Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-10-02
, n 1rr1nrNT FROM GREcIAN HISTORY.


AN INCIDENT FROM GRECIAN HISTORY.
When the mighty thousands OF the Persian most
came to the invasion Of Greece, the A'he"'uiis
alone, with few Plateans, stemmea the 'effio''
torrent successfully. Sparta, on ilimsy ple'e"''
had failed ts send her forces to the rescue--tc en-
emv was Fastening on with poterfhl and increas-
ing numbers-the leaders Of the Athcniahs "e'e
divided, some favoring immediate ACTION others
advising: delay: The latter urged postponemeh.
of action on the ground that they were weak anu
that Spartan cooperation would yet come "p III
time. The former insisted that every a'iS "o"'"
cause sone loss of their own good and true men,
until, eventually, they would be selfcripprd. GAL
L1MAcHus held the privilege OF the cas''ns 'o'e'
MILrrADEs and ARrsrIDEs (both action mem aa-
dressed him thus: s"On you, CALLiMAchus' II
rests trhethcr Athens shall be enslarcd, or wheth-
er from age to age your country "eea ny su"
voice, shall retain in yours name ne"f't ~ ''.,
even than those ofAnGsroGIToN and HARMoDlus.
The brave man and the justman prevailed ny their
arguments, and the polemarch cast MS 'o'e 'of NJ
ton. In few days the battle OF Maratilon WIS
fought. and Athens routed Persia. sand still
throughout the civilized world Civilized how much
bv the arts and lore of Athens) men OF every clme'
of every political persuasion feel as Greeks at the
name of Marathon 1t was, says the eloquent MS
torian, the first great triumph of OPINION! ana ts
frnits were reaped, not by Athens only, out oy
all Greece then, as by all time thereafter IN q
mighty and imperishnble harvest,--the inVisioie'
not less than the actual force of despotism was
brokeni'
Ofsuch pointed instances Of historical truth, 1t
is better generally to leave each reader 10 make
his own application. We will therefore only drop
few suggestions as to the apposileness of the in
cident related above, to the present attitude and
condition of our State.
The hosts of Federalism and Freesoilism are
bearing down Upon her with rapidly accumulating
strcngth-they have already broken the spirit OF
several of her co.suferers.-At home, her leaders
are pulling in different directions just rs were the
leaders of Athens when threatened by the power
of Persa.-Sparta had been confidently expecte4
by Athens to stand by her sitlc-but Sparta failed
to do so. Mississippi has been looked to by South
Carolina as an acting ally-but Mississippi has dts
| appointed our hopes.-Athens and her leaders Wa
vered for moment in doubt to the proper course
to be pursued. Carolina and her leaders are now
in a similar extremity and similar suspense.-ln
Athens, temporising course was decided against,
and ACTION ruled the day. In South Carolina
like result WILL doubtless appear.-AthenGans, at.
ter the decision wns made up, murmured not, but
stood to their post, each man hero determined to
do or die in the cause of Athens. South Carolni-
| ans, likewise, when the Rubicon shall have been
past, will be found rallying with one heart and
mind around the banner Of the Statc-every whis:
per of discomfort will be flushed, and in its place
will be raised one loud, long and united shout
eve will stand or fall with Carolina with
such feelings stirring their souls, the Athcnians
moved on and accomplished the most remarkable
triumph on record. Under like auspices, South
Carolina will make her impress upon the 18th cen'
tury, and establish an era from which Southern
prosperity and Southern freedom will date theft
real beginning .To Athens, the victory of Mar
athon was q second Solon." To the cause of Free
dom, the onward movement Of Carolina will be
second Washington.-By Athenians, separately
and alone, the tide of Persian tyranny was turned
Carolina Fedcrnl power will be successfully Cp;
posed-a contest will be brought on, which will
exhibit that power to the Southern people in its
true coors, and arouse feeling of general indig-
nation, which must terminate either in the reforma
tion or the dcthronement Of that power.-Atheni-
ans, so far from giving way to the influence Of i'm
nginary dangers. rcsolntely met and confronted
the real terrors in their path, being resolved to
counter them at all hazards. And thus will South
Carolinians, while coolly and fairly calculating
the difficulties which lie before them, refuse to be
Influenced by the frights and scarc-crows of viz
i'd imaginations.