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If Cicero proclaimed himself as a de facto dictator or not is irrelivent. A dictator (and "Aristocratic Oligarchy") as long as he protects the rights of his citizines is perfectly moraly acceptable. It just happens to be that the "mechanics" of representivie republic are more conducive to the protection of our liberties. When I speak of dictator in the sense of Stalin, Hitler, and Caeser I am refering to the totalitarian species.
Along the same lines. It does not matter if he did not give them a trial or not. What matters is, if they are guilty of the crimes (which there is significant evidence for). A trial is just a means to check Governmental power(a very wise one I might ad).
There is no doubt that Cicero was one of the greatest proponents of liberty in the ancient world. I would take an aristocratic republic over a totalitarian dictatorship anyday of the week exspecially considering how the first respects my rights to a far greater degree.
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