The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11

As the life Of Alexander really should begin
with an account of Philip Of Macedon, 80 any
adequate estimate OF Hannibal must devote a
preliminary chapter to his father, Hamilcnr.
Perhaps, too. a word Or two is Indispensable,
even in the most summary notice, regarding the
fundamental differences between Rome and
Carthage. Four chapters are allotted by the
author to that subject. The substance Of these
can be condensed in n few sentences. Carthage
was not n nation In the true sense Of the word:
she was acolony that had made an empire, and
ruled allied and subject races; there wns no Car
thagininn national character. 1t is still possible,
indeed, to discern what the Carthaginian citi-
Gems were and what were the qualities Of the
more or less alien population spread around the
city; In religion. the Carthaginian was super
~stitious and cowardly; he propitiated Moloch by
human sacrifices: he bowed before the licentious
and perhaps cruel Ashtaroth. The Carthagin-
ian noble took little thought Of the moral forces
that uphold States, of law. order or just govern
ment: he belonged to a'dominant caste of trad
ers. and was tho master of slaves by tens Of
thousands: he was n narrow-minded, selfish,
corrupt and oppressive ruler. His position did
not encourage manly virtue, the sense Of duty,
the patriotic spirit; his dominant aim was to
AhuAo thobOy . NtANb t"s
ment, of which he was the leader. was seldom en-
ergetic in public affairs; 1t usually adopted a bad
and timid policy that cringed to the strong
and wronged the feeble. The mass Of the citi-
gens resembled their betters; tho lower orders
formed a great urban populacc, bought and cold
like sheep in the mart Of politics. but arrogant,
domineering. passionate. and addicted to odious
vices. As for the neiRhborlng subject popula-
ton directly ruled by Carthage. it was a multi.
- IA Al
degraded qualities o: meh in q state of ignomini-
Gus bondage. Nevertheless, the fundamental
character of tho Carthaginian race had q stall.
wart Semitic cast; it was brave and stiff
necked, like that Of the Hebrew, and ca
pablo. in great emergencies, of great
deeds. Moreover, many as were the OBJ
stacles to their emergence. Carthage produced
illustrious men. As to the peoples governed by
the C~arthaginians from q distance. they seem
not to have felt tho influence of the governing
power deeply; their nature, habits, and usages
wero hardly changed. The language Of their
rulers has left no traces among them; like the
literature and art of Carthage. it has altogether
persisted. Mr.. Morris considers that Polybius
took but q superficial view when he asserted
that Romo and Carthage were not I'M
equally matched before the First Punic
War. As q matter OF fact, there was
no real comparison between tho vitality. the
Inherent power and the influence OF the two
States. Tho ascendancy Of Carthage at sea was
no doubt q great advantage; but, in every other
element of national strength. she was hopelessly
inferior to her vigorous rival. Rome was a great
nation. tho outcome. mainly. of one race; Car
thage was q colony at the head Of a half
barbarian empire. Rome, until after the Sec
ond Punic War. was a wise, even n merciful
ruler of her allied States: they were usually.
therefore, not only submissive. but loyal. Car
thage from first to last was the oppressor of
downtrodden peoples eager to throw off her
yoke. Rome. backed by at least half of Italy,
had defeated SO skilled n commander as Pyrrhus;
on the other hand. the Sicilian ARathocles and a
handful of soldiers had placed Carthage In peril
simply by evincing courage enough to carry
the war into Africa. Rome at the epoch Of the
Punio wars was still a community of free,
~land-owning citizens not yet harshly divided by
differences Of class: Carthage was an aristoc-
racy Of merchants and great slave owners ruling
the mob Of a demoralized city and outside alien
races sunk In degraded thraldom. Tho govern
mont OF Rome was as yet essentially good, was
animated by q patriotic spirit, regarded the
welfare of the State as Its first object; the
Government OF Carthage was essentially
bad, was pervaded by the narrow selhshness
Of . caste, was ready to sacrifice every po-
litical and social interest for lucre. The Roman
army had certainly defects, at which we shall
presently glance; but. on tho whole, 1t was far
superior to the Carthaginian MS an instrument
of war. especially in the qualities that insure
success. The Roman was as yet God-fearing.
law-abiding, manly. conservative; the Car
thaginian was superstitious, vindictive, cor
rupt. venal; tho great body of his subjects
was misruled or In q state Of savagery.
II is. consequently, easy to see which of
the two States was destined to take a leading
a 0laca In fha march of humanity Roma 10
overcome Carthage in the First Punic War; the
struggle was to be fierce and long. but, after 1t
was ended, she had q right to expect that she
would rapidly mako her way to empire. She
was, however, to meet In Hannibal an obstacle
upon which no foresight would calculate. a
mighty. almost Irresistible personality; con-
frontod with him. the edihce OF her greatness
nearly topped down; and. although tho great
Carthaginian fell and his country soon disap.
peared. his exploits have preserved the name Of
Carthage and will live forever In history.
We have said that tae Roman army, though
much superior to the Carthaginian In respect Of
ia infantry, had certain defects. 1t was weak
In cavalry. whereas tho Carthaginians were cx-
tremely strong In this arm. The Gaulish, and
especially the Numidian. horsemen repeatedly
performed admirable feats In the field, an
AFFILIATED the squadrons and even tho leRions
Of Rome and secured for Carthage splendid
triumphs. It is one OF Napoleon's omments
that " Hannibal necessarily beat the Romans
solely through the superiority OF his cavalry"
Not only were Hannibals horsemen useful In
~reconnoitring and securing the country, and in
carrying Into effect the stratsgems by which the
Romans were repeatedly deluded, but sometimes
they burst through the gaps in the legions and
broke them up, iroD-like as was tho Roman dis.
cipline; their charges, moreover. on the enemy's
TANKS were often fatal, and they were OF deci.
Blye value in following up a victory. In = word,
8. tho. prodigious successes OF Hannibal were
due mainly TO his cavalry. 1t is also to be noted
0At b9 CSrthaginian force Was superior d.