The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-29
TODAY IN HISTORY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE % 1910.
RIenzI. the Last Of the Trlbunes.


Rome has been governed since the
eighth century by the popes. who. In un-
interrupted succession have been elected
to I'LL the chair Of st. Peter. During a
period OF seventy-two years. from 1903
to 1877. the popes residence was at
Avignon. Rome, In the meanwhile. was
the scene of constant disorder from the
lawless acts OF the great mobiles. who
prosecuted their family feuds with the
utmost fury and license.
Out OF this struggle arose Rienzi. who
became known as 1.-THE Last OF the
Tribunes,' who, on june 20. 1871. seized
the chief power. and having expelled the
mobiles. eDdeavored 10 restore the ancient
liberties OF the city counter reVolu-
tion overturned his government after an
existence Of but seven months, and he
was driven Into exile
Gibbon, the historian, says OF Rienzi
Never. perhaps. has the energy and ef-
feet OF single mind been more remark
ably felt than In the sudden. though
! tribune, R!cnzi. A den of robbers was
converted 10 the discipline OF camp or
dress. Inexorabie TO punish. his tribunal
was always accessible TO the poor and
stranger; nor could birth. or dignity, or
the immunities of the church protect the
offender or his accompllces- In this time
tho woods began to rejoice that they
were no longer invested with robbers;
The oxen began to plow:, the pilgrims
inns were replenished with travellers:
trade. plenty. and good faith were re-
stored TO the markets, and purse OF
gold f Nigh might be exposed without danger in
Rlenzi was the son OF an innkeeper:
and though humbly born was endowed
with an extraordinary intellect. and early
Rome. how the little robber camp, by
sheer pluck and genius, became the
Eternal City, and the mistress OF the
world. The story charmed him. and 1t
was the subject of his thoughts by day
and his dreams by night.
He would restore the faded glories Of
the once illustrious city; he would re-
prestige. Such was RienzPs dream. He
was an eloquent man and was able 10
intuse into others the same patriotic
woke up and found that Rienzi was king.
He called himself Tribune" but In real
ity The innkcepers son was absolute mas
ter OF the city OF the Caesars. Old Ste
phen Colonna. the mightiest OF the proud
mobiles OF Rome, was absent from the city
when the revolution came.
-, When he returned he sent to Rlenzi
This message: "Tell the fool that If he
troubles me with his insolence l Will
throw him from the windows OF the capt
tai No sooner was the message re-
and Rienzi fell upon the mobiles like a
thunderbolt. Eighty OF the most power
full of them were slain and the rest were
cowed into submission. The proud pa
trlciate was PROSTATE at the feet of the
tribune.
Rienzi was happy; Rome was resur-
rected. and by her virtue she was once
more the Eternal City. But then some
thinS happened. Rienzi. deceived by one
who had become crazed by the very
magnitude of his achievement. and mis-
taking the words and deeds of a. madman
for the deliberate purpose of sane man,
the multitude. melted by the remnant of
the nobility proceeded to take its re-
venge.. and on October 8. 1854 the re-
markabe man who came so near filing
the world with his fame as the regenera-
Tor or Rome, and OF Italy, was stabbed
to death.