ANCIENT HISTORY AND MODERN EXAMPLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5760, 15 September 1879, Page 3

ANCIENT HISTORY AND MODERN EXAMPLE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin,—Lord Macaulay in his essay on Byron remarks that history is made up of poetry and philosophy As such it often helps to illustrate and bring out into holder relief a particular line of argument. A writer in an evening paper of the 11th September, has taken upon himself to illustrate the present position of affairs by a reference to the great general of antiquity, Hannibal tbe Carthaginian. But when illustrations of this kind are used, they lose much of their value if they do not give the whole story complete. Everyone will remember the splendid achievement of the Carthaginian general, in marching with an army of hirelings and mercenaries through Spain; the wonderful passage of the Alps ; and the brilliant victories of Lake Thrasimene and of Cannae. But let it be remembered that the great victory on the plains before Canma was won over a Homan army commanded by a Consul elected by the suffrages of the people, who was a vainglorious demagogue, and who, having given battle against the advice of his colleague, was beaten, and lost the flower of Homo’s chivalry in consequence of bis own conceit and incompetency, and of the splendid disposition of the Carthaginian opposed to him. But why should the history stop here 7 What followed ? Blushed with victory, the victorious Hannibal advanced on Home, and pitched bis camp underneath the very walls of the eternal city. Calmly and without excitement the Conscript Bathers in Senate assembled, deliberated over, and took precautions for tbe safety of the city as if no enemy were within one thousand miles of their walls. The only symptom of excitement was shown by the resolution that the punishment to any Homan citizen who suggested the idea of surrender should be death. And while the enemy lay encamped outside the city walls, the land on which bis tents were pitched was sold by auction in the Roman forum within the city walls at as high a price as it would have fetched if Home had been free of the enemy. The Senate appointed a dictator, a new army was levied, and the enemy retired. Year by year the firmness and obdurate resistance of Home drove back the invader, and a few years afterwards the general, who by his sudden dash had imperilled the existence of the rising republic, was thrust from the shores of Italy to Africa, was followed there by Scipio Africanus, and being utterly defeated was obliged to flee, and Carthage succumbed to Rome. Such, sir, was the termination of Hannibal’s brilliant exploit. Perhaps it did not suit the writer I have referred to, to fo'low him so far, or perhaps he had not himself got so far in his history. But he may well take it to heart and remember that another chapter has yet to be written of Liberalism. And it will do true Liberalism no harm that be has adopted this illustration, and has therefore adopted tor the party, of which he represents himself as the champion, the motto of “ Pnnica fides.” If he will refer to a Roman History, he will find that this expression in Rome meant the worst kind of perfidy. The democracy which he advocates has no more tbe spirit and the tradition of true Liberalism than has the conduct of the small band of Homo Rulers in the English Parliament, whose proceedings last session compelled the Speaker to appoint a special clerk to take a note of their conduct of obstructiveness and factious opposition to business, the ring of true patriotism, and of affection for their country.—l am, &e., Alpha.