A Tyrant Dead, The State Renewed

Conscript Fathers, we sit here today pondering the unfathomable. A tyrant has been slain, and yet we sit and debate whether to give him honors befitting a king. Caesar was a tyrant. Yes, he was appointed dictator. But we must not forget his dictatorship far outstripped the purpose of the office. What crisis was he intended to remedy? What grave disaster had befallen our beloved Republic that it required Caesar’s sole rule in perpetuity in order to cure it? The only crisis our state has suffered was the crisis that Caesar brought upon it. The truth is that Caesar was proclaimed dictator that he might destroy our Republic, not save it.

What right did Caesar have to claim leadership of the Republic? A tyrant may have many titles: King, dictator, sole consul…perhaps even Master of Horse? But titles do not hide the intention to dominate. You might object that I am being too harsh towards the dead. After all, Caesar was a good friend to many, a just ruler, an even hand of justice in a state that has torn itself apart. I would answer that, as we find in Plato, a tyrant rules as he sees fit. His want is to dominate; yet, his policy is to pander. Yes, Caesar established order, but order at what cost? We, as Romans, do not strive for mere order. Slaves too live in an ordered state.

As a citizen of this Republic Caesar was bound by duty to protect her in time of crisis, to obey her laws, to adhere to her customs and traditions. Yet, he did none of these. He marched an army against the city, creating crisis rather than preventing it. He violated our laws and traditions by establishing himself as sole ruler, using the office of dictator as a crude ruse to hide his more lofty ambitions.

Yet, even now, having seen clearly Caesar’s blind ambition, his disregard for the state that he was obligated to protect, even now we have those who seek to honor a man who sought to destroy his home. They cry: “Let us restore order!” “Let us give hope to our people!”. I say that the people’s hope has been restored. They walk no longer under the yoke of tyranny. The Republic is being renewed. Our citizens walk again as free men.

Yes, by all means, bury Caesar; bury him in that cold and watery grave of men who betrayed their homeland; bury his memory; bury him in your hearts. Do it not, and we bury our country.