Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-02

The similarity between many con-
ditions in our own countrA at the
present time, and the conditions
which prevailed in the Roman com
monwealth, when it was declining
to its fall, has been often remark
ed. Writers of all shades of politi-
cal opinion and of all schools of
philosophic thought nave directed
attention to this striking resem-
blance with a note of warning in
their words To repeat such a warn
ing may seem to a certain class OF
minds stale and insipid moralizing.
Nevertheless we can not safely re-
fuse to consider the lessons of his
tory Human nature is much the
same in its fundamental character
istics in all ages and in all lands;
and moral laws are as infleXible as
natural laws. If we adopt the
principles and acquire the habits Of
the ancient Romans, we must expect
to reach the same end as that to
which they came. If their course
ran to ruin, we must expect the
same fate from following their
ways. And we are pursuing blind
ly and heedlessly many of the ways
by which they came to the destruc-
ton of their marvellously compact
ed commonwealth.
The most claimant demand of the
Roman people during the decline #
the empire was expressed in the
words. bread and games% that is,
a popular demand for material good
and daily amusement. Things spir-
itual were set aside for things ply
steal, and sports distracted the NJ
tention Of the Romans from all Sc
rious matters. The circus, the
chariot races, and the gladiatorial
contests were the all-absorbing OBJ
jects of interest. Nero led the way
in this mania for games and diver
slons, and was never so proud and
never so popular as when he
brought home from the Grecian
games eighteen hundred and eight
victors' wreaths, and hung them on
the obelisk in the Circus Maximus.
The welcome accorded him by the
frenzied popuface was nearly as
great and nearly as silly as that
which certain multitudes gave to
an American ex-president when he
returned from a hunting expedition
i'm Africa with the skins of many
wild beasts to be placed in the
Smithsonian Institution. The sense
less enthusiasm Of the Roman peo-
pie for such petty triumphs, as
were represented in trophies from
the Grecian games, can be explain
ed only by the craving for fresh
stimulants which they had acquir
ed from over-indulgence in trifling
sensations. Satiated by luxury and
surfeited by every sort of sensual
enjoyment, they sought in games
and gladiatorial combats some new
form of excitement to divert their
jaded minds. Bread and games"
was their cry, and so long as they
had enough to eat and were amused
they had not a thought or a care
for higher things. The chief con-
Germ of the emperors was to pro-
vide corn and sports, and that too
without regard to expenses. The ex-
penditures for corn became almost
as great as our extravagant and
Ubiquitous "pork-barrel' and pen
sion bills, which receive such unan-
imous support by both parties in
the federal congress and obtain such
speedy approval by our presidents.
The sternest leaders in Rome felt
constrained to yield to the demand
games" In the days of Augustus
the public games were celebrated
for sixty-si1c days, but Marcus Au-
relius, whom some loose takers
have called an unconscious chris
tan, raised the number to
a hundred and thirty-five. Later
emperors out-ran even him. often
the people were Toasted at the
games. and entire days were ap-
pointed for magnificent banquet
ings. On such occasions servants
of the Emperor carried around dain-
ty viands and sparkling wines, on
broad platters and in large baskets,
to the great delight of the multi
tudes.
The greatest interest gathered
around the chariot races and the
gladiatorial combats. In the former
the drivers and horses engaged were
designated by colours. like modern
ball teams and the most absorbing
question in Rome for days in advance
Of the spectacles was whether the
reds or the greens, the blues or the
whites, would win. On the results
of the races wagers were laid nearly
as great and almost as universal as
the bets made on the ball games of
today. Says Juvenal in one place,
Does the green lose, then is Rome
struck aghast as after the defeat of
Cannae."
On the night before the chariot
races in the Circus Maximus the peo-
pie streamed into the place and slept