The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-03-08
THE FALL OF NATIONS
How Great World Powers Have
Passed Into History.
MOST HAVE DIED FIGHTING
The Struggle Between the Empire Of
the East and the Empire Of the West.
Venice, Ito Secret Three and Its Long
Reign Of Terror.

Most countries which have died have
gone down lighting. The Roman en-
pire perished like that, and by the
irony Of fate the power of the Caesars
came to an end far away from Rome.
After II had existed for centuries the
Roman empire became so vast and un-
wieldy that IL had 10 be divided into
two. the empire OF the west and the
empire OF the east. The capital Of the
former was Rome.
The empire OF the west became so
weak at last that II could make no
stand against it's enemies. Rome was
sacked by the barbarians and eventu-
ally became not the capital of vast
empire, but the city Of the popes, over
which the pontifrs reigned as kings.
The temporal power OF the popes last
ed TIL 1870, while the capital OF Italy
was first Turin and then Milan. Final
ly the city was taken without real
fight by the soldiers OF the king OF
Italy.
The empire OF the east had its capi-
tai at Constantinople. For centuries Ii
was the greatest power In the world.
But it became honeycombed with vice
and enervated with pride and luxury;
also IL grew old and weak. Then in
1422 the Turks made tigerish spring
on ConstantinOple and took 1t by storm.
The last of the Greek emperors died
sword in hand, and his descendants
are living in England today in very
humble situations.
Egypt, once so powerful and SO IA
nous under the pharaohs, was con-
Qucred by Rome and was afterward
swamped by the Moslems. The cres-
cent was supreme In the land OF the
Nile, and the aforetime naughty Egyp-
tians were slaves for thousand years.
The great moguls used to reign in
India. In the days Of Queen Elizabeth
the mogul-Or emperor Of Delhi, as ne
was sometimes called-was so power
full that he thought ii a vast conde-
Scension on his part to receive an en-
bassy from the maiden queen. But
as time went on the great rajahs, or
tributary kings. rebelled against the
moguls. India was rent asunder by the
wars between rival rajahs. This gave
the Europeans chance.
France at first held the upper hand
and nearly conquered the land, but
then England drove France back and
seized the empire Of the great mogulS
for herself. The heir OF the moguls, by
the way, still enjoys a pension given
by the British government as a com
pensation for the throne lost by his an
cestors.
Poland used 10 occupy big place on
the map of Europe. At one time ii
was much larger and stronger than
Russia. The ear Of Russia and the
emperor Of Austria were only too glad
to he on good terms with the king Of
Poland. and there was no king of
Prussia in those days.
Noble adventurers from all parts of
the world flocked To the Polish capital
nt Warsaw, eager to serve in the Pol
isb armies. The Duke of Monmouth,
son of King Charles II. Of England
thought Of doing this.
Put Poland perished through her
own faults and follies. The mass of
the common people were slaves in all
but name, They were not allowed to
move from one part Of the country TO
another without leave, they could not
own a foot OF land, and they could
never he su that they might not be
sold by the great noble they served to
new master; hence the mobiles and
the people never stood together in
times Of danger or disaster.
Poland was big country, but 1t was
divided against itself, and Russia,
Prussia and Austria combined were
more powerful. They all three joined
hands. and each took a large share OF
Poland in i772 That was the first
partition OF Poland" The Poles sub.
mitted tamely. for they were still di-
vided.
In 1893 the trio of robbers made
| second swoop. Only the ghost Of Po-
land was left Another year saw the
cud Of the tragedy. The last rem
uants Of Poland were swallowed up by
Russia. Prussia and Austria.
The fate OF the republic of Venice IS
one of the most dramatic in all history.
For hundreds Of years the City Of the
Lagoons was one OF the most powerful
states in the world. Its doges ranked
As the equals of the proudest kings.
Its alliance was coveted by the great
est powers. Its government was one
Of sheer terrorism. The doce was
hardly more than splendid figure
head. All real power rested in the
hands of the dreaded council OF ten
and the secret three. The latter were
trio OF living mysteries and were
known by name TO practically no one
! In Venice.
Sometimes man was one or the
secret three and his own wife and chill
dren never dreamed IL. Their most
dreaded servants were masked mutes.
/ III Venetian. no matter how high his
rank. was denounced by the council
OF ten or the secret three. he knew he
was no better than a dead man. So
| tho government of Venice was terror