New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-16

rendered british sn intellect originally somewhat
dull and ferocious character originally somewhat
severe. These qualities cngendered the narrow
iealously which the Spartans entertained toward
the Athenians- and the Peopennesian war was the
result. IL history has been traced By the hand Of
ThCcy ddes and, without sny intention on his part
il il yet manifest that the system OF Slavery WAS
the chief cause Of the Spartan ferocity and the
Atbenian weakness. Had Sparta had no slaves,
she never would have sttscked Athens; had
Athens been peopled only BY freemeD, she never
would have been conquered BY Sparta. We
see no safety for the Southern youth except
in puttiug upon the list of prohibited books
the great work which Thucydides proudly hoped
would BE- possession forever" for al mankind.
But suppose the student, leaving the camer
paths of history turns TO the dramatic literature
Of Athens II lie remark st once profound, snd,
we believe, original, of FELTON,, in his edition OF
Aristophsness comedy of the Clouds, that the
Free Thea:er of Athens occupied, in some degree,
the place Of the Free Press of modern times. The
wit, the sarcasm, the humOr of the comedian eI-
posed though il could not stay the tide OF corrsp'
ton which was render nQ Athens an easy prey the
Spartan barbarisns for such they deserve TO be
called. The Clouds was exhibited st Athens during
the PelOponne.ian war; and no one can real II
without seeing that the thousands OF slaves who
were cooped mp within the walls of the city were
eating out ts heart; that the talent which should
have been employed in defending the nation was
forced 10 occupy itself in contriving means to pre-
vent insurrec,ion at home; and that the idle, dis
soute hor.e-racing cot .abus- playing sons of the
80 first famils." Of Athens, living upon the labor
Of slaves, were alike ignorant of the arts of peace
and unified for the arts of war
The history of Rome teaches the same lesson.
The men who laid the foundation of her power
were those who put their own hands To the plow;
while they who. in the later ages of the empire,
lived upon the labor of slaves fell an easy prey to
the barbarisns of the North. But even the works
Of those authors who wrote after Slavery had cor
rupted the whole fabric of Roman society are
filed with sentiments. hostile 10 the principles and
practices of Southern politicians. II their sons
are to b. taught that the manner in which Brooks
answered Sumner was right aud proper, It surely
will not do to allow them 10 read in their first les-
son IN ldcllus Indl ctutFntf III Hc ucN'hhco
that, By rare felicity of the times, you can think
what you wish, and speak what you think. In
fact. all in ancient literature, which. for more than
twenty centuries, has awakened the admiration and
kinded the enthusiasm of mankind, is due to the
spirit of freedom which pervades it. Strike that
OUT. and the student will find little TO repay the
labor of perusol.
We can see but one sure course for our Southern
brethren to pursue in unfolding system Of Indus
try which converts their fields in'O deserts-a sys
TEN Of Morality which sanctions the grossest
licentiousness-and system of Politics which
brushes ont freedom of discussion; aud that is, TO
prohibit all education whatever They have
already found il necessary to take that course with
regard to their slaves. Many OF the States have
extended the same system to their free cOored
population. by their social arrangements large
portion of the poorer classes of their white popu-
lation has been reduced 10 the same level. They
have now only to apply the same policy to their
own children and then The system will he complete.
They have made barbarisns Of their labOrer,. both
bond aud free; let them complete their work by
making bsrbarians of Themselves.