Superficial readers believe it was the military men who destroyed the Roman republic! No such thing! It was the politicians who did it!--factious, corrupt, intriguing politicians--destroying public virtue in their mad pursuit after office--destroying their rivals by crime--deceiving and debauching the people for votes--and bringing elections into contempt by the frauds and violence with which they were conducted.

From the time of the Gracchi there were no elections that could bear the name.

Confederate and rotten politicians bought and sold the consulship.

Intrigue and the dagger disposed of rivals.

Fraud, violence, bribes, terror, and the plunder of the public treasury commanded votes.