ut st was 
less fitted 
to grapple 
with them, 
from its 
military 
TLQIn, 
its terri- 
torial 
character. 
and the 
2CONnOMIC 
pressure it 
sntatied : 
884 POSTSCRIPT 
and traditions are living side by side on the same soil, and 
there are pessimists who are always ready to point to the 
decline and fall of the Roman Empire, as a warning of the 
fate which is in store for England, since she has undertaken 
a similar task. But we may remember the differences, as 
well as the resemblances between the two Empires; whatever 
the weakness of the English system may be, it does not suffer 
rom the evils which were most noticeable in Rome. The 
origin of the two Empires is distinct, as the one was formed 
oy military successes, the other by the gradual extension of 
rommerce. The physical character of the two Empires is 
listinet, as the one stretched over large areas of contiguous 
serritory, traversed by magnificent roads, while the other 
consists of scattered possessions, to which access is obtainable 
by sea. The cost of maintaining the defence of the frontiers 
and communications within a great land empire was enormous, 
and drained the resources of the Empire; while the navy 
serves to protect the commerce which is the very basis of 
England's wealth. Conquered countries were ruined and 
sxhausted by Roman government; but the outlying parts 
of the British Empire are strong and vigorous communities. 
The expenses of government and magnificent public works 
it Rome entailed a burden of taxation which ruined the 
landed interests and rendered fertile regions desert; while 
English influence has brought vast tracts under the plough 
and made provision for a greatly increased population 
throughout the Empire. The moneyed men were forced to 
bear a costly and unwilling part in the affairs of State!; 
while the modern system of public borrowing—with all its 
disadvantages—brings the moneyed men and the Government 
nto partnership, for their mutual advantage. It might be 
difficult to specify the precise aims which Hadrian, Marcus 
Aurelius, and Julian set before them; but there was little 
sign of that constant care for the welfare of the masses of the 
peoples—of all tribes and languages alike—which is the aim 
of the ruling race to-day. 
Striléng as are the economic differences between these 
jwo great Empires, the political contrasts are even more 
1 Cunningham, Western Csviltsation, 1. 188.