] 4 6 THE MONEYED INTEREST. 



Besides, it was his theory that the annihilation of 

 foreign powers was the building up of Rome. He 

 used to boast that, in his Peninsular Campaign, he 

 had demolished a Spanish town a day. There were in 

 the senate many enlightened men, who denied that 

 the prosperity of Rome could be assisted by the de- 

 struction of trading cities ; and Carthage was defended 

 by the Scipio party. But the influence of the banker 

 class was employed on Cato's side. They wanted every 

 penny that was spent in the Mediterranean world to 

 pass through their books. Carthage and Corinth were 

 rival firms which it was to their profit to destroy. 

 These money-mongers possessed great power in the 

 senate and the state, and at last they carried the day. 

 It was privately resolved that Carthage should be 

 attacked as soon as an opportunity occurred. 



Thus in Africa and in Italy Masinissa and Cato pre- 

 pared the minds of men for the deed of blood. It 

 was as if the Furies of the slaughtered dead had 

 entered the bodies of those two old men and kept 

 them alive beyond their natural term. Cato had done 

 his share. It was now Masinissa's turn. As soon as 

 he was assured that he would be supported by the 

 Romans he struck again and again the wretched people, 

 who were afraid to resist, and yet who soon saw that it 

 would be folly to submit. It was evident that Rome 

 would not interfere. If Masinissa was not checked, 

 he would strip them of their cornfields ; he would 

 starve them to death. The war party at last pre- 

 vailed : the city was fortified and armed. Masinissa 

 descended on their villas, their gardens, and their 

 farms. Driven to despair, the Carthaginians went 

 forth to defend the crops which their own hands had 

 sown. A great battle was fought and Masinissa was 

 victorious. 



