In speaking of the motives which induced Tiberius to seek the tribunate a second time (p. 33) it has been said that he was not influenced by personal considerations, but wanted time to carry out his measures.  This view is confirmed by what Appian says about Caius, namely, that he was elected a second time; for already a law had been enacted to this effect, that if a tribune could not find time for executing in his tribunate what he had promised, the people might give the office to him again in preference to anyone else.  This has been pronounced to be a blunder on Appian’s part, but without adequate reason.  It was in fact the natural and inevitable law which Caius would insist on first, and he would plead for it precisely on the grounds which Appian states.  It is also clear that such a law once passed made virtual monarchy at Rome possible. [Sidenote:  Other measures of Caius.] In fact the other measures of Caius were both worthy of a great and wise monarch, and might with good reason be thought to be designed to lead to monarchy. [Sidenote:  Roads.  Granaries.  Soldiers’ uniform.  Age for service.] He constructed magnificent roads—­along which, it would be whispered, his voters might come more easily to Rome.  He built public granaries.  He gave the soldiers clothing at the cost of the State.  He made seventeen the minimum age for service in the army.  He himself superintended the plantation of his own colonies.  Everywhere he made his finger felt; but whether this was of set purpose or only from his constitutional energy it is hard to decide.  His chief object, however, was to overthrow the Senate; and we have not yet exhausted the list of his assaults upon it. [Sidenote:  Change in nomination to provinces.] Hitherto it had been the custom for the Senate to name the consular provinces for the next year after the election of the consuls, which meant that if a favourite was consul a rich province was given to him, and if not, a poor one.  Caius enacted that the consular provinces should be named before the election of the consuls.  By way, perhaps, of softening this restriction he took away from the tribunes their veto on the naming of the consular provinces. [Sidenote:  Alleged change in the order of voting.] He is further supposed, though on slender evidence, to have changed the order of voting in the Comitia Centuriata.  Formerly the first class voted first.  Now the order of voting first was to be settled by lot, and so the influence of the rich would be diminished.

[Sidenote:  General criticism of his schemes.] Such, in outline, was the grand scheme of Caius Gracchus.  If he was less single-minded in his aims than his brother, he could hardly help being so; and, having to reconcile so many conflicting interests, he may have swerved from what would have been his own ideal.  But that his main purpose was to break down a rotten system, and establish a sound one on its ruins, and that no petty motive of expediency guided him, but