Roman democracy

Ipsam propter democratiam Romanam nos tantum de oligarchia audimus. Exempli gratia, historici recentes conati sunt valorem atque victoriam Romanam attribuere illæ odiosæ atque oditæ usuriæ, quam fecerunt nonulli patricii, quasi Curius phalangites Macedonicos vicit pecuniam fænerando, ac Nero consul victoriam Metauri pro vicensima pactus. Sed usuriam sentimus patriciam e turbulentia plebiana. Regnum principum mercatorum Punicorum summa fuit usuriæ, sed numquam fuit turba Punica quæ audebat usurarios appellare.

 

It is precisely because of the presence of Roman democracy that we hear so much about Roman oligarchy. For instance, recent historians have tried to explain the valor and victory of Rome in terms of that detestable and detested usury which was practiced by some of the Patricians; as if Curius had conquered the men of the Macedonian phalanx by lending them money; or the Consul Nero had negotiated the victory of Metaurus at five per cent. But we realize the usury of the Patricians because of the perpetual revolt of the Plebeians. The rule of the Punic merchant princes had the very soul of usury. But there was never a Punic mob that dared to call them usurers.

 

—G. K. Chesterton, De Viro Sempiterno