New-York tribune., 1896-03-29

n, the iuoperal city centred in that vast struct-
ure and much Of the effort Of recent criticism
ia devoted 10 showing that Gibbons view OF this
,o,itics MS the mere turbulence Of circus parti-s
WAS sunerfcial Russian investigators, VINO nave
in their own politics and social customs Key u
certain Byzantine mysteries. maintain that the
divisions OF the population were orgahi%eu VII
thoroughly practical lines. Business interests
and not the mere fancy for the coors Oh ''ie
racecourse led to those conflicts when nave al
tracted alike the historian and the romancer.
III.
The reaction against the Byzantine por'ioii VI
Gibbons history has had an appreciaoie eiieo'
on the earlier portion relating TO Rome i'seii
Nommsen's eager defence Of Caesarism
strengthened the new tendency. Ihis iirs'
volume Of Dr. Burys edition Of "The Decline
and FAN, shows how strong this tendency is
and at the same time how little 1t interferes
with the actual facts as Gibbon gave them
The editors notes are included in brackets Tor
the sake of distinction. but are numbered, with
a single exception along with the original notes
of the author The exception has reference Dy
a letter Of the alphabet. and IL unfortunately
marred by the omission OF word Ihere are
some other oversights In the book wn'ch ma! DIS
well be exemplfed now; for example. an lfh-
perfect French word "justicatif' and hoh-
sacheischen' in German which might be cor
rect enough with proper pointing. Taking Dr'
Bury's notes as a whole. they add to the IN
formation given by Gibbon rather than correct
him. On specific points-the population or Rome
and the Empire, the military system, the reia-
tion Of Zenobia to the Rome Of her time. the sup
ply of the precious metals in Rome. the char-
acter of Faustina and not few others the
tho cta afape n
text Sometimes, as in the case of the constitu-
tions Of the Italian the note contradicts with
out really correcting Gbbon. The historian 5
proverbial caution saved him over and over
again from committing himself to positive
statements in matters uncertain or subject 10
dispute He never allowed himself to be aoso-
lutely sure of anything. Almost the only GOWN
right error of the pen corrected py DT' pu'! -
Gregory Of NazianZen." A few slips In trans
lation are noted, but none of the KIND due 10 t"e
use OF authorities at secondhand. Or. BURY
attributes Gibbons accuracy In part 10 Ms
model and guide. Tillemont. and notes siiEht
falling off historically when Gibbon ventures
into a domain which the French historian lett
unexplored These particulars indicate the
whole burden OF adverse criticism which Gibbon
must carry.
The most significant censure relates to matters
ture to insist on the accuracy Of his opinions as
against those of his editor. He despised most
Of the Roman Emperors. DR.. Bury tries to res
cue some OF them from obloquy. To Gibbon
Caracala a monster. fancifu worshipper
and imitator of Alexander the Great. puerie and
incapable. DR.. Bury's comment is that this en-
peror though his policy was borrowed from MS
father. able administrator, whose mill
tary works were important. Gbbon ridcules
Caracaa's Macedonian phalanx. DR.. Bury ap-
peals more recent military critics for PROOF
that the development Of the phalanx was. un-
der the circumstances OF the empire. beneht and
a necessity" Caracalla's admiration Of Alex
ander was not mere individual fancy. but
characteristic of the age. and II was tempered IN
his case by admiration also for Sulla and Hanni-
bal. In the case Of another emperor, Maximin,
Gibbon really committed the error OF uttering
two contradictory opinions Base. ungrateful,
dark sanguinary, cruel and avaricious on one
rage on another from the prudent conduct Of
Maximin, we may learn that the savage features
of his character have been exaggerated by the
pencil OF party; that his passions. however I'm
petuous, submitted to the force OF reason
Holding middle way. DR.. Bury gays that
"Maximin was a rude soldier but he thor
oughly well-meaning and capable. He equal
to the emergencies Of the empire. and able TO
cope with the dangers on the Rhine and the
Danube Like Septimius Severus he had no
sympathy with the Senate. with Italy. or with
the populace Of Rome For him the army was
the populous Romanus. The intense hatred how
ever, which the Senate conceived for him
chiefly due TO the somewhat tyrannical rule OF
his praetorian praefect, V!talan. who governed
Rome while the emperor defended the from
tiers Numerous inscriptions testify TO Maxi
Minis activity in every province in repairing and
extending roads" These examples serve TO show
the aim OF this new edition Of Gibbon. They give
emphasis to the fact that at the present day in
Eurore there are signs Of reaction In the minds
Of learned mer against the democracy OF Grote
ard Of modern life, toward the Imperialism Of
Mommscn and OF the past DR.. Bury's plan in
cludes not only notes. but numerous brief es-
says in an appendix. and an Introduction, which
should be supplemented by others for each vol
ume. II the work Is to be really complete