The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

Chapter 9
In the Trail of Rome
Among the great nations of ancient times the
republic of Rome is at once the most gigantic and
striking figure. In the history of mankind only two
republics have ever risen to a pitch of grandeur and
prominence sufficient to entitle them to a rank in
the galaxy of “great world-powers.” Of these the
republic of the Romans is one, and that of the
United States of America is the other.
Aside from the Anglo-Saxon race, no people
have ever possessed the faculty of self-government
to such an extent as the Roman nation. Theirs was
a commonwealth, which, as Cicero, one of their
own greatest orators, said, ought to be immortal,
and forever renew its youth. His words contain a
truth, but sad to state, a truth unrealized beneath the
sun. Republican forms of government have proved
even less enduring than the other systems which
have been devised for the ruling of mankind. This
constitutes no criticism of the principle on which
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