Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-22

The domestic troubles which hap
pened at Rome about the year 294,
excited great animosity and division
among the people, the senate and in.
ferior officers. Herodonius, very
rich and powerful Sabine, and still
more bold and ambitious, taking ad-
vantage of the present unhappy pos
ture Of affairs, endeavored to make
himself master of the city. With q
body Of exiles and slaves he seized
the capitol in the night. The consul
Valerius Publicola, with much diff
Guilty assembled an army, and defeated
the insurgents, but was unfortunately
killed at the head Of his troops
Another consul was now to be chosen;
but where to find a man possessed OF
such eminent abilities as could ST.
lence discord, reconcile the jarring
sentiments Of the people, act with
moderation on the one hand and re-
solution on the other, and have moth
ing so much at heart as the good OF
the republic, was extremely difficult.
However, after much deliberation, the
choice fell on L. Quintus Cincinnatus.
who was invested with pictorial
power. In consequence Of which, the
senate despatched deputies to invite
him to take possession Of his office.
He was at the time at work in his
field, holding the plough himself.
When he saw the deputies of the SEN
ate he stopped his oxen, much sur
prised at the crowd Of people. not
knowing what they wanted. One of
the number advanced and gave him
notice to dress himself in a more con-
venient garb; upon which he went in
to his cottage, put on his clothes and
came to those who waited for him.
He was Immediately saluted consul.
The purple robe was put on him, the
lictors with their axes placed them
selves before him to execute his or
ders and he was desired to repair to
Rome. That gave him concern and
affliction: he was silent for some time
and shed tears. When he spoke, he
only said, my field will not be sown
this year." Happy times! Admirable
simplicity! poverty was not universal
ly practiced, but II was esteemed and
honored; and not considered as q dis
qualification for the highest dignities
of the state. The conduct Of Quintus
during his consulship, fully evinced
what a noble nature, what constancy,
and what greatness Of soul inhabited
a poor wretched cottage.
Quintus, having entered upon office,
informed himself Of all that had pass
ed in the invasion Of Herodonius.
Taking occasion from thence to call
an assembly Of the people, he ascend
ed the tribunal Of harangues, and in
a discourse full Of spirit, resolution
and zeal for the public welfare, he
first reproached the senate for their
Incidence and pusillanimity, In giving
way to the pretensions of the tri-
bunes, whose whole merit consists.
said he, "in making sedititious speech
les. showing discord between the two
orders Of the state, and prevailing by
their intrigues to be continued two or
three years in Office, and to act In II
with tyrannical license" The people
he severely reprimanded for their dis
orders and rebellion; and then, with
an intrepidity that amazed the SEN
ate, and struck terror into the people,
he laid before them the vigorous
measures he intended to pursue, from
which he assured them neither their
power, their envy nor their intrigues,
should ever divert him. His measures
being we'll concerted and his resolu-
ton invincible, he quickly appeased
the tumult and restrained judiciary
proceedings which had been interrupt
ed for many years. During the re-
ed justice to all that applied for It;
and terminated most disputes In an
amicible manner. He continued the
whole day at his tribunal; was always
easy Of access; and whatever the af-
fairs to be contested might be, he
acted with the utmost good nature
and moderation. BY so wise con-
duct, he rendered the government OF
the nobility so agreeable that the
poor the common people and persons
Of the most contemplate condition
had no longer occasion either to have
resource to the tribunes against the
oppression of the powerful, or to de-
mand new laws for the establishment
Of equality in trials; so much were
they satisfied with that law which the
consul's equity distributed to all alike
and with his impartiality in all af-
fairs. .......
So peaceful a government could not
fail Of applause; and the people, In
consequence, expressed their entire
satisfaction in 1t. But what charmed
them was that Quintus, upon the ex-
continued in office, with no less CON
cepting II. The senate, in particular
forgot nothing that might induce him
to comply with being continued in the
consulship; but all their entreaties and
solicitations were to no purpose. "Is
II a WONDER" says he, addressing him
self to the senator's, that your au-
lhority should be despised by the peo.
pie? 1t Is yourselves that render Il
contemplate. Because the people
violate your decree, in continuing
their magistrates, you are for doing
the same, that you may not be out
done by them in temerity, as II to
show most levity and license were to
have most power in the common
wealth. AS to myself, that may act
directly the reverse to be reelected
consul in contempt for your decree
Then addressing himself to his col
he, ito prevent the senate form COM
mitting so gross fault, and strenu-
ously to oppose their designs, If they
persist In It; and as to what concerns
yourself, I desire you to be assured
that at far from taking offence al
your opposition, as depriving me Of an
increase of honor, I shall consider II
as mark Of your friendship for me,
as an exaltation of my own glory In
the proof of my disinterestedness, and
as singular favor that will spare me
the envy and shame which the con-
tinuation Of the consulship might
otherwise draw upon me-"
With the highest praise and bless
ings, and having become the object OF
universal esteem, admiration and love
Quintus divested himself Of the. pur-
pie, and made haste to return to the
oxen, plough and cottage, where he
lived. as before, by the labor Of his
hands.
Is there anything wanting to the
glory Of Quintus? Can the greatest
riches, the most superb palaces, the
most sumptuous equipage, dispute
pre-eminence with the poor thatch
and rustic furniture of the illustrious
husbandman? Do they leave behind
them in the minds Of those that behold
them the same sentiments as the
simple relation Of what regards Quin-
tus gives the reader? Can anyone
however prejudiced in favor Of vanity
and glare, deny him esteem and ad-
miration? There is. then, something
truly great, noble and worthy in the
character Of this Roman.
When Bresse was taken by storm
from the Venetians, the Chevalier
Bayard saved a house from plunder
whittier he had retired to have a
dangerous wound dressed which he