The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15

Rome and will survive. In the work Of Sal
vlhnus nothing IL more remarkable than tn,
frank admission that. In respect Of humanity
and Justice. the Goth far excelled the Ro.
man official. and that many Romans Of his day
preferred the government OF the Cloths. Sal
vinnus may have exaggerated the sensual ex.
cesses OF his own countrymen. as he probably
ideAlized the purity OF German morality. But
he discerned the real weaknesses Of Rome in
the intolerable taxation. the cruelty OF the
official class and the selfish rapacity OF the rich.
which made many Romans welcome the hui
manel rule OF q Gothic chief.
In the writings of Sidonlus, who belongs TO
the last half Of the fifth century. we hear less
about the general course Of government and
the fortunes OF the empire than was to be ex-
pected. From one OF his letters describing a
journey to Rome In 467. we see that the post
ing service between Lyons and Rome was
still Uninterrupted. In the letter there is
not a hint Of any trace OF the invasions and
troubles Of the times. Although but twelve
years had elapsed since the city had been
sacked by the Vandals. and Berbers. there is
no intimation that any damage had been in
ficted upon public buildings and monuments.
The social system OF the city seems to
be mistaken and unchanged. The scenes OF
public resort and amusement, the theatres and
markets. the temples and forums have the air
ofancient peace. When one reads the descrip-
lions Of the crowds OF clients who thronRed
the morning receptions of the magnates. one
Nigh fancy ones self back In the days OF Cicero.
In his epistolary report Of the gossip heard in
Roman high society. there is but little refer
ence to the straits OF Auvergne. or TO the
dangers and weaknesses which were bringing
the Western empire to the verge Of the abyss.
There is no doubt that the German Govern
ments. which in the last half OF the fifth CEN
fury succeededto the Roman Administrators In
the West, were as anxious as their predecessors
to prevent violence and plumber In their terri
tories. In the period OF transition. however.
through which they were passing. boundaries
were fuctuating and uncertain, social bonds
were relaxed and authority was weakened.
There are indications that the roads were not
Away safe and that couriers might have their
despatch bags examined. some of the letters Of
Sidonius are written with an obvious reserve.
as II they might come under the eyes of persons
who would use the contents to the prejudice OF
the writer. In one. written In Burgundian
territory. the names Of the King and Queen are
yelled. We are accustomed to think OF the
German invading Kings as WELDING an over
whelming power over a crushed and conquered
population. AS q matter Of fact. in Gaul and
Spain the Roman Inhabitants far outnumbered
the invaders. and the Roman mobiles were rich.
powerful and boqnd together by the closest
ties OF tradition and culture. That tho Ger
mans inspired fear is certain. but it is equally
certain that they were very sensitive to the
good or evil opinions held about them by their
Roman %neighbors. and especially to the opinion
OF an exclusive and fastidious caste.
Not much is to be learned from Sidoniu about
the fortunes ofthe DIM silent masses which suf-
fer most in great social commissions. The no.
tices OF violence and widespread calamities are
infrequent. There must. unquestionably. have
been much suffering. especially among the
lower classes OF the Gallo Roman population.
and there must have been q general sense OF
and some interruption Of intercourse
and business. The impression left. however.
by the letters Of Sidonius Is that men Of his
class suffered more In their hopes and senti-
ments than in their material fortunes. Their
final severance from the great imperial sys-
TEN caused q shock Of grief and indignation
which finds vent in a passionate letter which
sounds like an epitaph on Avernian freedom.
The Gallo-Roman feared that he should lose
his heritage in the long tradition Of Roman
He could force himself to accept the
rude hospitality of a Gothic or Burgundlan
court he had proved that he did not fear to
face the Germans In battle: but the illusion
of his youth about the great centre OF order
and civilization was vanishing. and he watched
with foreboding the darkness that was de-
scending on the West. M. W. q.