The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-06-02

this worthless citizen highly exasperated the
minds Of the Athenians and caused them 10
demonstrate. Artaphernes replied that II
they wished the peace Of the Great RinQ,
they should hasten to receive Hippias into
their city aud reinstate him in his former
power. The patriotism Of that hghminded
and mercurial people took fire at the insult,
and lending sufic ent force TO the I,nians
who had thrown of the Persian yoke, they
attacked the city OF Sardis and reduced il TO
ashes. 1t Is not difficult to imagine the
feelings of Darius when he received intel
ligence Of this daring exploit. His resoIu-
ton was instantly formed-a resolution
which cost the lives Of millions of his peo.
pie and even endangered the very existence
of his crown. After the shattered remains
Of the frat unsuccessful expedition under
Mardonius had returned, a second and more
powerful force was organized and placed
under the command OF Datis and Arta-
phernes, two of the bravest and most skilIfuI
! Generals Of tho empire. Heralds were sent
before 10 demand Of the several States of
Greece, earth and water, in token Of their
entire submission. Many, especially of their
states, awed by the numbers and apparent
strength Of the expedition, complied with the
demand, but when they came to Sparta and
Athens, they were precipitated, some into a
well and others into deep ditch, and Gd-
vised TO get their earth and water there
Thus commenced that ever memorable con-
test in which the genius and valor OF free
and enlightened people were brought into
conflict with all the pride and power Of des-
potism; and in which the respective charac.
teristics Of these two principles were most
strikingly displayed for the contemplation Of
an admirlng posterity.
Wander back, Gentlemen, and take view
of thei. representatives as they stand array.
ed against each other, on the plain Of Mara
thvn! Do the animals oi mankind exhibit a
more interesting or more imposing scene!
Compare that unOstentatiuus but determiDed
valor which animated ten thousand patriots
to conquer or die in defence of their country
with the insolent pride which prompted their
,innumerable adversaries to provide chains
for their captives and marble for trophy;
and say il virtue ever triumphed more proud.
ly than OH that memorable day! Imagine
lne state Of Athens on the day Of this battle
How the hearts of its inhabitants must have
throbbed with anxiety, whilst they awaited
the doubtful issue which was either to con.
tirm their liberties, or load them with CALLING
chains! They know that the day has either
been lost or won, ano hurrying to and fro
each moment expecting messenger from
the field At last he comes GREATNESS, ex-
claiming: Rejoice, rejoice, the victory is ours
and falls down und dies. Oh! what shout,
Of exultution must have rang throughout tina
excited city, Oh this joyous announcement
Their sad anxiety was IN one moment, con-
vcrted into secure rejoicing. How Grecian
genius glows in celebrating the Vaor of the
heroes of that immortal day! For fifty-one
years under the successive reigns vt D1riu.
Xerses, Artaxerxes Ljnginanus, did tn.
mighty struggle continue. Al length wor
ried by one continued series uf lnisIortun
and defeats, which were fast consuming tht
vital energies OF the ,tion, the Persian Mon
arch sued for peace. The terms granted
and accepted showed the extremity to which
he was reduced. Total immunity from any
dependence on Persia was secured to the
Grecian race; no Persian war-ship was per
mitted to navigate between the Black SeG
and the coasts of PUmphay liza; aud no Per.
sian lorce could approach within three days
journey OF the Greclan seas.
On their side, the Athenuns merely bound
themselves no longer to moest any portion
:
cult TO loresee that il ever the energies oI
Greece dir ected dy leader capable Of unit
, ing and concentrating them upon single
object were brought to bear aganst it, the
, entire ruin Of Persia was inevitable. The
successors of Artaxerxes, during period ol
, one hundred aud nineteen years, succeeded
, in preventing this catastrophe, and even in
maintaining that power and ascendency
, which had been acquired by the valor o.
their predecessors, by sowing. the seeds OF dis
5 cord among TIC different states of Greece
f and then preserving between them an ever
. balance OF power by assisting alternately
> each of the contending parties. 1t was The
; misfortune Of Greece to be div ided into |
, namber Of separate sovereignties, whose mu
f tual jealousies, fomented by Persian gold
too often caused them to waste against eacl
other, those energies which had more prop
, erly been directed against the natural enc
, mics of their race
At length in the reign of Darius Codenu
/. a prince whose misfortuneS, as well as thu
, amiable virtues which adorn his character
have endeared his memory to posterlty, there
appeared at the helm of Greece, monarch
| who was destined TO overthrow the PersiaI
power and erect his own gigantic sceptre oil
its mighty ruins.
9 The character aud exploits Of this here
will constitute the subject OF my next lee
ture, and therefore will close the presen
, one,with an account of the prophecy OF Dan
iel, in which his appearance on the stage q
the world and the fall of Persia had beef
d mantestly foretold. The Prophet to whom
9 the Almighty seems to have laid open tn
r whole future history Of nations, describes tn
f two-fod event in these terms: ain the thir
: year of the reign OF Baltaser a vision appear
3 cd to me. And lifted up my eyes and saw
s and behold ram stood before the water hav
ing two high horns and one higher than tn
q other and growing up. Afterwards saw tn
k ram pushing against the west and agains
d. the north, and against the south; aud n
# beasts could withstand him, nor be deliver
. ed out of his hand: and he did according I
y his will and became great. And | under
r stood aud behold he-goat came from tn
# west on the face oil the whole earth, and h
r touched not the ground: aud the he-goat ha
h notable horn between his eyes. And h
!. went up to the ram that had horns, which
J.. had seen standing before the gate, and he ra
h towards him iE the furce Of his strength
| And when he was come near the ram, h
!. was enraged against him and struck the rar
q and broke his two horns, and the ram coul
o not withstand him; and when he cast hiT
l. down on the ground, he stamped upon hin
o and none could deliver the ram out of hi
IF hand"
!. Youalready understand. Gentleman, Is