The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-14

THROUGH all these years an
u archy ran riot at Rome. Sena-
tors and citizens INDUCED in as
SaSsinations as if in premature pla-
giarism on the Renaissance.
In 81 B. c. the hostile forces of
Milo and Clodius celebrated the
meeting of the assembly with mu-
tual massacre; Cicero, who was not
as accurate as Caesar, tells us that
the Tiber was covered with floating
bodies and redeemed with blood.
Some weeks later Clodius tried
to murder Milo and Cicero; he
failed, and finally Milo murdered
him first. 1t was such chaos that
made Rome long for a dictator who
should give them order and peace.
Caesar conquered the Gaults by
leniency. When he won battle he
spared the prisoners, and dealt
honorably with the Gallo chief
tains; soon the understanding
spread that to yield to Caesar was
slightly less dangerous than to re-
sist him.
Occasionally he was guilty of
great cruelty; once he punished the
slaughter Of his ENJOYS by wiping
out an entire tribe; his leniency, IN
said, must admit exception when
it endangered others beside himself.
Now he made his way through
all Gaul and even crossed the chan
mel into Britain. Here he did not
aim at conquest, seeking only to
frighten the BritainS from sending
achievements to the Gauls.
In his absence, the Gauls rose
again, for the last time. Vercinge-
torix, the bravest and ablest Of their
chieftains, organized them into
enormous armies; and though even
with their vastly superior numbers
they did not dare to face Caesars
legions, they cut off his supplies,
burnt into a blackened wilderness
all the fields which might have
given his soldiers sustenance, and
sacrificed even their own farms and
homesteads when he approached.
At last his soldiers were so FAM
ished that he offered to lead them
back to Italy. With one voice they
entreated him to persevere: they
had never been defeated under his
leadership, and they had never
abandoned any enterprise which
they had undertaken for him.
At last Caesars patience and his
science t.:iumphed over the numbers
and iuinstructed heroism of the
Gauls, his army, numbering $4,000,
defeate 100000 Gauls; Vercingetorix
surrenc cred, and all the other
chiefts ms came and laid down their
arms.
Caesar promised them admission
to the Roman senate, and full rights
of Roman citizenship for their peo-
pie. The great task was accom-
plished; the empire was at last Sc
cure on its northern frontier, and
the destruction of Latin and Greek
civilization was put back for 400
years.
Slowly Gaul was Latinized in
language and culture, and became
the medium through which a great
part of ancient civilization was
preserved.
CAESAR was now so; he had
~ given his best years to the prob
lem of making the Empire safe from
external attack; his long stay in
Gaul is hardly compatible with the
theory that his only aim had been
to build himself an army whereby
to make himself master of Rome.
Even now he desired Cancellation,
and proposed compromise after
compromise to his foes. But the
Senate did not care for compromise;
they feared his return to Rome, and
longed for his assassination.
If he had SO far decreased their
power and privileges in his first
consulate, what would he do now
with thousands of soldiers worship
ping him and all Italy talking of his
victories?
Instead Of accepting compromise,
they resolved, contrary to their
agreement, to refuse him the right
to run for the consulShip; and, ex-
pecting resistance, they played on
Pompey's jealousy to win him from
his friend.
Only great love, said Goethe, can
make us bear another mans SUI
perority.