the word he found
himself without a friend, and even without an
adherent. The guards themselves were
ashamed of the prince whom their ayarice
had persuaded them to accept, there
a citizen who did not consider his elevation
name. The nobility. whose conspicuous sta
ton and ample possessions eXacted the 81; let
est caution, dissemblcd their sentiments and
met the affected cyity of the emperor with
smiles of cOmpacency and professions of duty,
but the people, secure in their numbers and
obScurity, gave free vent TO their passions.
The streets and public places of Rome re-
sounded with Clam0rS and imprecatfonS. The
enraged multitude afTronted the person of
Julian rejected his liberality, and conscious
of the impotence of their resentment, they
called aloud on the legions Of the frontiers
to assert the violated majesty of the Roman
empire The armies of Britain, of Syria and
of Illyricum lamented the death of Pertinax,
in whose company, or under whose command
they had often fought and conquered. They
received with surprise, with Indignation, and
perhaps with envy, the extraordinary intelIi-
gence that the praetorians had disposed of
the empire by public auction, and they sternly
refused to ratify the ignominouS bargain.
Their immediate and unanimous revolt was
fatal to Julian. but it was fatal at the same
time to the public peace.