Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/297

 MUNICIPAL AND IMPERIAL REFORMa 288 CaeMr't Political Fanht and Failure. — In these measnrea he made the same fatal mistake as Gracchus and Sulla (pp. 175-176, 20^-210), and the natural result followed. He overthrew once for all the goyemment of the aristo- crats and the capitalists, but he failed to make his consti- tutional changes permanent, and he promoted the early establishment of a military monarchy. His failure and his own downfall were due to his personal weaknesses and his want of political insight If his consti- tutional position had been as indefinite as that of Augustus, and his aims as vague as those of Charles the second of Eng- land, he might have succeeded. But he was out of touch with the people, and did not discern what was expedient or even possible in politics. As a result, he hastened to occupy the odious position of extraordinary dictator, and he was insatiable in his desire for powers and honors. He was too radical in introducing reforms, and too hasty in develop- ing the unity of the empire and the equality of nation- alities. He also promoted the policy of favoring the Greeks, which later led to the founding of an eastern and Greek empire. He excited opposition by his methods as well as by his acts. He unnecessarily wounded the feelings of the re- publicans and the people, he was partial even as a judge, and showed the greatest weakness in selecting his sub- ordinates. Results of Caesar's Work. — In spite of his short rule, how- ever, Caesar left to his adopted son a great name, a large number of devoted soldiers, and especially the idea of Caesar- ism, the general conviction that monarchy was inevitable. He had shown how the magistrates could be controlled, the senate be checked, and the assemblies be managed. In a general way he had established precedents for the legislative