The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-05-15

publicly thanked him because he did
not despair Of the Republic.
In those days every Roman was en-
rolled in the militia. While this armed
ciiizenrY could not Of its own courage
deiea, the military genius it then op.
posed it could by its stern devotion
hold him until it could raise a Scipio
to lead it TO victory. One defeat and
the power Of Carthage was broken.
Rome could suffer three successive
great disasters, Trebia, Lake Trasi'
meme aud Cannae, and yet fight on.
Carthage was unable TO recover from
one defeat. After having neglected
her great general she at last called up
on him to save her but at zama she
learned too late that even a master in
the art Of war could not supply the
need Of trained and virile citizenry.
Carthage was a nation OF traders grown
soft and flbby. Only desperation
would make them fight, and then it
was too late. Even on the field Of
Zama the Carthagenians themselves
held back, relying upon their hired
soldiers. Had Hannibal had at his
back such soldiers as Rome possessed
the whole history Of the world would
have been altered, possibly not for
good.
What am concerned with here is
the fact that the yirile militia Of the
Republic finally broke the power OF a
master by sheer devotion and individ'
ual initiative. Upon the solid iounda
tion Of the virile citizenry Of the Re-
public the greatness Of the Empire
rested. Men living in the age Of the
Caesars and filed with the fattery that
every where followed these dictators
could not see that Rome was roiting
slowly at the core, No longer was
there to be found stern Regulus to
advise Rome to refuse peace and then
return to Carthage to be cruciied.
Slowly as the years passed the pow
er Of the senate waned until at last a
Caesar became Emperor. Knowing
the old hatred for the name Of king he
dare not assume that. Thoughtful
men in Rome saw the coming danger
but the Caesars were able by gratui'
ties 10 buy the support Of powerful
groups. Finally the senate was de-
stroyed and under Nero human beings
we're crucifed and soaked with tar 10
light up the night for this btuta. auto
crat who still was not called king.
The writhiug victims got small com
fort from the fact that the Republic
had passed not to kingdom but TO
an empire.
There is lesson for US today in the
history Of Rome. So long as the citi'
Eenry Of the republic was trained to
arms and each and every Roman was
able 10 take care Of himself the people
was secure. Finally by slow degrees
they came to rely more and more up
on a standing army Of professional
troops, Then the virile citizenry de-
generated and the Republic was lost
and with it the liberty Of the nation.
An autocrat found it easy to buy votes
indirectly by the bestowal oil great gifts
10 certain classes. In the early days
Of America every man was a poientia
soldier. Over bis door on the prong
ed antlers that his steady hand hat
won hung his rife ready to be taken al
the first alarm. With bis neighbor'
he stepped fourth soldier Of the mos
vitile kind. There was no lonf
waiting for political bureaucrats to pro
vide him a weapon, Now it is diff
ierent. Thousands Of our citizens
know nothing Of the use Of fire arms
Nor are they fit for the exposure o.
open life Until hardened to II by care
| lul training. Nothing Is better for mel
than this training, nothing does more
to make a hollow chested anemeic
city boy rosy checked and full Of yOutl
ful vigor. We are peaceful peopl,
hating unjust war. The surest way t,
ueace is 10 have citizenry ready L