Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
CAESAR AND THE RESTORATION
OF ROME.
Civil War.

! A Ii, Italy rose To welcome Caesar.
~ Towns opened their gates tn
! "A him. aud the garriSons sent to
4 \ stop him joined his army. The
Senate. understanding at last
the mood of the country. took to It's
| heels and fed to Capua. with half the
aristocracy behind it. Pompey, hest
tant with age, could not decide upon
definite policy. One of his generals.
| Domitius. on his own responsibility.
went to halt Caesar at Coriinum: he
/ fell into the snare of the great gen
erals strategy. found himself sur
rounded. was captured. and was par
| doned on condition that he would
never fight against Caesar again, Tic
reioined Pompey at once in unscru-
| pulous violation of his agreement
while his troops with better Judgment.
enlisted in Caesars leeions. Pompey
retreated to Brindisi. Caesar, follow
| ing in hot pursuit. found time to
make Il last effort for peace: he
dispatched a messenger to Cicero ask
ing him to serve as mediator with
Pompey: Cicero tried, and failed:
and, though he was a leader OF the
aristoCracv. he wrote to friend that
he was disguised with Pompey. feel
ing convinced that Pompey had for
two years been plotting to make HIM
self dictator. and was now resolved
on war TO achieve his aim. Cicero
abandoned Pompey's camp, AMI re.
tired 10 mid neutrality. praying
that both the generals might die and
leave the Prince of Orators King of
Rome
On Caesars approach Pompey took
ship across the Adriatic 10 Durazzo.
rtn rffi vi
Senatorial control 1t seemed a sim,
pie matter to blockade Italy and starte
Caesar into submission.
Caesar. shipless, retired 10 Rome.
and set about patiently to reorcaniZe
his army and the disordered capital.
To those who had opposed him. and
were still III the city. he offered
amnesty. hoping 10 heal the wounds
of conflict and to restore unity. In
stead. his generosity led his enemies
to suspect him of weakness and
timidity. and encouraged secret oppo'
sition and conspiracy. With almost
| ttopiar impartiality Caesar gave per
mission to all who wished In side
| with Pompey to GO TO him. Then the
| realistic element i'm his nature had
its turn. and tn finance his army and
the administration of the city, he
raided the treasury. and when the
| tribune Metallus stood in his way
| Caesar quietly informed him that he
| would Kill him If he persisted in his
obstruction. And he assured. young
man" he said. that ii is easier for
| me To do this than to say it," Then
he compelled the bankers and bust
ness men of the city to lend him
money. knowing that this would hind
item TO his support. Those who lent
were fortunate: they received good
return and within "A short time the
financial and commercial life Of the
city rose To unprecedented prosperity
| under Caesars rule.
Meanwhile, to prevent a stoppage In
| the importation of corn he sent
! curio TO hold Sicily. the main source
of Rome's food supply. Finding that
Pompey's friends had raised an army
In Spain and were marching against
him. he crossed the Pyrcnees faced
and survived IA thousand peril and for
time was so near TO destruction
that many vaciilatinc towards in
Italy cicero among them1 aba ndnned
his cause and 'iocked across 10 Pom.
pey. But Caesars engine erin- ability
saved him: h. hridged flooded rivers
and made roads over SNOW ho and
hills. ard when he met the enemy
he overwhelmed them. Among The
cap,ured officers he found some who
had been released at forfinum on
their promise never To fight against
him again: nevertheless. he rcIes sed
them with the other officers. when