The independent., 1903-12-10

the Roman Government and Re-
ligion from Augustus to the Fall
of Constantinople. BY Alex. Del
Mar; Svo, PIP. 400. The Cam
bridge Encyclopedia Publishing
Co., 240 West Twenty-Third ST.,
New York. Net, So.
The author of this work, formerly a
bureau officer of the United States
treasury, delegate to Russia, etc., is
rapidly rising into public esteem as
an historical writer. His preparation
for this difficult eminence was a ripe
scholarship and i5 years OF close study
in the British Museum and Biblio-
theque Rationale, during which time
he issued several monographs on clas-
sical literature, Roman history, arch
aeology, ancient manuscripts and
coins; all of which obtained imme-
diate recognition in England and
France as works of the latest ant
most complete research. His first
appearance as an historian of that
theme Of themes, the Roman Empire,
was in Ancient Britain In the Light
Of Modern Archaeological Discover
iesp OF which work the British criti-s
~cal press said: This is bOundless
store of information neglected by our
selves and garnered by scholarly
American. He reconstructs Roman
Britain, country full of busy cities,
seaports and industrial centers, con-
nected by fine highways, of majestic
temples and villas, and Of splendidly
organized commerce" His second
work in the same role is the one be-
fore us. "The Middle Ages Revisited.
We defer our opinion OF this work
until after some review OF its con-
tents; task which, owing to its i'm
mense scope, it's brevity of style and
the grandeur of the theme, is sufficient
to tax all the resources of cOndensa-
tion. Perhaps this may best sbe ac-
complished by placing ourselves as 1t
were somewhat in the attitude of the
author.
In describing the Roman govern
ment and religion and their
relation to the states OF the
modern world it will scarcely
fail to appear that the constitution OF
the empire, the Christianization of its
institutes and the position OF the
medieval empire and the provinces,
until the latter become Independent
kingdoms, is the key to all modern
history; that it has it's practical inn
portance and conveys it's lessons for
the future. In weighing the evidences
which throw light upon these SUBJ
jects. the author is compelled to trace
the ancient systems of mythology and
religion. 1t is evident tLat he would
gladly have avoided a subject OF so
much contention; but this was found
impracticable. Society is to some ex-
tent the product of religious belief
To appreciate the spirit of the laws
under which we live and must. act, it
becomes necessary to follow the evo-
luton of religious systems. Says the
author; eve have entered the arcana
of the Sacred College, not to profane
it's mysteries, but to fill our pitchers
at its holy fount."
When civil strife had so much ex-
hausted the Romans that they were
unable to prevent the overthrow OF
their republican institutes, or resist
the erection of pagan hierarchy,
they accepted. from their tyrants
form of religion SO impious and de-
grading as to speedily disgust the bet
ter classes of citizens and turn them
against a government in whose sup
port they had formerly taken an active
end prominent part. Caesar claims
tn be a god," cried Cicero. He has
his temples, steeplcs, priests and Choir
isters," and the orator sealed his in
dignation with his blood. This feel
ing found popular echo in distant
provinces like Judea and Britain,
where 1t occasioned those frequent in
surrections which distinguished the
first century of our aera. The religion
which fomented these instructions
was the worship of Caesar as the SUI
preme Being. Though 1t led to caes-
ar's assassination by party of Ro~
man patricians, he was supplanted by
Augustus. who, after his conquest OF
the Roman world, adopted precisely
the same impious pretenslons. Were
not Ptolemy. Antonius, Scytus Pom
pelns. Deiotaurus and many other
sovereigna, who were destroyed by
Augustus. worshippeJ by their sub
Jects AS gods: and could Augustus be
lesa of god wLo had suhdued them