The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-09
LYCURGUs AND sOLoN AS LAWGIV-
ERS--Nn. q.
Translated from the German of Schiller
for the Democratic Press.


In future therefore the dynasty of
the, Archon was limited to a single
year, after the lapse of which a new
election took place. They proceeded
even step farther. Since, also, pow
er committed to the hands of alsiHgle
individual, even though continuing
only for brief time, still very much
resembles monarchy, SO they dimin-
ished this power by dividing the same
at the same time.
Three of these nine Archons ranked
above the other six. The first Archon
named Eponymos had the presidency
in the assembly; his name was sub
scribed to the public acts; after him
the year was named. The second,
styled Basileus, or king, watched over
the States religion, and had care over
the worship of the Gods; this was al
so retained from earlier times; in
which the superintendent of the Di-
vine service was substantial portion
of the royal dignity. The third, or
Polemarch, was the commander-in-
chief in war. The other six bore the
name of tThesmothetes, because they
had to guard the constitution, to pre-
serve and interpret the laws.
The Archons were selected from the
most prominent families, and, first III
later times persons of humble origin
among the common peopleIpressed
forwards to this dignity. The consti-
tuition was therefore far nearer to an
Aristocracy than to a Democracy, or
peoples form of government, and
consequently the people had not yet
attained, inYthis form OF rules, very
much for themselves.
The ordinance, that nine new Ar
chons should be, elected every year,
possessed, besides its good trait, name-
Iy, to guard against the abuse Of the
supreme po,ce1, very bad one also,
and this was that it originated factions
IN the State. SINCE now there were
many citizens III the State, who had
been clothed with the highest authori-
,ty, and had again surrendered the
same With the laying down of this
dignity, they could not so easily re-
nounce the pleasure. of ruling, which
they had begun to. taste. cTheysconse-
quently wished to become again what
they were before; they then created
for themselves a party; they excited
internal storms in the Republic. The
more rapid change and the greater
number Of Archons created further
hope to every prominent and rich
Athenian, a hope of attaining the Ar
chonship, which he before as only one,
clothed with this dignity, had little
known, or not at all enjoyed; u hope
that obtaining Office again, he would
not be compelled SO soon ;sgain to SUR
render it. This hope finally became
an impatience, and this impatience led
them to dangerous schemes. Both
sections therefore, as well they who
had already been Archons, as those
who longed to become. Archons, be-
came in equal measure dangerous to
the peace of the State.
The worst trait of this was that the
magistraticl power, by being shared
among several persons, and by being.
of short duration, was more than ever.
faulty. From this cause there was.
wanting u strong hand to hold in
check the seditous heads and to curb
the factions. Infiuential'an bold cit
liens threw the state into confusion.
and strove after independence.
In order to put an end to these COM
motions, all eyes wereridirecteds tow
ards a blameless and generally respect
ed citizen, to whom the melioration of
the laws was committed which laws
until now consisted only in defective
traditions, Draco was the name of
this respected citizen--ra man destitute
of humane feeling, who doubted the
eXistence Of any good IN human ma
ture, who beheld all actions only by
the dark mirror of his own melan-
choly>soul, and was altogether unmer-
ciful towards the Weakness of mau-
kind; q. bad philosopher, and still
worse knoWer of men, possessings,a
cold heart with dull head, who was
uhytelding in his prejudices. Such
man was anexcelIent person to exc
cute1aws; but to give them, we could
not hitsupolCa worse choice.
But little remains to us of the laws
of Draco, but this little sketches to us
the man and the spirit of his insti-
tutes. All transgressions, without
distinction, he punished with death;
idleness as murder; the stealing ola
cabbage or the. thettof sheep receix
ed the same punishment as high trea-
son or arson. From this course, he
was asked wherefore he punished the
minor offences SO severely as the foul
est crimes, such was his reply:ea The
smallest transgressions are worthy of
death for the greater, know no
other punishment than deatll-for this
reason l must treat both alike.
Draco's laws are the essay of apno-
vice in the art Of ruling men. Terror
is the only Treatment whereby he
works. He Furnishes old ys evil that
has been committed; sIie does not
trouble his mind about preventing
crime in future; about stopping the
sources OF the same, or about reform
ing. TO remove man from this life,
because he had committed an offence,
avaifs with linn the same as to cut
down a tree because one of its fruits
is ,decayed.a s. ID . II ~ > =.
His laws were doubly to be CELL
sared because they have not the ssa-
cred sentiments and rights Of human-
ity only against themselves, but also
because they were not adopted or cal.
culated for the people, to whom he
gave them. If ever u people existed
in the world untitled 10 prosper by
btiSl LOW II w 90 SuI y LDC
The slaves of the Pharaohs, or those
of the king of kings might perhaps
have found themselves adapted to
such system of laws-but, how could
Athenians bow beneath such yoke !
They also continue in authority
scarcely half q century, although he
gave those Institutes the insolent til
tie of the Interchangeable laaDs."
Draco had for these reasons very
badly fulfilled his commission, and in
stead ofany benefits, his laws contri-
buted to accomplish much harm. Be-
cause these same rules could not be
observed, and because there existed
none others Immediately to replace
them, it then amounted to the same as
if Athens had received no law, and
consequently the most deplorable an
archy succeeded and prevailed. 0ss i.i'
At that period the condition of the
Athenian people was indeed extreme
lv lamentable. One class. of the eiti-
zens possessed every thing; on the
other hand the rest OF the people had
nothing they could call their own; the