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

bal was beaten by a smaller man. some fourteen
years elapsed. We shall not follow the details
Of that struggle, but merely observe that, oven
after his country had boon compelled to accept
humiliating terms OF peace, Hannibal did not
wholly abandon hope. A revolution in Carthage.
Of which we know only the results. presently
placed the war party in Office again; Hannibal
wa. raised to the head Of affairs by a popular
vote; he was made virtually a dictator. The
great Carthaginian. statesman as we'll as soldier.
and In both capacities the first man of his time,
sought with his wonted judgmen and resource to
restore in some measure his declining country;
we know, on the evidence of his enemies. that
his success was remarkable. He managed to
strengthen the petty army which Carthage was
still allowed to possess, yet so that jealous Rome
should not tako umbrage; he effected a thorough
change in the institutions Of the state, at once
beneficent and on the side OF liberty. He trans.
formed the narrow and arbitrary Government
Board which had usurped and abused supreme
power, and made it responsible to the people; he
placed the finances on a sound basis. He re-
formed tho whole system OF administration with
the best results. Under his wise rule Carthage
began to stir with new life; her wealth so in
creased that she was ablc to offer 10 redeem
her war debt to Romo by a single payment
indeed. 30 admirable was her geographical posi-
ton ~ an entrcpot OF commerce that Han
nibal might well look forward to O time when
she might regain some part OF the power she
had lost and once moro be formidable in the
field. 1t was the cruel fate OF this great man
that his foes were those Of his own order. and
that his countrymen were unworthy of him.
1t was enough to arouse tho suspicious anger OF
Rome that Hannibal was once more in power at
Carthage, and that the vanquished State was
rising again under his wise government. Tho
defeated Carthaginian oligarchy famed the
smouldering fire; they let the Roman Senate
know, what was doubtless true, that its enemy
and their own was hiding its time, and was
looking forward to an opportunity to renew tho
war. A demand for the surrender OF Hannibal
was despatched from Rome; to the honor OF
Scipio. he made n protest Nevertheless, the
victor Of CANINE was shamefully prescribed: the
palace OF the Barcas was RACED to the ground;
the warrior and statesman had to fly from his
country. Hannibal, It ia we'll known, fought
refuge at the court Of Antiochus. the lord of
the vast, underlined Seleukid empire spread
ing from tho Hellespont to the Indus, and
comprising Asia Minor with its Greek settle
ments. the provinces OF tho Assyrian and Per.
sian monarchtes, and the lands of tho OXus
and the J~axartes. 1t seemed TO Hannibal that
his opportunity had come. Antiochus received
him at Ephesus with the highest honors
and gave him q foremost place in his councils.
Hannibal roposs,' that hostilities against Rome
should be delayed until an irresistible league OF
the West and the East should DO formed against
the common enemy Of all: the Gauls OF the Pc and
the Gets OF the Tagus were to join hands with
the Greeks of Hellas and Macedon and with the
Asiatic races bordering the Hays. the Orontes.
and the Euphrates. and to construct a coalition
which should strike down Rome. For himself,
he would undertake to awaken Carthage; he
would be the forerunner of the great Gvenging
hosts; he would descend on Italy and fight an
other Gamma. Now OF course II is impossi.
BILE to say. whether these gigantic dc.
signs had. as affairs stood. a reasonable
prospect of success: It ia certain. however, that
plans were always deeply laid. and
assuredly, he should have had the supreme d.
rection Of the war. But Antiochus WAS swayed
by mean and petty minds. jealous of the ascend
ancy Of greatness, influenced, too. perhaps. by
warnings from the peace party in Carthage. per.
haps by information supplied from Rome. AT
all events, tho war was precipitated before it
was prepared; Hannibal was RELOCATED to q sub
ordinate's place and was intrusted with only an
Inferior In which his military genius
was thrown away. No effort was made to form
the great league which he had declared was In.
dispensable for the overthrow OF Rome; In q word,
the contest was waged under the very worst
auspices. The result was the defeat OF Antiochus
and the surrender OF Hannibal was made one of
. the conditions OF an ignominious peace. After
this last failure OF hopes heretofore unquench.
able. Hannibal led for many years tho life of a
fugitive. We SOC him in Crete and again in
Armenia; and. as in the case of Alexander. the
East abounds in traditions about tho master
spirit OF his age, He seems never To have had
much influence at the courts OF tho minor kings
wherein no was now received; tho vengeance OF
Romo always ran before him. and the legend
that he fonndad Arta~ata Ia nnonon,oo5 ~