The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-11-10
GTeciaKR Slavery.

GFecian Slavery.
The following is synopsis of a letter recent
~ delivered before the Lowell Institute in Bos-
ton, by Prof c. G, FELTON,, of Harvard Uniyers-
ity:
From the earliest dawn of historical light,
slavery was the rule, the absence of it the ex-
Il ception, in the Grecan States. Home marked
its character in the words:t
.'Jove takes from man one half bis worth away
when on him falls the clang of slavery"
, Though existing everywhere and everywhere
substantially the same, the condition OF the slave
differed in details in the different States, partly
according to the other political institutions and
partly according to the race of the master In
the Homeric and heroic ages, it was probable
that the servile population were in much the
: same position all over Greece and that the diff
ference between the slave and the poor freeman
was less than it afterwards became But when
the distinctive peculiarities of the Dorian, Eo-
liam and Ionian divisions of the Hellenic people
came prominently out, manitesting themselves
In political tendencies, in literary culture, in
forms of art in dialectic variations from the old
e Homeric speech, then the relation between mas.
ter and slave assumed corresponding variety
of aspects.
? The Dorican, under Influences, all of which
could not be traced, became, at Sparta, a most
singular specimen of humanity, and according
to him the chief end of man was to live on black
I broth at home to march about in heavy armor,
to fight with or without cause, and to die on the
field OF battle. An Athenian Ambassador, hav-
ing been Toasted at of the public tables said
} he now understood why the Spartan preferred
death to coming home defeated 1t was not SO
f much the disgrace OF being beaten as the dread
/ full prospect of black broth. The Dorican re-
garded all occupations, except governing and
fighting, as servile. Tilling the earth, the me-
chanic arts and commerce were disreputable.-
Slaves, therefore, he must have, and the system
he organized, and for a long time carried out
The system of Helotism was the most logical
the most cruel, the most fatal in the end that
ever blghted civil community Sparta pro-
duced many noble men, butsthe Spartan consti-
tuition, as modified by Lycurgus was a terrible
outrage upon human nature, and human nature
avenged herself at last.
Sparta persisted, as an ancient writer said for
want Of Spartans; and the traveller at the pres
ent day wandering among the scanty traces of
the ancient city, finds it difficult to believe in
the greatness of her ancient power
The Helots were the original inhabitants of
Southern Laconia, subdued in war and made the
serfs of their conqucrors After the Spartans
had conquered their neghbors, the Messenians
they included them, also among the Heots and
they continued enslaved until Epaminondas re-
| stored them to liberty and their country. The
Helots cultivated the land, paying their masters
certain rent, in feed proportion of the fruits
of the earth They were domestic slaves they
waited upon the public tables they accomp a.
MED the Spartan soldier to the field and some
times, when they showed distinguished bray
cry, they were emancipated. The general cru
city of their treatment, and the hatred they en-
tertained toward their mast ers were too well
attestt to admit of doubt. They were fog
ged for no fault, but to keep their spirits down
and to remind them that they were slaves.
Those who showed abilities or higher quail
ties of character that might be an element of
danger to the State, were slain /; and if mas
ter failed to do his duty in this respect, he was
|
drunk for the amusement and warning of the
young. When the masters had reason to fear
an outbreak from the increase of slaves, or from
a crisis in public affairs that might tempt them
to instruction, certain number of the young
! Spartans were selected and sent out with arms
on hidden mission to Stay as many of the
doomed bond smen as they pleased This, TIL o
| n off tO N fODI
on the page of Grecian history.
| In Athens, also, slavery was one of the funda-
mental institutions OF the State but it existed
| in a somewhat mitigated form. Under the in
fuence of Scion, the great lawgiver, it brought
the industrial and commercial pursuits to some
thing level with patrican birth and her
edrary wealth in political influence and social
estimation The Athenian was never taught
to regard all labor as servile 1t was no uncom
mon thing for mechanics to exercise influence
i'll public affairs.
SlaVery>was assumed to be a necessity, and
was taken for granted by statesmen and philos-
opherS. The population of Attica was estima
ted at 100000, Of whom three fourths were
slaves; and the island of Egina, which now has
a population Of only Il few hundred, contained
in the period of its greatest power 47000 slaves
partly private and partly public, partly prison
ers of war and partly bought IN the slave marts,
Hume, however doubted these numbers. Chios
which boosted to be the birthplace of Homer.
was the greatest slave market in the world, and
made the largest profits from the sale of human
Beings. The possession of black slave was a
fashionable distinction, and ladies' had negrs
slaves in their trains. Ncias owned 1000
slaves, who worked in his mines Hipponicus
600. The poorhst citizen had at least one slave
to assist him in his labor In train, three
slaves were necessary to stylish appearance,
and many more were frequently seen with
wealthy citizens The father of Demosthene-
carried ON business with 50 slaves.
Trading vessels were generally manned wit.
slaves. Sllyes could be scourged and given in
pledge like any other property, and their teoIi
mony was not taken Oh oath. but only under
the torture. On the other hand, the slave en-
joyed the protection of the laws in some impor
tant respects; he could not he put to death
without the commission Of crime and the SER
tence Of a legal tribunal. No one could strike
msltrsst him without rendering him liable TO
an action. If he had cruel master he could
seek an asylum in the temple Of Tbeseue, and
demand to be sold, co that Demosthenes justly
boosted Of the superior humanity Of the Attic