It is only distance in time that separates and distinguishes the Caligulas
of history, the early, medieval, and present periods. History exhibits the
first as the undisguised monster of atrocity. The last, overshadowed by
the mantle of the law, stands but partially revealed.
To the perverted imaginations of the first the senate presented no force
of resistance. To the petulant asperity, the abuse of power of the last,
the doubtful liberties of the people imposed certain restrictions, which
led to the resort of narrow and malignant minds--secrecy and concealment.
Nature had not cast him in the mould of those statesmen who sacrifice all
personal feelings for the public good, and who willingly yield up their
lives to advance the noble work of true civilization. Obstinacy with him
was firmness; cunning, depth; resistance to humane feelings, resolution.
Envy, hatred, murmurs, were braved with inflexible determination when
pursuing his plans of favoritism, or defending his tools of oppression
and cruelty against the voice of nature and outraged liberty.
There are some men who appear to be destined for the instruction of the
world, as the abettors and satellites of despotism, who cannot or who do
not recognize the difference between interest or conscience; who desire to
debase mankind, that they may appear above the common level of humanity,
conscious of their incapability of lifting themselves up by virtue and by
nobility of action.
This man was the incarnation of the spirit of Slavery; he could have
exclaimed, with Barnave, "Perish the colonies rather than a principle."
This man was, for the time being, the entire incorporation of the
sedition--its principles, its passions, its impulses, its cruelties.
"There are abysses which we dare not sound, and characters we desire not
to fathom, for fear of finding in them too great darkness, too much
horror."
This man, so calm, so dignified, so wise in his exterior, could not find
sufficient generosity in his soul, although the representative of five
millions of men, to say to these armies of suffering prisoners, * * *
_indignus Caesaris irae_--unworthy of the anger of Caesar.