The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-22

parte. A fair life of him recalls a
genius of imperial qualities, as great
in government as in war. His con-
nection with the Code of Laws named
after him when properly understood,
shows him to have been marvel in
deed. Among the Romans-indeed
among the ancientS, when Viewec
calmly in all his powers, the greatest
man, believe, who appeared i'm the
centuries was julius Caesar Did you
ever examine closely the genuine bust
of Caesar that has come down from
antiquity? l have never seen yet Il
more perfect head. Its symmetry is
exquisite, and the outline an absolute
model No head was ever more
faultless and arresting. Then the
nose, mouth and chin are so strong;
while the throat is powerful and COM
manding. If one were to read of the
conditions in Caesars time, AMI the
conditions now prevailing, he Wcuid
think that he was really reading an
account of the present aIld lr'l or an
tiquity James Anthony FTonde. in
that masterpiece of personal b.ogfa-
phyllis sketch" of Caesar, says tins
of the Caesarian period: 1T vas an
age of material progress ana material
civilization; an age of civil liberty and
intellectual culture; an age OF pam
phlets and epigrams, of salons and
dinner parties, of senatorial maJorl-
ties and electoral corruption. The
highest offices of state were open in
theory to the meanest citizen; they
were conferred, in fact, to those WIN
had the longest purses, or the most
ready use of the tongue on popular
platforms The whole picture pre-
scented filling two pages is most
graphic and suggestive. [ cite but
one or two references that speak
Volumes: 1.-THE rich were extraVa-
CANT. Patriotism survived on
the lips. 3 The whole spiritual
atmosphere was saturated with cant.
Religion, once the foundation
of the laws and rule of personal con-
duct, had subsidized into opinion" Mr..
Fronde, studying the situation, makes
the profound remark that will fit all
times and countries. He says: "Popu-
lar forms of government are possible
only when individual men can gov
ern their own lives on moral princi-
Pies" Nothing is truer. When cor
rupt, designing, pliable, fertile, vici-
Gus men get the reins then there is
decay and discomfort and oppression,
and justice takes wings and fees into
other lands.
Some of my readers will be aston
ished perhaps to learn that the Roman
Constitution was more popular thaD
even the American Constitution. This
is probably true. Froude says it was
so. The people were the sovereigns III
fact, and not merely in theory, and
Exercised their power Immediately
and not by representatives The exc
Cutive magistrates were chosen an
nually. The Assembly was the Su-
preme Court of Appeal and without
its sanction no freeman could be law
fully put to death. In the assembly
also was the supreme power of legis-
lation.' There is another fact that
will surprise those who have not
studied the Roman life and govern
ment-that the basis of the Roman
conduct was morality. Froude says:
Morality thus ingrained in the ma
tional character and grooved into
habits of action created strength, as
nothing else creates it. Intellectual
culture does not touch the CON
science" This is just what l have
again and again insisted upon when
discussing the modern educational
movement. The Romans understood
the moral basis, although they We're
in no sense Christians but Pagans
Froude says of intellectual culture
and it is. true. that sit provides no
motives to overcome the weakness of
the will. end with wider knowledge 1t
brings also new temptations" He
says the educated Greeks knew but lit
tie of this fibre that is produced by
moral principles. He says informingly
that they had courage, and genius,
and enthusiasm. but they had no hor
ror of immortality as SUCH" In mod
erni life nothing but the Holy Spirit
can build moral character. If an edu-
Gated man has not the Divine power
impaired to him he has 10 proper
moral basis, and nothing to sustain.
him under great trials, temptations
and sufferings. Most wisely the his
torian, quoted from, turning to the
teachings of the Lord and Saviour,
says this ITO man it is said you do
not live for yourself. If you live for
yourself you shall come to nothing.
Be brave, be just. be pure. be true, in
word and deed; care not for your en-
joyment. care not for your life; care
only for what is right. SO, and not
otherwise, it shall be we'll with you.
SO the Maker of you has ordered,
whom you will disobey at your PERIL
The important morality of habit was
probably as well understood and
more faithfully observed then by the
Pagans than today in a so-called
Christian country it is observed by the
public men. For several pages the
great English writer in his study of
Roman conditions enforces most
strikingly high views of Morality as a
basis for people and governments.
From a government of the people,
and a moral basis, as time went on
the Roman capitalists pushed forward
and it became an aristocracy of the
rich. The laws became the property
of the rich only, and the small farm
ers disappeared completely. The
wealthy bought slaves and great
changes were wrought. Political pow
er and luxury were the desire of the
Roman capitalist as it is today in the
United States. In Rome money, the
cry was still money-money was the
one thought from the highest senator
to the poorest wretch who sold his
vote in the Comitia. For money
judges gave unjust DEGREES and jul
ries gave corrupt verdict" Is there
anything IF this known in the United
States? Are the courts above sus-
picion? Are not jurors bought con-
stantly? Froude writes: ''rFhe cor
ruption of justice was already noto-
rious.' That jures were bought the
judges were venal, that corruption
ran riot were plain enough. "Pecul-
alton and extortion' prevailed among