Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-08-13
From the Augusta Constitution
Old StaseE EmanShtp.

design giving q CALL They vii be tab!y received
should that be their design-Chas. Courier.
From the AugHs,a Constitu >ionalIst.
Old stasesmsnshtp.
The Richmond Wing, of the 2lst, refers to the Gus
toms and government established by Lycurgus, under
which Sparta enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and
renown, and made name aud fame for herself which
to the present day places her the head Of the list
the catalogue OF chivalry, Que of the prominent acts
of this great Spartan Legislator the Reputation
Of the precious metals currency, and the substitn
ton of iron coin, OF great weight and bulk, and little
value. He $50 prohibited commercial and al other
dispensabe iDt recourse with surrounding countries.
thus striking paral ziDg blow at legitimate trade,
well speculation and eXCortiOn and coIhnlDg tbt
Country to sts resources The obct YVES to bring
the inhabitants to equality in all respects. and 10
te ch them love Of country rather than love OF trea
sure and opulence.
The Wing remarks "We would not commend the
literal adoption of these for country
but to the mind of the thoughtful and the observanl
curgus to frame policy suited to this tni p
The inquiry seems 10 be pertinent one, since the
spirit of gain speculation is SO broadly Infused in
the people 10 threaten defeat to the cause OF liberty
90 far as the present generation is concef ned.
To the people of this age Of the world there is pro-
baby no event in recorded history well established
that difficult to realize the truth of, the char
and success OF the government of this famou
political phiiosoper. When he undertook to rem d.
the dlaE idated government OF Sparta, be fCGG1 ths
grea,est disparity in the condition Of the two classes o
its Inhabitants. There were these who monopoilz
the lands and wealth ofthe country and those who
listed in extreme poverty. 1h.se classes might be well
characterized by the extremes presented 10 the in
habtants OF large city, except that the very poor
were mere numerous in relative proportion.
To place all the inhabitants OF Sparta on scale OF
eq1ay. and to imp liant In them unboundsd Devotion
their country and unyieldug courage n battle Ly
curgus found necessary to cut t the tron
which the natural aspirations of maa were fed and
stimulated. It contracted mind that cou d de
wise schemes bring the rich and poor to Que con-
level without any prospect Or desire to be her
wise than equal and to teach mothers to l1hict the
everest caSugatIOns their children iOr the purpose
of nurng them to hardship TO expose their feeble
offspring that they might die rather than cucumber the
State with not fitted to make efficient soldiers,
and to thank the gods when their sons Tell in ba le,
since it was tht great object for which they were
brought up. In the government OF Lycurgu5 the pee
pie took their meals only at public tables, duriog which
they amused themselves by asking and answering inri-
cate questions, which was the principal intellectual
tauiLg that was tolerated. Under this rgi1 dicip-
line SpaEtans became robust, contened and brave,
and the Slate acquired great political and military
power. They entirely devoted to the service OF
htr country, while their leader not less devoted 10
bis enterprise When be had the qualification of seeing
his government fully DauguTated and the people hap
py and tie country Independent and PROSPEROUS, he
pledged the people maintain it until he should in-
qulIe OF the Oracle at Deiphos aud return Bat in Or
dr. that the pledge might be perpetual De refused TO
pho after having The assurance from tie Oracle tna
bis government was good and COMPLETE
However much we my admire the Spartau character
and o. tie training on which 1t deptnded, and
DO 1ever great may be esteem tor the sagaciy o
the great man VINO introduced this kabe govern
men we can neither advocate The end obtained the
n ans used 10 accomplish the pu, pose.
In the fist place Lycurgus became popular with the
masses by app oprating the substance Of the veal by
to the poor. He de turther progress by subvertng
cd all ai,,
and nations but the principles OF Justice and ordet
to maintain this order Of thugs, excu the Arts
and Sciences far practicable, and conhneu those
that were essential nos ly to slaves By these meaDs
he esab!ish5@ is system OF government, which eabod
led beautiful theory. and was remarkably successful
as MuiQru Scloot under which the peop and couu-
try prospered for a2u2t five hundred years. But for
ali the good accomplished there was than coun-
terbalancog evil. Enterprise literary aspirations and
refined civilization lost and aIhoug Republican
ism or Democracy claimed to enter Largely into the
government LIBERTY, recognised by the people OF
the present day, W. also virtually lost.
After an impartial comparison of brave and bloody
Sparta and her unnatural laWz, with other nations
which are less famous in history, but which have done
more to cvize and enlighten the human race, We
more thoroughly convinced that arbitrary rul,s and
exercise of power, however wholesome they may be In
given ex gencv, will eventually produce their legitimate
del,terious Influences
. After many generations of prosperity, the country
that bad Suppressed political striies coVetous dspos
,otls and prodigality, overruo BY the very
which had so To- 6 been smotLered. Ambition tTs.
sundtred W ettes of The great legislator ind
foIowed hy the evils known to the age AVSrice and
icentio1suess seemed to spring up from the ashes Vi
contentnen, and chastity. the great secret of the
Success Of L5curgus lay in bis rigid trailing OF the
youth of the &nd and all the great changes made by
him were introduced gradually, the mind 0t the peo
ple was tempered TO meet them.
Then, if we have Lycargus we hope Es win begin
his work Of reform in the right pace-tbs nursery Of