As the left explodes in daily paroxysms of bitterness and agony at the prospect of losing their power over the nation they were so close to controlling and then destroying, it is perhaps worthwhile to remember when there were those who existed to whom honor and integrity meant more than power.  They proved that they meant this, which is certainly an anomaly to those currently in power.

We could start with the greatest of our Founding Fathers as the primary example for this magnificent ideal in true leadership, but we can in fact go back even farther.  Much farther.

In the days before Rome became an empire, and was thoroughly entrenched in its republicanism and its republican ideals, there existed a man known as Cincinnatus.  His name was actually Lucius Quinctius, but he was most well-known by his nickname, Cincinnatus, which made reference to his curly hair.  Though serving as a consul to Rome in 460 BC, which was one of the most powerful positions in Rome at the time, and though coming from an ancient Roman family, Cincinnatus always preferred the life of a humble Roman farmer.  Always, when he had fulfilled his considerable civic responsibilities, he always returned to his land and his family.

A few years after what he had assumed was his final return to his farm, Cincinnatus was approached, again, by the Senate leaders in Rome to take over the leadership of the nation in light of the pending attack by a strong and vicious tribe of warriors known as the Aequians.   According to legend, the Senators found Cincinnatus plowing one of his fields (he had four acres) when the group arrived to “beg his assistance and announce that the current counsel, Horatius Pulvillus, had nominated Cincinnatus to serve as dictator (not a pejorative term at that time) for six months” in order to achieve a victory against this aggressor.

Cincinnatus, always cognizant of his duty to his country, left his plow standing in his field and said goodbye to his wife.  Having served Rome honorably on a previous occasion, he donned his toga once more and returned to Rome.  The first day he was back, he ordered that all men of military age in Rome report to the Campus Martius, the Field of Mars, before the end of that same day.  Due to the universal regard in which Cincinnatus was held due to his “virtuous simplicity,” not only with the Roman leadership, but also with the population of Rome, here is what happened:

“His army gathered and the following day Cincinnatus led the foot soldiers himself and surprised the enemy.  The leader of the Aequians begged mercy, (sic) and Cincinnatus replied that he wanted no unnecessary bloodshed.  He vowed a cease (sic) of hostilities if the Aequians confessed that they had been conquered by Rome.”

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