A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

296'GRACCHUS. GRACCHUTS.
election of those magistrates. The'province of the progress of his excellent legislation.:Th6 course
Asia, which had for many years been left unsettled, which the aristocrats now began to pursue shows
and had thus given to the governors ample scope most clearly that the good of the republic was not
for plunder: and extortion, received at length a the thing for which they were struggling, and that
regular organisation, for which it is indebted to C. they looked upon it merely as a contest for power
Gracchus. Ill all his measures relating to the ad- and wealth; they cared little or nothing about the
ministration he took great care of. the interests of demoralisation of the people, or the ruin of the rethe republic; and although he acted with justice public,'so long as'they could but preserve their
towards the provincials and the people, to whom power undiminished.
lands were assigned,'yet he always tried to secure Among the colleagues of C. Gracchus was M.
to the republic her revenes. For the purpose of Livius Drusus, a man of rank, wealth, and elofacilitating the commerce and intercourse between quence; he was gained over by the sehatdrialthe several parts of Italy, and at' the same time party, and under their directions, and with their
giving assistance and employment to the poor, he sanction,. he endeavoured to outbid Caius in the
made new roads in all directions, and repaired the proposal of popular measures. I-le acted the part
old ones; milestones also were erected throughout of a real demagogue, for the purpose of supplanting
Italy. Notwithstanding his great and numerous the sincere friend of the people; and the people,
undertakings, he conducted and'superintended who at all times prize momentary gain more than
everything himself, and each particular point was solid advantages, which work slowly and almost
managed with a care and strictness as if he had imperceptibly, allowed themselves to be duped by
nothing else to engage his attention. His skill and the treacherous agent of the aristocracy. Drusus
tact in his intercourse with persons of all classes proposed a series of measures: which were of a far
with whom he was thus brought into connexion, more democratic nature than those of Caius. Caius:
and'his talent for winning their affections, excited had proposed the establishment of two colonies at
the admiration of every one. His favour with the Tarentum and Capua, consisting of citizens of good
people'far and near, as well as with the equites, and respectable character; ~ but Drusus proposed
thus rose to the utmost height. the establishment of twelve colonies, each of which
While things were thus in the most prosperous was to consist of 3000 needy Roman citizens.
progress,'and shortly before the election of the Caius had left the public land distributed among
consuls for the next year took place, he once told the poor, subject to a yearly' payment to the treathe people that he was going to ask them a favour, sury: Drusus abolished even this payment, and
which he would value above every thing, if they thus deprived the state of a large portion of its
granted it; but he added, that he would not com- revenue. Gracchus contemplated granting theplain if they refused it. The people gladly pro- franchise to the Latins, but Drusus brought formised to do anything he might desire; and every ward'a measure that the Latins should be exempt
one believed that he was going to ask for the con- from corporal punishment even while they served
sulship-: but on the day of the consular election, in the armies. The people thus imposed upon by:
Gracchus conducted his friend C.' Fannius into the Drusus, who assured them that the senate sanecassembly, and canvassed with his friends for him. tioned his measures from no other desire than that
Fannius was accordingly elected consul in prefer- of serving the poor citizens, gradually became re-ence'to Opimius, who had likewise offered himself conciled to the senate; and the recollection of past
as a candidate. C. Gracchus himself was elected sufferings was effaced by hyp'ocritical assurances
tribune for the next year (B. C. 122) also, although he and demagogic tricks. Another means by which
had not asked for it. M. Fulvius Flaccus, a friend Drusus insinuated himself into the people's conof Caius, who had been consul in B. C. 125, had fidence was, that he asked no favour for himself,
caused himself to be elected tribune, for the purpose and took no part in carrying his laws into effect,
of being -able to give his support to one important which he left entirely to others; while Caius, with.
measure which Caius had in contemplation, viz. the most unwearied activity, superintended'and
that of extending the Roman franchise. The plan conducted every thing in person. In proportion as'
was to grant the Roman franchise to all the Latins, the ill feeling between the people and the senate:
and to make the Italian allies step into the relation abated, the popularity of Caius decreased, and his
in which the Latins had stood until then. This position between the two -became more and' more
measure; though it was the wisest and m'ost salu-' perilous. Gracchus had proposed the establishtary that could have'been devised, was looked for- ment of a colony on the ruins of Carthage, and he
ward to by the senate with the greatest uneasiness himself was appointed one of the triumvirs to conand alarm. The Latins and Italian allies had for duct the colonists. He settled every' thing in
some time been aspiring to the:privilege of the Africa with the utmost rapidity * and after an abRoman franchise; and Fregellae, being disappointed sence of seventy days, he returned to Rome, shortly
in its'expectations, had -revolted, but had been de- before the time at which the -consuls for the next
stroyed by the praetor Opimius. But it is uncertain year were to be elected. Drusus had availed himwhether Gracchus did actually bring forward a bill self of the absence of Caius for making various
about the extension of the franchise, or whether he attacks on his party and his friends,'especially on
merely contemplated to do so. The senate, instead Fulvius Flaccus, who began openly to stir up the
of endeavouring to allay the ill feelings of those Italian allies to demand the Roman franchise. It
who thought that a right was withheld from them, was in vain that Caius, after his return, endeavoured
provoked them still mlore by an edict' forbidding to restore what his enemies and his sanguine and
any one who was not a Roman citizen to: stay in passionate friend had destroyed. Fannius, who
the city-or its vicinity so long as the discussions had obtained the consulship throilgh the influence
on the bills of C. Gracchus were going on. At the of Caius, had -soon after treated him with indiffersame time the senate had recourse to the meanest ence, and in the'end even made common' cause
and most contemptible stratagem to check Caius in with his enemies. Opimius, who had never for.