New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-18

Professor Dill cmbodieS in this book the fruits
of a careful study OF the social and polltlcai
conditions under which the closing battle pe-
tween Pagansm and Christianity was fouSht IN
the Roman Empire. The liberal thought with
which he has treated his material Is manifest III
his first pages He has nothing ethical to prove;
he neither excuses Paganism nor lauds Chris
tianity but sets himself the task OF seeing
things exactly as they were 50 as to portray
impartially the characteristics Of both parties IN
the great combat. If he gives due weight to the
diatribes of 81. Augustine and St Jerome OF
Orosius and Ammianus Marcellinus, he also
gives attentive consideration to the letters OF
Symmachus the poems of Ausonius. the Satur-
MALTA Of Macrobius. and the poems ard epistles
Of Auollinaris SidOnius He checks the state
ments or one side with those Of the other, and
scrutinizes both in the light of all existing au-
thoritics Also he reads his old authors Pagan
and anti Pagan. with the penetration and sound
sense Of a man conscious Of human nature as
well as Of books This makes the driest Of his
authorities live in his volume. and lifts his whole
theme TO A plane Of inteigiblity and vitality.
He adds to cur understanding Of a period ana
gives us keen enjoyment.
AS the fourth century was merged in the MIN
There was an acceleration Of the march OF IN"
Church toward her goal Of supremacy. But
every step was contested b. a stubborn national
feeling throughout the Empire. II IS well. at
the outset 10 recognize the national character
of this opposition, and TO dismiss the idea OF
world rent purely by religious fanatlciSm. Inc
Theodosan Code was on the side OF the angels;
and the Emperor himself, in the batt'e on the
Frigdus. gave 50 crushing a bloW To lhe redc-
tionary party that FlavIanus its leader con
frmed by his suicide the hopeleSSneSS oi MS
cause. But there IS a Worl1 OF meaning IN the
fact that his memory was respected, ana even
honored by the victors." In other words, the
Romans as a nation were not yet certain as To
which side Of the religious conflict they cared
10 espouse Their Emperor made laws to coercc
them away from their old affairs. They returned
to them forced by patriotic as much as by re-
ligious feeling We may apply to the masses
the sentences which Professor Dill applies To the
classes They may have believe! vaguely
in some Divine Power. and were ready to admit
that H. might be approached by many ways; Dut
their real devotion to Roma Dea. the IDEAL
lied genius of the Latin race, with It's Twelve
centuries Of victorious warfare and skful world
wide organization. In every step OF that mar
:elIons career. her ancient gods had been their
mariners The forms Of its ancestral religion
were incxtricably ntertwin"d with the whole
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literature the deepest instincts Of the people.
her ancient worship seemed inseparable from the
very identity of Rome The true Roman. even
though his religious faith might not be very deep
or warm. inherited the most ancient belief Of his
race that the gods Of the city were sharers in all
its fortunes Apostasy from them was Identified
with A languid patriotism. and was regarded as
the cause Of public calamitrs The complete and
literal acceotance Of the Christian faith seemed
TO mean refusal TO perform the duties of Citi-
zen or soldier a scolnfu abandonment Of the
old traditions Of culture. even loss of faith In
the mission Of Rome" The rise Of Christianity
was delayed then. by what would seem to he one
of the most tenacious facts in civilization and
human nature. There were. however. other ele'
ments Of obstruction. and it is to those. to poiit
cal moral and. above AL. intellectual decadence.
that Professor Dill addresses himself
\ pure patriotism would not have withstood
the advance Of "A force making Cor purity. But
fidelity to Rome. if often unselish. was just as
often based on the lowest motives. To the
populace Roma Dea gave bread and corn the
circus and the theatre baths and amusements.
70 the noble she gave place and profit. honors
at Court and opportunities for peculation such
as have rarely been equallcd even in the most
corrupt cpochs of modern history. Small won
der Is II thal MOD anu Pdu'''"" J'i"'u ''"N9
To pcrpctuatc religion that seemed 10 them
one of the props Of the social order. 1t was a
tragic fact in this situation that not even an
Emperor sympathetic To the rev religion could
enforce reprobation Of the old. He was con
fronted by fervid Pagans in high places. and
when in spite of them. he framed an edict,
there was no way in which he could see that
it's provisions were carried out. The officials
who were sworn to break up heathenish prac-
tices winked at them in their provinces, and