Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-02-23

OF this wonderful people through the
long centuries Of their cx 5tencc. Ro.
man lie from the lime of the tabled
RomuIus to that OF Constantine pre-.
scnts too many changes. too many vary
log scenes TO be discussed in one short
lecture. The Roman OF the mighty
luxurious empire was q iar different iu-
d.yidual from the Roman OF the king
dom. and tic republic. The former
ceased to be thc real Roman. thc pre-
server aud promoter of individual
liberty, and became degenerate con.
giomeration Of thc cHcmnlto oriental
and the cruel barbarian. The empire
presents marnihccnce and luxury in the
extreme, and in is fmtycau especially
much thatwe still hold OF true worth,
900 engineering, architecture, law and
literature. hu; 10 is 20 the earlier days of
the Republic we must turn Do wc would
see the Roman at Dis best, see the
matrons the citizens, the statesmen and
the generals who have given Rome "a
ulmc name worthy 60 stand through the
agc5. Let us then direct our thought 20
the activities, 20 the real lie of ihc men
and women Of the SO called Roman
republic, and learn their strength and
weakness, that wc, building on the past
may make the present and the future
more useful and more glorious
"Romc rose, Hourishcd for time, and
icll" Over aud over again we hear
this true sayings and Il is usually closed
with a sort OF happy sigh Of relicl that
seems to add, chow thankful we are
that she FELL" But Rome has not fallen.
Her political dominion, TO be sure. BIAS
largely passed away; but She still lives.
The real Rome thuycs today in the lie
and institutions Of the civilized nations
Of the world. DO you doubt 10 Study
then, carefully the history OF architecture
law and literature; and am sure your
question will be changed TO the strongest
affirmation.
five let our minds eye run back along
the ages, We doubtless shall sec a group
Of mere matched hus clustered around
the palatinc hill. Poor mean novels they
would seem to as today and yet they
were the houses OF the ancestors of lhe
proud Romans. Here was the soil that
was TO laugh under their magical touch.
As they felt those volcanic formations
tremble beneath their feet and listened
with awe 10 the mighty voices OF the
gods. ulmbling among the mountains or
sa.HfIH Ift H.. H.f
their feet, so the whole world was dgs-
tined to pale with fear at the martial
tread Of their legions aud bow their
uCcks hubmissiycly TO the seeming iu-
cwtahle. Men reared under that clear
blue sky, with their faces famed hy the
invigoratiug breezc3 from the lofty hills
about them, confronted by natures
sturdy difficulties, and with persistent
enemies on every hand, could not sit
down in ComplaCcut cOntcntmcnt. The
gods beckoncd them ON at every turn.
Inactivity meant death. annihiIation.
These early Romans appreciated the
situation, possessed the vigorous spirit,
implored the gods for aid, and bueklcd
on their armur tor the contest A. we
review their career, we are reminded OF
the saying OF the Old Greek poet.
Epichaoms: "Ihc gods sell al good
things 10 as for toll" and no nation has
fought more sturdily aud more truly
canned Us liberty and dominion than
has the Roman.
From the time when those proud adj.
VentufgB began to spread over Rumes
seven hills aud the intervening valleys.
the people were divided into two
CLASSES, the patuclns and plebe.ans. To
the former belonged all Roman of pure
blood, all who were the descendants OF
the hBt settlers and proprltt1fs, and
among the latter were Included 900 other
irgymcn, from the wealthy merchant TO
the poorest farmer and artisan. Below
these was still another class. by mo-
means small In number yet OF whom
the state practically took no account.
These were the slaves, an ever ucfels.
ing and strangely couglomultc multi.
tudc, the fruit OF ConQucsts TO the cast
and 10 the west, TO the north and 20 the
south.
With three such distinct and widely
separated classes. Il could hardly be
expected that harmony would exist.
The pltTiClns considered them elves
the only rIghitul citizens Their Will
was the state and 40 Others should think
themselves fortunate chat they have the
privilege of living under such illus,r0us
AoNNlous me nIuNDIINH OF course
were not satisfied q. the pruspgg. OF
always being huuulcr dog, and ulmrI-
ly began 20 Struggle 90 gee Co the top
where quarters We're larger and breath.
ing space more abundant This contest
w3ged lieIl-.y during generation aur.
generation. The pllugaW disputed
every inch OF ground with % success
known only TO the persistent who ale
ready have Ihe office and powers oi the
government 100 their grasp. hut mo- less
persistent We're the pgbgAus. They
watched every opportunity and found
OUT and attacked every weak point
hgIcey The pauIcians, however, We're
wise unstucuu, aud when compelled
by force OF circumstance, gave way
gracefully and admitted their plubean
brothers 20 citizenship, aud equal rights.
Bitter aud long was that struggle. 10
not only served as @ means ul develop
ing great iniereatani power iu state,
Crllti but also shows the wonderful
vitality and expansive power OF the
people of the Seven HIl's.N
The Romans were naturally calm and
unpoeugal. Their tendencies were
sIO.C1l, and hence when that system OF
philosophy was introduced from Greece
in the latter days of the republic. 10
gained more followers than any other
OF the philosophical systems of the
time. The Roman respected power
D. D. al