Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08

he approached. At last his soldiers
were so famished 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 triumphed over the numbers
and uninstructed heroism Of the
Gauls. His army, numbering $4,000,
defeated $4,000 Gauls. VercingetoriX
surrendered and all the other chief.
tains came and laid down their arms.
Caesar promised them admission TO
the Roman Senate and full rights or
Roman citizenship for their people.
The great task was accomplished. the
empire was at last secure on It's
northern frontier. and the destruction
of Latin and Greel, civilization was
put back for 400 years. Slowly Gaul
was Latinized in language and cul'
ture. and became the medium through
| which a great part of ancient civiliza'
ton was preserved.
Caesar was now so. He had given
his best years to the problem OF max
ing the empire safe from external at
tack. His long stay in Gaul Is hardly
compatible with the theory that his
only aim had been to build himself nm
army whereby to make himself mas
ter 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 ana
longed for his assassination. II ne
haA 20. al
privileges in his first consulate. what
would he do now with thousands OF
soldiers worshiping 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 consul
ship, and. expecting resistance. they
played on Pompey's jealousy to win
him from his friend. Only great love.
said Goethe. can make us bear an
other mans superiority. Pompe had
been bound to Caesar by Crassus ana
Julia. hut in the year 81 Be. Crassus
was killed in Syria. and death took
Julia and the child which she had
given to Pompey. All the bonds were
| snapped and jealousy was left free.
Pompey accepted from the Senate the
command Of all the legions in Italy
and added two legions which had been
given him by Caesar on the under
standing that they were to be sent to
Spain.
Caesar made every effort for peace.
To the Senate he wrote one letter and
to the people another, which he com.
missioned Mark Antony. one of his
generals. to read to the Assembly In
Rome. In both letters he offered to
avoid civil war by retiring to private
life IL Pompey would make similar
sacrifice. When the people of Rome
heard this letter and Antony's elo.
quent praise Of his master they turned
almost unanimously to the support OF
Caesar.
The Senate replied to Caesars let
ter by demanding that he dismiss his
army. Their holiness was due TO
Labienus. who had deserted Caesar
and who assured the Senate that Gaze
sar's troops would not fight for him.
Caesar convened his legions, explained
the situation TO them, and announced
that any man who wished to leave was
free. and that those who remained
would have to fight without pay. We
may Judge the affection which his SOL
diers had developed for him from the
fact that even in the face OF this an.
nouncement they voted to remain with
him. Not one man left, and both Off.
GERS and men. abandoning their sal.
aries. volunteered contributions for
the war. Even so, Caesar hesitated.
His legions were worn out with 10
years of toll. He was loathe to risk
them in struggle that seemed to ain,
only at his personal supremacy. But
he longed for revenge and for the
power to make Rome healthy again.
The Senate had rejected law and
every political method OF settling these
disputes. Very well. said Caesar. he
had no taste for politics. and the
mental manipulation of elections hard.
~ accorded with the nature and stat.
ure OF the man. He made one last
effort. He wrote to the Senate that II
Pompey would go to Spain he would
dismiss his troops and retire to pri.
yate life. This proposal falling. he
offered TO meet Pompey at some mu.
tual place, feeling certain that a per.
sonal interview would result In peace.
The Senate disdained to answer. In.
stead il ordered n levy en- maase for
its defense. On January IL. 80 Be,
Caesar. saying that the die was cast.
crossed the Rubicon and marched
upon Rome.
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