, 1863-07-30
GBECIAN AND AMERICAN DEMO
CRACR4
Lecture by DR.. o. II. Tiffany.

Rev. DR.. o. Il. Tiffany delivered lectnno In
the West Iudiana street Methodist E,;scor,1
Chnrcb on Wednesaav araninr 49, 1892. ~ ~
no,,,ocrocr of craaoa a. aa-nE @ .ssI' w tue
Ds - a"a..ss ~ NJ u!eeee ~ compared with that
Of America There was tolerably good au-
dlence, and would doubtless hare heen n
much better one u t,a -a,, 80 .,at ~ T.,
.bo,,t 1,a,s :. As 4.un 1au "os se' IL
aoout nau al hour before the lecture
commenced, continuing more or less during
the evening,
The 1aa+@,.., n,~.o.a
Inc leetnfef commenced oy observing that
II #as dlHcult thing to form an Idea Of auy
government; and this difficulty was immense
II 1ro-a.eo5 rhe,, +hn e.,,,.rr,,o,,t .,,.,,t -.
-. - oousut ~
pe elnaaateo was separated nom modern
times by the mists of antiquity and lay atar
off on the dim platforms of n remote b,s+or1,
mt, 49,, o,xa...,,- ~. '1-os5'
1nAs Was eepee0ly the case with ancient
Greece, whose whole records were exceeding
1y complicated, md hard to upravel. The
democratic element, however w % in Grec;an 1ms ~.
ciety was plain md uumlstax,b1e M sesn ans so
~ so'si"ent 1a Arrived at tull perfection IN
lnose ola ano venerable nges. He did
not p1eIena III the course Of the
P!esent 1eetn1e 70 unfold tue entire
hh,sssorJ thse q IL. me Grccian Democracy, for
tnas Was task Which would occupy a volume
but he would endeayor to present some Of
Hs Mofc prominent features. Colonies were
1onnaeo oy Inc mother country, which at first
WEE frequently governed By a1istocrats. with
unNed powers chosen by the people, or Ap-
pointed By the ruling authorities. These col
on1es ea became, q necessity, more and more
ind intelligence. They were not layge gov
trnments, such rs at this day, extend their
sovereignty over dominions upon which the
snn never sets, but small States with very
definite and limited boundaries. The Hellenic
governments were not those of country, but
IT town; and those which began a. monar-
ch!es, under the rule ofa chosen, or delegated
leader, ended, with the single exception of
Ep1rus, as republics.
But In a1l these cases, the transition was
etiected-as Ill such must be, to permanent
By gradual processes. Monarchy was not
abolished, as In some mad French revolution,
but It declined; and the power Of the people
only became manifest as they developed
themselves in intelligence, and in their love
OF freedom, and reverence for the laws.
The name Of King, was changed to
that Of ruler, ns q first sign Of
the growing power Of the people. Then they
began to take a more land more prominent
part In public affairs, md, finally, they Inau-
gnratcd aud established themselves as Re-
public. All was gradual. The original foun-
dation Of Grecian aristocfaey was gentle
This naturally gave Them power and impor-
tar1ce, and increased their dignity as rulers:
and, so long as they conducted the govern
mcnt with mildncss and efficiency, and the
people were content to see the ruling power
IN the hands Of one individual, they managed
to get along in peace and prosperity. But 1t
was In the constitution Of the Grecian mind
to rule themselves, and they we're sure to out
Grow every nonarchial institution. Even
osignrchfes were dlstastefu1 to them, aud
those. Of Marsailles fell before the growth Of
The lecturer gaye q rapid account
# the rise Of tie Tyrants OF Greece,
through military. or political usurnatlon over
the popular forces Of government. The word
T5lant did rot mean II those days what itnow
an cxt,cmc G modsrat;nn ~ dennrtment@auy etea uy
their ascendeney was beneficial to fhe neoo1e i.e
Ti,er consfrnrts,, nn1,lic worEs and hnftdip1s
and 80 identified rfemselyes with the neonle
that they were blessing instead Of curse
ia the country. IN many cases these
cf he y popnIar wlIl and opinion. # Vas ua, re-,
ossnar rsa"e tn,, s ,,s ,a As.sa s
t1,,s oniv hecanse 4 wns mia and henaf,ca,'t su
IN its covernmcnt Many sons az tvrsnts
would naturaily become despotic. and then then
n strurrle Eon1d taEe n,ara het wasn
them md 4he neon1e witch uas near.
" sure to end in lie trinmn}' of Tie
Democracv. Phil;p of MaceInn 1,ec.mn ,n,ss
Ter Of uesce beca,ise of the diff.rrnc.a ond
conflicfs nf The oljrnrrhfes and fi,e or;a1ocrs1
cfes With the nefn1e The fI,i ~ Tsosfntf
crumbicd to nieces Tie Inst ves,fne ~ GeacI.n
liberty and f,renoTefl fbe wav fn9 Rnnan ,-nr.
eminent. Freedom hecarne licensed % srit,s tha
old Ormocracv of neace ius, AZ r. No. ;s s1 1rish
ihepeople ofour own conntry' II aid mt So,,oW
loTeyer. that because Grecian s}oyerv fn,i
Amc,ican Democracy must a1sn faii Thea
Eu,opean desnots are lacking fnr s,,ch a con-
summntion. ana European writers hnve hesn
pr:phesying that 1t would come, and that
these last forty years. lie believed fi,at this
was the most critical time of our history, and
that the monarchs Of Europe Tnnjd
help to destroy rs by their
interference as soon as their sucoosss
such IS that which gladdened our hearts
last 18th Of July-shaI hAye justified them.
Our success they could not, and did not mean
to utolerate, and The audience might bear that
IN mind, as they wound soon sec proofs of
the truth Of his statement.
II, however, the American Republic WAS
doomed to fall, It would not be-
through the same causes ms those
which uprooted and DESTROYED fhe
Republics Of Greece, We were stronger. and
l'efter ttan theY, and we're almost intfnite
securities that we should never fal ut all. The
resources Of our soil, the aericultural and
mineral wealth, were m i1nportant secnrity.
aud these Gree ce did not tossess. for her soii
WIS barren. Her commerce cxtended Mi
over the world, a lmiahty l,elt Of secnr;ty.
md in our own country. on our own soil
were contracted au tllrt we needed for
s14 Aua "tnt onu ee0uhltJ.