Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/148

184 The Party of Cato. — The party of which Flaminius had been the leader consisted of people below the nobility in the social scale and opposed to it in politics. It was the party of ideas and progress. On the other hand, the party which was formed early in the second century B.C., under the leadership of Cato, embraced the conservative element among the nobility, as well as supporters from the other classes; and it opposed, not the nobility as a class, but the Scipionic faction, or wing. It had in the main a negative policy — to check the degeneracy of the time by repressive measures, and thus restore the old Roman morality, simplicity, and thrift.

Cato and Provincial Affairs. — Cato, the new leader, had distinguished himself as governor of Sardinia by the honesty and economy of his administration, and by his severity against the Roman money lenders. It may have been through his influence and that of his protector, Lucius Valerius Flaccus, that the number of praetors was increased to six in 197, in order that two of them might have charge of the Spanish provinces. The law, enacted a number of years later, which was intended to give the Spanish governors a biennial term, had Cato's support, but was soon repealed. In his consulship in 195 Cato secured the passage of a law limiting the demands which Roman officials could make on the provincials. The following year he was governor in hither Spain (Hispania citerior), where he waged war with success, regulated the provincial affairs, and showed himself as severe, economical, and honest as ever. On his return he was feared on account of his rigor and courage, and highly respected because of his ability and integrity.

Censorship of Cato. — In spite of the greatest exertions of the Scipionic party, Cato and Flaccus were elected censors