There were then, in fact, two great forces in the government acting
in and by each other--the Stratocracy, and the Autocracy. Each needed the
other; each stood in awe of each. But, as regarded all other forces in the
empire, constitutional or irregular, popular or senatorial, neither had
any thing to fear. Under any ordinary circumstances, therefore,
considering the hazards of a rebellion, the emperor was substantially
liberated from all control. Vexations or outrages upon the populace were
not such to the army. It was but rarely that the soldier participated in
the emotions of the citizen. And thus, being effectually without check,
the most vicious of the Caesars went on without fear, presuming upon the
weakness of one part of his subjects, and the indifference of the other,
until he was tempted onwards to atrocities, which armed against him the
common feelings of human nature, and all mankind, as it were, rose in a
body with one voice, and apparently with one heart, united by mere force
of indignant sympathy, to put him down, and "abate" him as a monster. But,
until he brought matters to this extremity, Caesar had no cause to fear.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162