The Two Republics by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1905

The Two Republics

By L. A. S.

The inauguration at Washington on March 4 last is spoken of as “the biggest and most spectacular inaugural celebration in our history.” To minds which were able to view the occasion in the light of ancient as well as of modern history, however, it was impressive for another reason than those apparent to the merely curious spectator. To such it was evident that history was being repeated; that the greatest of modern republics is following fast in the course of the greatest of ancient republics,—Rome,—a course which must naturally take it in due time, and that not far hence, to the goal and grave which that ancient republic reached.

It is a striking and significant fact, especially so to those who can view the tendencies of the times in the light of revelation as well as of history, that so many points of similarity should exist between conditions relating to the inauguration of President Roosevelt and those pertaining to an ancient triumphal procession of a Roman conqueror, as to afford material for the leading cartoon in a recent issue of that popular publication, Puck. The force of this fact will be seen when it is remembered that for such a portrayal to be effective, the resemblance between the two occasions must be so striking and plain as to be evident to the average person as soon as the illustration comes under his eye. So fully have conditions in this country to-day come to resemble those of the last days of the republic of Rome.

In an ancient Roman triumphal procession the one overshadowing figure was that of the conqueror, in whose train almost the entire remainder of the procession followed as the trophies of his conquests. Thus Puck’s artist has depicted the recent inaugural. The chief executive, in the garb and pose of a Roman military hero, rides in a chariot drawn by an elephant, and behind him, bound to his chariot, follow several of his leading political opponents. Beside him walks a member of his cabinet, carrying the “big stick,” and in front of the latter another cabinet official holds aloft the old Roman standard upon which was inscribed “S. P. Q. R.” (the initial letters of the Latin words meaning “The Senate and People of Rome”), which inscription is changed to “S. P. T. R.,” the “Q” being crossed out. The letters “T. R.,” of course, stand for Theodore Roosevelt. In the background another official bears another standard with the letters “G. O. P.,” the last letter being crossed out and “T” substituted. Amid other figures which fill out the picture, an old-time Democrat stands in the foreground, his attitude and expression showing astonishment and horror at the change which has come over the nation’s character since his day. The whole illustration points to the tendency so plainly seen to-day toward the centralization of power in the government, and the investiture of this power in the nation’s political head, a tendency no doubt emphasized by the popularity of the present chief executive.

Another striking cartoon on the inauguration is reproduced in the same number of the Literary Digest, taken from Harper’s Weekly. Under it is the title, “The Great American Durbar.” The President is shown seated on an elephant, heading a procession of other elephants bearing the vice-president, “Uncle Sam,” and other figures of less note. Beside and behind the leading elephant walk the members of the Supreme Court, and on either side are processions of men on foot, the one representing the trusts and the other the railroads. The figures in these processions wear shackles, a feature of doubtful appropriateness if regard is had to the truth. On either side of the presidential seat are projecting spears bearing banners on which are the words “army” and “navy.” In one corner of the cartoon appears a picture showing a solitary man on horseback, with the title, “Jefferson’s Inaugural Parade,” and at the top the words, “Rare Old Print.” Thus do the national ceremonies of this day show the departure from the old-time democratic simplicity.

Ancient Rome gave much attention to foes abroad, and very little attention to the dangers threatening the republic from within; and when the Roman legions under Julius Cæsar had proved invincible in battle against every foreign foe, the republic was on the very verge of dissolution from the evil state into which it had been brought by its foes at home. Commenting on the prominence given in the President’s address to the theme of the necessity of developing the nation’s military strength, as though the chief danger to be apprehended were from abroad, the New York World says:—

Yet how trivial are all our dangers from abroad in comparison with our dangers at home! How trifling is our foreign peril in comparison with our domestic peril? How little do all the battleships of three empires count against us in comparison with the bribery of public servants and the private looting of the public’s heritage! What menace is there in all the legions of Europe in comparison with the menace of corporation control of American political institutions? What peril is to be found in the military resources of all Europe which compares with that system of organized greed and cunning which, in the language of Justice David J. Brewer of the United States Supreme Court, is lifting “the corporation into a position of constant danger and menace to republican institutions”?

History is repeating itself, and will repeat itself to the point of the downfall of this republic, unless, meanwhile, that great event shall intervene to the nearness of which this and other signs of the times now so strongly point,—the coming of the kingdom of Christ to supersede all earthly government and power.

L. A. S.