Caesar and the American Republic
THE Chicago New World (Catholic) says in speaking of the popularity of the nation’s present chief executive:— Those who are familiar with the history of Caesar’s struggle with the Roman senate will easily recognize how history is repeating itself even in detail in the case of President Roosevelt. The present chief executive of the nation is the fearless and uncompromising champion of popular rights against plutocratic privilege. A more important question than that of the outcome of the struggle between the chief executive and the senate, is suggested by this statement. If Roman history is repeating itself in this nation, how far is that repetition to go on? Are we now in the last days of the American republic, as the Roman republic was in its last days when Caesar was at its head? And is the Rubicon about to be crossed, and a Caesar elevated to supreme power in this nation, to be followed ere long by a Nero? The trouble with the Roman republic in Caesar’s time was in the condition of its people. There is a very ominous similarity between conditions now and then.