Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-06
JULIUS CAESAR,
WORLD CONQUEROR
BY ALBERT PAxsoN TrRHuNE

julius Caesar started out with the
modest intention of making himself
master Of the known world. And he
did it. He was the son Of an i'm
poverished old Roman family and
with a reputation for dissolute liv-
ing. After dabb1ing in politics and
warfare, plunging into many dissi-
pations and undergoing a series of
dime-novel adventures he came to
this decision to master the world.
And he wasted no more time before
starting to put it into effect.
In looks he did not suggest any
thing very heroic. He was little,
thin, bald, hook-nosed and was SUBJ
iect to fits of epilepsy. But he had
a flaming ambition and genius that
overbore all obstacles.
First building up a powerful po-
litical faction at Rome and putting
tention to the swarms of babarians
in nearby countries who were for
ever clashing with their Roman
neighbors.
Among these were the Gauls
(French), the Helvetii (Swiss), the
Belgians and the Germans mighty
horde of fierce and hardy men.
With a small army of Roman vet
Grams Caesar set forth to subdue
these barbarians. For eight years
he battled against them-conquer-
ing them in open fight and by strate-
gy and by diplomatic skill.
/ He crossed the English channel
with his legions and made Britain a
Roman province. Nothing could
Withstand his advance.
This unbroken string of victories
and conquests and annexed territory
F1n
the people. But the same successes
stirred up against him host of
POLITICAL enemies, who envied his tri-
umph and who feared his ambition.
Caesars own son-in-law. Pompey,
was at the head of this hostile fac
ton. Pompey had seized the reins
of power at Rome, and he feared
less Caesar might tear them from
his hands.
So Pompey wheedled and threaten
ed and bribed the Roman senate-as
Caesar began his homewSrd march
to bid the conqueror resign his COM
mand and to come home as a pri-
vate citizen.
Should Caesar refuse to obey and
to submit himself to this cruel dis
grace, sentence of death Or of exile
was to be passed upon him.
Caesar got word of the order just
as he reached the Rubicon river,
which formed the boundary Of Ro-
man soil. If he should obey he must
leave his veteran troops here and
go on to Rome, humbly, as a mere
servant of the senate to yield him
self into the hands Of his enemies
and to see his career smashed for
ever.
Silt uld he disobey he was an out
law. Should he lead his legions
across the Rubicon into Roman ter
ritory it would be an act Of war
against the senate.
His whole future hung on his act.
He took his choice Of the various
evils and decided at once on his
course of action. He crossed the
Rubicon with his army and bore
down upon Rome.
Pompey and his other foes, at
news Of the popular heros approach,
fed for their lives. And the Roman
people received Caesar with open
arms.
Nothing henceforth could oppose
him. He continued his conquest of
the known world. In a very few
years he had made good on his soar
ing ambition. He was master of the
civilized earth.
It is thought ne might have gone
a Step further anj have given hum
self the title of king-changing
Rome from republic to an absolute
monarchy, with himself as it's ruler.
But the dangers of assassN1s cut
short his career before he could
wreck it's glory by this unpopular
act.