A PARALLEL WITH ROME,

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 13

A PARALLEL WITH ROME,

The following extract from a recent number of the "Xew York Times" may l>e of interest to many people at present, when politicians are promising so much to the people:—"Cnder the early history of the subject of pauperism by Governmental charity may be noted the following on Page 423, Volume 21, of the American Encyclopedia: "Imperial Borne presents the first notable instance of pauperising by undue aid. Ambitious politicians gave free grain, not to the wounded and helpless, as Athens had done, but to all men residing in the capital who could prove themselves Roman citizens. This began when votes could thus be bought under the Republic. Julius Caesar found onethird of a million of these able-bodied pensioners, and cut the number down one-half; but Augustus allowed it to grow again. Marcus Aurelius, though a Stoic himself, gave these robust dependents bread, oil and meat. The strength of that world-conquering! race was thus undermined, and the demand of the begger populace is recognised as the death cry of once invincible Rome.' Is there a parallel in the United States to-day? We must deny the evidence of history, and the fundamental laws of evolution and the survival of the fittest not to realise just what has and will happen. E. E. CALLAWAY." Is this parallel limited to the United States. THRIFT.