The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
w.

" 10 well known tnat, alter t9Saf $ death.
the Senators proclaimed an amnesty for his
murderers. but. desiring 10 retain the Offices
which the Dictator had allotted to them, pro-
ceeded to ratfy his public acts. and decreed
that Caesars will should be read in public.
and that he should have a public funeral. When
BrItus and Cassius learned whatthe Senators
had done, they sent messengers to the pie
beians. whom they invited TO come up TO them
AT. the Capitol. where the chief assassins had
taken refuge. Presently. a large number OF the
plebeians came together. and Brutus addressed
them. IL is Plutarch's version OF the speech
which is reproduced by shakespeare. Appian's
report OF 1t runs rs follows: Here. citizens,
We meet you, we who yesterday met together
with you In the Forum, We have come hither.
not az taking refuge in a sanctuary Uor We have
done nothing wrong. nor in a citadel tor
as regards our own affairs, we intr ust ourselves
10 you, but the sudden and unexpected At
tack made upon CHINA la PrRtor who had
justified the assassination compelled us TO
do 50. | know that our enemies accuse us
Of perjury. and say that We render a lasting
peace difficult. What We have 10 reply To
these accusations we shall say in your pres
ence. citizens. with whose help We shall do
what remains TO Ia done for the restoration
Of democratic government After Gaius
Cesar advanced from Gaul with hostile arms
against his country. and Pompey. the most
popular man among you. suffered AZ he did,
and after him a great number Of other good citi-
zens, who had been driven into Africa and
Spain. had persisted. Caesar was naturally
apprehensIye. although his power was firmly
intrenched. and We granted him amnesty
at his request. and confirmed 1t by oath. II
he had required us 70 swear not only 10 con-
done the past but TO be willing slaves for the
future. what would our present accusers have
done' For my part, I think that, being Ro-
mans. they would have chosen TO die many
times rather than take an oath Of voluntary
servitude." Brutus went on TO say that III
Caesar did no more against your liberty. then
are We %perjurers. But, If he restored to YOU
neither the magistrates of the city nor those
Of the provinces. neither the command OF
armies. the priestly offices, the leadership
OF colonies nor the other posts Of honor: IL
he neither consulted the Senate about any,
thing, nor asked the authority Of the people.
but, II CAESARS command was all in all. il he
was not even satiated with our misfortunes
as Sulla was tfor Sulla, when he had DESTROYED
his enemies, restored TO you the government
OF the Commonwealth. but Cesar as he was
going way for another long military oxpe-
dltion. anticipated by his appointments your
elections for five yearsl what sort Of freedom
was this in which not a ray Of hope could be
any longer discerned' What shall | say of the
defenders OF the people. Casetlus and Marullusg
Were not the incumbents OF a sacred and in
violable Office ANONYMOUSLY banishedP Al
though the law and the oath prescribed nv
our ancestors forbid calling the Tribunes 10
account during their term Of Office. Caesar
banished them. even without a trial. Have
We then, or has he. done violence 10 lnviolable
persons unless YOU say that Cesar was alone
sacred and inviolable. upon whom We CON
ferred that distinction not OF our own free
will hut by compulsion. and not until he had
invaded his country with arms and killed a
great number Of our noblest and hes, ci,l-
zens? Did not our fathers in n democracy,
and without compulsiOh. take an oath that
the Office Of Tribune should be sacred and in
violable, and declare with maiedictions that
N should remain so forever? What has be-
come Of the public tribute? What of the pub
lie accounis2 Who opened the public treasury
without our consent? Who removed part
Of the consecrated money! Who threatened
with death another Tribune who opposed him,