The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-05-01
WAS CAESAR n PROGRESSIVE"
AND POMPEY A "REAc-
TIONARY?"


teemed friend, Colonel Frank Mayes,
the gifted editor of the Pensacola
Journc.; ~ his division of The pro
e.es-.ves" and the 'react:onaries''-
the separating of the sheep from the
goats-puts Caesar in the fold with
the sheep and Pompey in a pen with
tbs goats.
I Did Caesar at any :ime in his lie
h-ar az resemblance to tie favored
id petted sheep any more than Pom.
pey did, or did Pompey bear greater
likeness to the less gentle and pestif-
erous goat than Caesar?
! Pompey, being born Roman, be-
fore reaching his majority, took UP
arms against Sinna and Sartorius in
defense of his native city. When Sui
la marched from Rome against
Rome's enemies in Italy, Pompey on
his own responsibility raised three le-
gions with which he defeated NJ. Bru-
tus, and effected g junction with Sn'-
la. Pompey next reduced Sicily and
crossed over into Africa and overrap
Numidia, where the Marian party still
held out. Returning to Rome, he was
met by the popuiace-now known as
the common people'-with acclama-
tons, and though holding no office OF
state and belonging only to the eques-
trian order, he deme nded triumph"
and entered Rene with that coveted
distinction.
After winning for Rome many brill
liant victories in Spain, he was made
q consol; he Immediately broke with
the aristocratic party, restored the
tribunician power and instituted many
judicial and other reforms-all in the
interest of the dear people,
The historian then goes on to say:
After an obstinate resistance by the
aristocracy, he was appointed with
unlimited and irresponsible power and
for three years was commander-in-
chief of an immense naval force, and
exterminated the pirates that infest-
ed the Mediterranean sea. In
three months the war was completed,
and Pompey now welded the most
extensive authority hitherto conferred
by law upon a Roman citizen, with
the exception of Sulla."
Continuing, the historian says:
1.-THE aristocratic party naturally
looked upon him with more jealousy
and distrust than ever, while in the
estimation of the people he was the
foremost man in Rome"
In his successful efforts to put down
outbreaks and rebellions in remote
parts of his possessions, the senate,
jealous of his power, turned against
him, and, the historian says, this wild
ened the breach between Pompey and
the aristocracy, and fastened the
downfall of both.
found a friend in Caesar, and with
Crassus formed what was termed the
first triumvirate.''
Under this arrangement Caesar en-
tered upon his first consulate and Sc
cured for Pompey the ratification of
his acts which enabled him, under his
agrarian law, to make good his prom
ises to his soldiers-that is, giving
them a part of the land in the con-
quered territory for an Inheritance. !
Pompey married Caesars daughter,
and while devoting himself more to
his domestic joys than in promoting
his public popularity, his influence be-
gan to wane, Notwithstanding he
cheapened the price of corn and did
other things for the amelioration of
the condition of the poor.
In the course of time, though, hav- !
ing formed the second triumvirate,"
the two men in the kaleidoscope vi
cissitudes of politics, got on opposite
sides, and finally Pompey was routed
by his whilom friend, and to propiti-
ate Caesar he was betrayed and put
to DEATH
So much for Pompey !
How was it with Caesar He was
a praetorian. He won popularity by
a careless and bountiful generosity.
He was elected aedile, and came out
of office several million dollars in
debt. He had Lorimer skinned a
block. He was suspected in the con-
spiracy of Cataline, and though sue
ceeding clearing himself of the crime
to the satisfaction of the senate, he
failed to do so to the satisfaction of
historians.
The next year he was in the race
against Catulus for the office of ponti-
fex. The former offered to pay his
debts if he would retire He ronl;ad