Letter From Lucius Cornelius Cinna on the fate of the Liberators

O Conscript Fathers, it pains me to see that some of you allow yourselves to be puppets of the tyrant Julius Caesar even now. I fear that you have abandoned your wisdom for folly, thereby endangering the Roman Republic and the liberty of its people. You vehemently condemn the actions of us, the liberators of Rome, as if Caesar himself still held your leash. Open your eyes! The tyrant has been thrown down and this body, with the guidance of the Republicans, must now lead the restoration of the Republic. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived by Mark Antony, who denounces the opponents of his dear Caesar, for he himself was the tyrant’s lap dog. Though he claims he wishes to lead Rome in a “new” direction, he and others only aspire to replace Caesar with their own tyranny. Antony claims that the Republic is out dated, but I ask what ways are better than the Old? Are we to believe that democracy and liberty are no longer relevant?! Was Rome not marvelous before Caesar? Furthermore, allowing a man, such as Antony, to take power will undoubtedly ignite civil war, with others just as power hungry vying for authority. Do we truly wish to endure the horrors of war as we did in 49? Even though Caesar has been removed, it is clear that new enemies already seek to take his place in attacking the liberty of all Romans. We who dared to challenge Caesar are labeled as criminals, condemned as traitors, and many of you desire our lives be taken in revenge of the tyrant. But we are liberators I say, not seeking personal gain or glory, but only the preservation and prosperity of the republic and this sovereign body that represents it. When Caesar sacrificed the Republic for his own power we renounced any loyalty that we previously felt toward him and threw him down for Rome! I implore you Senators, do not allow yourselves to be manipulated by false leaders, do not impose your wrath upon those who have so nobly stripped Rome of its shackles, join them in pledging your lives to the Republic once more, pledging your service to the people. Let not the Rome’s liberators be smote, but rather those who would seek to replace the bonds that were broken.