The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-30
NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN
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NEW ORLEANS, DECEMBER 80. 1874.
DEMOSTHENES' SPEECH.
A PARALLEL.

deemed extravagant; let it be weighed with
cander. say, then, that had We all known
what fortune was to attend our efforts; had
we all foreseen the final issue; had you fore
told it. Eschines; had you beloved out your
terrible denunciations; (you whose voice was
never heard, yet, even in such case' must
this city have pursued the very same CONDUCT
If she had retained thought OF glory Oh nei
ancestors or of future times. For, thus she
could only have been deemed uniortuna'e ia
her attempts; and mistortunes are tne io' -
II, men. whenever it may please Heaven 10
inhict them.
Hut II that State which once claimed the
frs. rank in Greece, had resigned this fanh'
;, time Of danger, she had incurred the cen
.eure Of be.raying the whole nation to the
e,emv If we had, indeed, given up those
points without one blow for which our fathers
encountered every peril, who would not have
:spurned you with scorn! You, the au'hor q
such conduct, not the State, or me. In the
name of Heaven, say with what face could
we have met those foreigners who sometimes
visit us, if such scandalous suplneness on our
part had brought affairs to their present sltua-
ton? If Philip had been chosen General OF
tue Grecian army, a nd some other State had
drawn the sword against this insidious noml-
nation? And fought the battle unasslsted by
the Athenians; that people who III ancient
times never preferred inglorious security to
honorable danger? What part OF Greece,
what part of the barbarian world
has not heard that the Thebans
in their period Of success; that the Lacede-
monians, whose power was older ana moro
extensive; that the King OF. Persia would
have cheerfully and joyfully consented that
this State should enjoy her own dominions,
together with an accession OF territory ample
as her wishes, upon this condition: that she
should receive law and suffer another State to
preside in r,ece? But to Athenians this
was condition unbecoming their descent,
intolerable to their spirit, repugnant to their
nature. Athens never was known to live in
s,lavish though secure obedience to unjust
and arbitrary power. No, our whole history
is one series Of noble contests for pre-emi-
nence, the whole period of our existence hath
been spent in Drawing dangers for the sake OF
glory and renown
And so highly do you esteem such conduct
50 consonant to the Athenian character, that
those of your ancestors who were most dis
tinguished in the pursuit of it, are ever the
most favorite objects OF your praise And
with reason. For who can reflect without
establishment upon the magnanimity OF those
men, who resigned their lands, gave up their
city, and embarked in their ships to avoid the
odious state of subsection Who chose
Themstocles, the adviser of this conduct to
command their forces; and when Crysilus
proposed that they should yield to the terms
prescribed, stoned him to death ? Nay, the
public indignation was not yet allayed. Your
very wives inflicted the same vengence on
his wife, For the Athenians Of that day
looked out for no speaker, no general, co pro-
cure them state Of prosperous slavery.
They had the spirit to reject even life. unless
they were allowed to enjoy that life in free
dom. For it was principle, fixed deeply in
every breast, that man was not born to his
parents only, but to his country.
And mark the distinction. He who regards
himself as born only to his parents, waits in
passive submission for the hour of his natural
dissolution. He who considers that he is the
child of his country, also is prepared to meet
his fate freely, rather than behold that country
reduced to vassalage; and thinks those insults
and disgraces which he must meet in State
enslaved much more terrible than death.
Should then attempt to assert, that it was
who inspired you with sentiments worthy OF
your ancestors, l should meet the Just resent
ment Of every nearer. No; it is my point to
show that such sentiments are properly your
own; that they were the sentiments OF my
country long before my days. claim but
my share of merit in having acted on such
principles, in every part OF my administra-
ton.
He then who considers every part of my ad-
ADMINISTRATION, he who directs you to treat me
with severity, as one who hath involved the
State in terrors and dangers, while he labors
to deprive me Of present honor, robs you Of
the applause Of all posterity. For if you pro-
been right, Ctesiphon must stand condemned,
it must be thought that you yourselves have
acted wrong, not that you owe your present
state to the caprice OF fortune. But it cannot
be No, my countrymen. it cannot be that
you have acted wrong, in encountering dan
ger bravely, for the liberty and safety of all
dIreece No! by those generous souls Of an
Client times, who were exposed at Marathon !!
BY those who stood arrayed at Platea! BY
those who encountered the Persian fleet at
iSalamis; who fought at Artemisium BY all
those illustrious sons sof Athensi whose re-
mains lie deposited in the public monuments
All OF whom received the same honorable in
sterment from their country; not those only
who prevailed. not those only who Were vic
storious. And with reason. What was the part
.of gallant men they all performed their sue
cess was such as the Supreme Director of the
world dispensed to EACH
There are two distinguishing qualities
( AtheniansN whichithe virtuous citizen should
ever possess Il speak in general terms, as
the least invidious method Of doing Justice to
myselfo zeal for the honor and pre-emi-
nenee of the State, in his official conduct;
on all occasions and in all transactions an
affection for his country. This nature can
bestow. Abilities and success depend upon
another power. And in this affection YOU
find me firm and invariable. Not the solemn
demand of my person, not the vengeance of
sthe Amphictyonic Council which they de-
nounced against me- not the terror of their
,threatenings, nor the hattery Of their promise
xnc, nor the fury of those accused wretches,