The times., 1897-07-25

bal, written by william OIonnCr MOTIFS,
soraetune scholar of Oriel College, Oxford.
The lock is a charming resume of the
brilliant man and the period, brilliant in
the reflection OF his own luminous quail
tiles Necessarily it is a composite. The
author has drawn at many springs 10
furnish forth his goblet IL is a great
stimulus One cannot rise from consid-
eration Of such genius. such intrepidity,
bravery, originality and patriotism as were
possessed by Hannibal without feeling
reused in spirit and stirred in admiration
If not in emulation.
As MT. Morris points out, Hannibal is
handed down TO us through the mouths
OF his enemies, and they speak OF him
only furtively and most often at a great
distance Of time. Yet history has been
busy with him. and he rises above linii-
tatioEs of silence and time, breaks the
restraints OF the calumnious, great fig
ure in historical perspective. Though they
lid write OF his age, there is little of
Hannibal, except in cursory way, in
the writings OF Appian. Plutarch, Corne
Illus Nepos or Sallust: and Scilius Italicus
only affords proof of how Hannibal's mem
ory impressed Rome with awe even after
the lapse OF centuries. Polybius and Livy
OF all We know OF this general.
OF his private life we know little. Mr..
Morris sums it up in these few words:
.Ie was a cha ste, religious, earnest man.
without show or theatrical glitter, little
moved, it would seem, by human passion
His conversation had a peculiar cha rm;
# was rich III the varied culture of his age,
and he evidently possessed a native wit,
chexhibiteditselfins sharp, pregnantand
brief Sciences
But even al that is not ca silly subscribed
TO. We may accept chastity, earnestness,
religion and asceticism in a man of ex-
traoTdinary genius and achievement. and
there are some few ''shaTp, brief and
pregnant" sentences left us reputedly
from Hanaiiials own lips, but how does
Mr. Morris know that he was 50 cha rming
a conversdt tionaIist? OF course, it's pleas
ant point 10 subscribe TO. However, all
authorities OF 1ns man lived a couple of
centuries after his lips were silent, except
Polybius, whom our author 1enominates
a duh writer. under Roman influence, and
only tolerabIy impartial.
IT is unfortunate that the moral influence
of a private lie Of probity, such as must
have been this great cOnqueror's, is not
bequeathed 20 prosterity. We have only
the glory OF his military career Ia inspire
Us. But has was a unparalleled one. which
has held him through centuries in the first
ranks OF the worlds generals.
Hannibal conceived one Of the most daring
military ooups in history, and if he did
not completely execute it, there is more
glory for him IL the manner of his re-
treat, for there is genius in graceful
failure. Mr Morris, in writing the his
tory Of Hannibal, really writes only the
history 0f the second Pdnic war, the crisis
OF the memorable struggle between Car
thage and Rome. The Carthagenian sur
rounded himself with an army Of Phoe-
necians, Gauls SpaniaTds Italians and
Africans. allied to him by no patriotic
bonds, but scTH lie admiration, he marched
upon Italy 20 destroy the Roman empire
and aveEse the defeat OF the first punic
war.
Rome was accustomed to the fight of
force, an open field, an advance in front
clash, ana The triumph Of the NEST en-
GaIing. Hannibal, with rare genius, un-
dcrsUoad this, and, appreciating the value
Rf surprise, be planned the scaling OF the
Alps and 4 descent from this undefended
quarter The coup was successful He
pressed almost to the gates Of Rome. Ex
tending his han for the prize he was not
permitted TO grasp it. After a campaign
OF nnexcelled brilliancy, covering saven-
teen years, tie victorious Romans were
willing TO permit their vaDquished enemy
10 depart IN peace. HannibaTs genius is
clearly shown In two points Of this cam
paign, first in the expedition across the
Alps, and secondly in his determination
not 10 attack Rome, even after the vic
He gave TO the world the art Of strategy.
Before him, war was merely clash Of
physical forces He brought mentality and
genius into battle. He was anexpert taeti-
clan, eminent as an organizer, full of re-
sources, constant in adversely, and sur
prising st every point His ambushes and
covert attacks his flank movements andat-
tacks from the rear terrified the simple
minded Romans. who looked only in font
Of them and fought only whom they saw
and had not the foresight OF anticipation.
There Is something sad in the Spectacle
OF thisGreat and mightyman, after conquer
ing the APPS, surviving victorious stranger
IN the plains Of Italia for seventeen
years, 10 Sink away. beaten, TO lead theIife
of a fugitive. without influence, bounded
by Rome, and betra yed 81 last by a pledged
assassin, VINO simulated friendship. but
cheating fate atlastin a cup OF poison
II Is fortuitous, however, that HannibaI's
nrms We're not victorious, for that would
have meant tnot only his supremacy, but the
supremacy OF Carthage. and that would
h2veb beenan unnixed evil. Toarrive atthis
conclusion one has but TO consider the
character of the Carthaeenans.
Mr.. Morris own words give a conpre-
hcnsive review of their character Carthage
WAS not 6 nation in the true sense of the
word; she was a colony that had mad an
empire. and that ruled allied and subject
races. but there was no Carthagenian ma.
uonal character. But we can see W hat the
Carthagcnian citizens were, and what the
quality OF the population spread about the
city. The Cartbagenian was cowardly and
superstitious in his faith: he Dropitiated
MolOch by human sacrifice: he bowed be-
fore the cruel and lieentious Ashtaroth.
The noble had little thought OF the moral
forces that uphold states: of law, order and
Just government; he belonged TO dominant
caste OF traders, and was the master Of
slaves by tens Of thousands: he was a mar
row-Ininoed, selfish, corrupt, AMI op-
pressive ruler. His position did not en-
courage manly virtue; his pursuit was to
make money, and, accordingly, the gov
erninent, OF which he was the leader was
seldom energetic in public affairs. and
usually adoDtei u tiIid policy that cringed
70 tie strong and wronged the feeble The
o -.