The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-12-26

sPUBLICAN.
Rome No one had ever been able to
beat him In battle, and his name was
terror to every Roman. But Scipio
pointed out that by carrying the war
into Africa and menacing Carthage
he might brighten the Carthaginians
into calling Hannibal home to defend
the capital, and thus rid Italy Of his
presence. The Senate finally consent.
cd.
So, In 2O4 B. G. when barely thirty
years old, Scipio landed an army on
the coast Of Africa, The alarmed Car
thaginians rushed to repel bim. But
he repeatedly beat them. until, - he
had foreseen. they recalled Hannibal
from Italy to repel the invaders. Back
came Hannibal, bringing with him
veterans OF the Italian wars and rails
Ing huge levy OF raw recruits. TIE
armies OF Rome and Carthage met at
Zama, October 10, 202 B. q. Scipio won
an overwhelming victory. Hannibal
for the Hrst time In his life was defeat
ed. The defeat placed Carthage at
Rome's mercy. The Africans sued for
peace, and Scipio forced on them terms
SO humIlisting that he felt his father
was at last avenged.
On his return to Rome Scipio was
acclaimed as hero and the preserver
Of his country. The Senate conferred
on him the surname Of Africanus 1.-THE
Afrlcan), in honor Of Ills Carthage
campaign. and loaded him with hon.
ors. Yet ne was to taste the ingrati.
tude Of republics. He and his brother
Lucius were sent to conquer Antioch
US, King OF Syria. They did 20, but
IN their absence Scipio's enemies had
been busy. They dared not openly
attack such popular man as Scipio
himself, so they accused Lucius Of
disappointing public moneys. Lu.
cius came to trial. carrying with him
his account books, whereby he could
prove his innocence. But. Sclpio
snat ched these books from his hands,
tore them across and hurled them on
the floor of the Senate.
His enemies, growing holder, ae-
cused scipio Of accepting brides from
Antiochus. The case came up for tril
In the Forum. Scipio scorned to de.
fend himself. When he was called up.
on to answer the charges he Arose and,
addressing the thronged assembly,
made speech, which, In the light Of
present notions, was q monument Of
9 nceit. But It must be remember d
that modesty, real or assumed, Is
m )dern virtue and was unknown In
ancient Rome. Scipio began ty tell.
ing over the great deeds he had done
for his country and the debt the father.
land owed hir-. He said. with truth,
that g had raised Rome from har-
assed and merely local power to the
practical mastery OF the world. He
went en- to remind his hearers that
the date OF the trial October 10, 1S9
B G. was the anniversary Of the battle
OF Zama, and ended by asking the citi:;
zensof Rome to drop all other bushes
and follow him to the temple, there
to pray that the gods might grant
them children as good and as great as
he. At the conclusion OF this remark.
able harangue Scipio walked, unmo.
Tested, out of tile place, followed by
the entire enthusiastic audience, leav-
irg no one In the Forum except his
bafiied accusers.
The case was at once dropped. But
Scipio never forgave his ungrateful
fellow citizens. He retiret to his
country seat and there remained 10
voluntary exile until his death, In 1873
b. G. He died IN the same year as his
great foe. Hannibal, leaving a name
second to none, except Caesars, in all
Roman history