The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-03-25
cHATAUBE1ASD.
NUMBER THREE.

Translated for the Democratic Press.
The Latin poets, Lucretius, Horace
and Virgil, in their verses, unceasing-
ly sing the Qneen among the cities of
Greece. II grant, for the sake Of the
dead, the salrotion Of the liciag,s said
the greatest of the Caesars, while he
pardoned culpable Athens. Adrian
added to the Roman Imperial title
that of Archon of Athens, and in the
native land of Pericles, multiplied the
masterpieces of the arts. When the
Athenians erected a statue to Constan-
tine the Great, this emperor was SO
highly elated by the act that he loaded
the city with presents. When Julian
was leaving the academy he shed
tears, and whenever he was victorious,
he believed his victory due to the Mi
nerva of Phidias. The Chrysostoms,
Basilius and Cyrillus, as well as the
Ciceros and Atticus, came here TO
study eloquence at its fountains. Even
as late as the Middle Ages" Athens
is styled the @Sehool of the Sciences
and of Genius" As Europe awoke
from her barbarism, her first cry was,
"Athens!" Inquiries were made ON
every hand, "What has become of
herr" And when it was ascertained
that her ruins were still existing, men
fastened thither as il. they had found
again the ashes of their mother.
What contrast between this glory
and that which is founded upon arms
While Athens continues to live in the
mouth of'every man, Sparta is wholly
forgotten. During the reign of Tibe-
rius, we scarcely see her carry on a
lawsuit against the Mysenians and lose
her cause. We must read twice a GER
tain passage in Tacitns, in order to be
convinced that lie speaks of Lacede-
mon. Some centuries later we find
Caracalla Lacedemonian body-guard.
Mournful honor, which seems to pro-
claim that the children of Lycurgus
have still retained their barbarism.-
Finally, in the Middle Ages, Sparta
is transformed into ridiculous prin-
cipality, whose ruler receives the name
of Despot-a title which tyrants once
bore Certain pirates, who pretend to
be the true descendants of the Spar
tans, constitute. to-day the whole of
Sparta's fame.
had not the opportunity to become
sufficiently acquainted with the mod
ern Greeks in order to give a decisive
Judgment upon this matter. know
that nothing is easier than to blanc
the unfortunate, nothing easier than,
without any danger, to ask, "Where-
fore do they not break the yoke under
which they sigh ?" "Behiad the
store" any one can have this proud
feeling of high energy. Moreover,
we have in this century superfuity
of cutting decisions, in an age when
doubt is cherished upon nothing ex-
cept upon the existence of God. But
as the common verdicts, which men
pass upon nations. are very often con-
tradicted by experience, SO shall be
cautious against expressing my own.
Only give my opinion thus: there
are still men in Greece of high intel
lect and talents it is even my opin
ion that our instructors in every de-
partment may still be found there, rs
also, l believe that high degree of
civilization maintains its superiority
at Rome. And still will not say that
for this reason, superior men yet live
in Rome.
At the same time, however, I be-
lieve that the Greeks may not SO very
soon be in a condition to break their
chains. When they shall once have
been delivered from the tyranny
which oppresses them, they will not
in q moment lose the scars which
their fetters have impressed upon
them. They are not crushed under
the weight of despotism only, but
have been for 200 years a decrepit and
degraded people. The nation which
subdued them contributed much to
their eneryation. Not like other Eu-
ropean nations did the Greeks become
as it were renovated by intermingling
with the barbarous races. The con-
querors brought to them not the rude
and wild manners of the north, but
the voluptuous customs of the south.
Without speaking of the violation of
their religions which the Greeks would
have committed; had they adjured
their affairs, they would have won
nothing by the reception of the 10
ran. There occurs in Mohammed's
law-book neither a single principle of
civilization nor an ordinance which
could elevate the human character.-
This book neither proclaims the hatred
towards tyranny nor the love Of free
dom. Had the Greeks accepted the
religious faith of their new rulers,
they would have renounced all devo-
ton to the arts and sciences, in order
to become soldiers of blind Fate and
implicitly to obey the caprice of an
unlimited monarch. They would have
spent the precious days of their lives
either in r0bberies or in effeminate re-
pose upon carpet among women and
/ perfumes. 4saaE =
The same impartiality, which con-
strains me to speak with reverence
concerning the Greeks, with that re-
spcct which is due to misfortune,
would also have Kindred me from
treating the Turks SO severely as 1
did, if could have discovered among
them only the abuses usually found
with victorious races. Unfortunately
the Republican soldiers are not much
/ M o,.o ,.irhfoouc fhou tho coto1l;foo Of q