The Republican journal., 1901-01-24
The High School Lecture Course.

The second in the series in the High
School lecture course was given in Memo
rial Hall Friday evening before a good
audience. The speaker was William Nc
Donald, Phi. D., Professor of History in
Bowdoin college, and his subject, "The fall
of the Roman Empire in the West" While
the fall of the Roman Empire, he said, was
great crisis in history, it was not, as many,
who have notgiven the matter much thought
suppose, sudden change, but was the re-
suit of the political workings of centuries.
Scarcely anything in history has happened
suddenly. The change in the Roman En-
pire was compared with the changing of the
old century into the new-we see no change
at the time, yet momentous changes are
gradually taking place. We, as nation,
are now doing some extraordinary things,
but we do not realize that great change is
taking place. No more did the Romans
realize the changes going on in their body
polite At the beginning of the Christian
era Rome was at the height of it's power.
The speaker defined the boundaries of the
Roman empire, which was then synony-
nous with civilization itself. When the
capital was moved from Rome to Constanti-
nople the transfer proved an element of
weakness to the empire as a whole. 1t left
the West open to the attacks of the barba-
rians, and caused internal divisions. In the
early days of Rome the people were every
thing and the ruler nothing, but the reverse
gradually came about. The process of de-
cline can be traced in everything. The mil
itary spirit gradually died out until the
Roman army was made up chiefly Of for
eigners-a mere mercenary soldiery. The
gradual withdrawal of the Christians from
participation in politics worked ill to both.
There came a lack of unity in the State.
Weakened by internal organic disease, and
menaced by barbarian foes outside, Rome
could not stand Romans called all foreign
ers barbarians. These had no sympathy
with Rome or Roman institutions. Under
the repeated assaults Of these barbarians
Rome fell. Much that was Roman survived
also much of the good in the Teuton. at
the death of Theodocius, A. D. 395, Rome
was divided between his two sons, one tax
ing the East and the other the West The
Eastern empire lasted until 1853, but the
Western remained but 81 years. The West
had to bear the brunt of the. invasion, and
fell before it. Prof. Mcdonald reviewed at
some length the various invasions by the
Goths, the Vandals, the Huns and others,
and the last feeble attempt of the empire of
the East to get control of the West. At
last the imperial insignia of Rome was
taken to Constantinople, and the Western
empire was at all end. The different ele-
ments of society amalgamated, the Teutons
settled down to agriculture and the Romans
devoted themselves to politics. On this
foundation Europe has ever since continued
to build. Rome fell because of the aban-
donment of her ancient principles. She
tried to absorb people who could not be alb
sorbed. We should profit by the lessons of
history, and remember that Righteousness
exalteth nation.
The third lecture in the High School
Course will be given in Memorial Hall, Fri
day evening, Jan. 25th, at O'Clock, by A. J..
Roberts, A. B., Professor of Rhetoric and
Elocution in Colby College. Subject: The
Bible as Literature. This lecture is highly
endorsed by those who have heard it and a
large attendance is hoped for