] And in all the rest of his arrangements, Augustus had
proceeded on the principle of leaving as many openings to civic
influences, and impressing upon all his institutions as much of the old
Roman character, as was compatible with the real and substantial supremacy
established in the person of the emperor. Neither is it at all certain, as
regarded even this aspect of the imperatorial office, that Augustus had
the purpose, or so much as the wish, to annihilate all collateral power,
and to invest the chief magistrate with absolute irresponsibility. For
himself, as called upon to restore a shattered government, and out of the
anarchy of civil wars to recombine the elements of power into some shape
better fitted for duration (and, by consequence, for insuring peace and
protection to the world) than the extinct republic, it might be reasonable
to seek such an irresponsibility. But, as regarded his successors,
considering the great pains he took to discourage all manifestations of
princely arrogance, and to develop, by education and example, the civic
virtues of patriotism and affability in their whole bearing towards the
people of Rome, there is reason to presume that he wished to remove them
from popular control, without, therefore, removing them from popular
influence.
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