New-York daily tribune., 1854-07-18

hIelsfheEee. 0ofccScls Icy bescsy esessse"sco
Ephistes the eosdutorofPereles IN thegrest work Of
consolidating the Democracy AID when iheeestruc've
Pe,opcnnesian war broke out iis origin was mainly
fcurd in hatred and envy toward tic democratic
growth ofAthens. The Athsnisn- we're pronounced ~
their enemies to be nnoystors by nature sharp both
in deyising and executing their schemes, deeming
inactive repose a condition than fstigune occu
patton How Ike the pecr e Of New England and oar
other Free States Bu; in politics welas in the arts
II is the modern improvements which sure to come
out yiccrious and this the for that rapid
Increase and expansion of the Athenan Democracy,
by hieh her olgsrchs and those Of the other Greek
States were startled. In the same wsy the oligarchs
OF tie slave States the despot of Mexico the priests
of Central Amercs, and the tyrants civil and ecelesi
astc. Of Europe, startled and rendered fear
full BY the Democracy Of the present time.
When the disasters of the Peloponnessl had near
" crushed the strength Of the Democracy the cgsr-
CHEZ above all that of Athens raised themselves on
the ruins of freedom. With the help of the victorious
enemy the Spartsns, and through systematised con-
spir,cy and assassination, they destroyed the DEM
ocratic Constitution. In these struggles, whose
accounts reach from oligarchica authors and were
accepted without doubt or criticism by subsequent
writer's, enemies Of liberty their opponents were
called dcmagogues-and this term is still subject
o. Misunderstanding aad abuse. To call maH
a demsgcgue is TO disgrace hun. Grote restores
tie true force Of the word He very naturally con-
elu6es that as against these persons have been
aimed al the asper.ious and accusations of arstocrats
and oliesrchs this fact ought to form clue by which
70 estimate the real character and mission of the
~ 81, anil
Deuaosthenes were accounted of that number Ac-
corng TO the explanation given By Grote, the demi-
ccrres were necessary and beneficial product OF
d4uocratc institutions aud formed vital element
in al that was tutelary and spirited in Demo-
cracy. Aggressive in respect to official delnquents,
to the schemng, conspring and reasonable purposes
Of ambitious oligarchs, these demagogues watched
over the public welfare, and were ever on the
defensive as regards the public and the Constl-
tuition That Democracy was not sthed sooner
was because there were demagogues TO cry
aloud rs well as others to assemble and hear and
sustain tlem They were the real enemies of the
olcsrchy and the real defenders Of the people. For
this their names were coupled with ignOmy, aud as
such received by credulOus posterity. during the
Peloponnesian aud the struggles OF parties, We
find ON the side of the cOnsprators and ogarchs mod
ern Slaveocracy, nothing but personal ambition and
seshness fostered by tricks practced upon the cre-
duty of tie people, and extra judicial murders Inc
Democracy were guided by the sentiment OF common
patriotism and an absence of reaconary vengeance or
ierocity against their opponents. To those VINO re-
gard the value of governments as distinguished one
from the other mainly b. the reciprocal feelings IN
spred by governors and governed III scenes OF these
struggles suggest instructive comparisons between the
nature of oligarchy and Democracy, and Grote
uuts each clearly before the reader Treacherous
and perfdious the olgarchy did everything in their
power to ruin the o1rshing city; and linked with the
Spartans TO destroy the protecting walls OF the
harbor Plato at that time belonged TO this party,
and Xenophon defends its reckless and bloody acts
While the Thirty Tyrants ruled over Athens, ntellee-
tual teaching was forbidden even TO Socrates, who
was in intimate relations with those rulers as he was
once with Aeibiades.
The Democrats that is to say the artisans, work
men and traders. overthrow the bloody rule and
broke the power of the olgarehy. With this
change was to n certain degree connected the ceie-
brated condemnation of Socrates; condemnation
variously commented upon, but for the hrst time
put in its true light by GrOe. who explains udcious-
Is. mpartialy and luminously the so-caled mission
OF the philosopher and its influence the Athenian
mind lie apprehends the method of Socrates, and
fairly outlines the various intellectual sides and pecu-
liarites of his character-n one word, his whole
ethical and seapproving doctrine and its real pur-
port The political opinions Of Socrates directly
opposed to the general democratic idea, AS well as to
the democratic public method and proceedings; and
4 - .kt.
tons nay even the anaogies and illustrations used
by Socrates.
The position taken by Socrates respecting the De-
nocracy was not simply negative: on the contrary he
va. on aclose and friendly footing with the ogarcbs,
eonspirators, and sangunary tyrants. This chiefly
caused his accusation. His sccusers were the men who
led the people to overthrow the ogarchlcal tyranny
high minded and patriotic, devoted to the popular
cause while Socrates was an intimate friend
of Acibades and Kritias, whom he had educated the
latter being the head OF the conspiracy and
the most relentless butcher of the patriots. Cen
orally By this as well by his whole teaching, So
crates had offended against the deepy-seated senti-
ments and ideas of the Athenan people. Advanced
in ite at that time more than seventy years of age
he dreaded to lose his keen faculties and was afraid of
deerepit senility Thus on bis defence he did every
thing De lberaely, TO bring upon himself the verdict
of guilty In his selfexsltation it wasa philosophical
and premeditated suicide, casting the blame OF his
death upon others. His condemnation was and ls
charged upon the Democracy; but Grote, while paying
deserved homage to the great founder phoo-
ply brings together the extenuatng circumstances OF
hi. death and removes OF the most current as
persons Oh the Athenian people.
In fact, truth and justice prevail in Grote's whole
,ork Not In It's form since the style is rugged: but