Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-19
Essay on History.
GContinued /

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invasion of Persia, with the united
Greek army, and his assassination by
q young Macedonian of rank, leav
ing his crown and enterprise to his
son Alexander.
The sudden death of Philip caus-
ed no ostensible change either in
measures or men. "The kings
name," as the youthful monarch told
his people, "was, indeed, changed,
but the king they should find re-
manned the same" Thessaly the
oldest and most valuable ally of his
father, elected Alexander at their
head; and he then proceeded to take
his seat in the Amphictyonic coun-
ell as the unopposed and acknowl-
edged successor of his father His
next step was to secure his appoint
ment as the encouragement of
Greece in the expedition against
Persia, which his father, Philip, had
projected and designed, and in
congress summoned at Corinth, Al
exander was almost unanimously
chosen; the only opposition being
the Lacedamonians, who as leaders
of Greece objected to be led by
othersJ
Having established his authority
in Greece in the manner with which
almost every school-boy of history
is acquainted. This young prince
In about twelve years overran the
Persian empire, brought it under
subsection, and afterward made that
celebrated inroad into India so much
spoken of by historians. After re-
turning from that famous expedition
and finding no more opposition Of
tered to his victorious army, at home
or abroad, he died at Babylon in the
33d year of his age, A. G. 32f
The fortune and success OF Alex
ander had been the most brilliant of
any recorded in history, and his
short reign constitutes most re-
markable epoch in human affairs,
having displayed new order of
things, and produced an extraordin-
airy and Important change in the
political aspect of the world.
The subversion Of the Persian's by
Alexander and his Greeks, develops
a train of causes and effects, ex-
tremely worthy the attention of the
historian, the politician and the
philosopher.
The whole scene Of the wars be
tween Greece and Persia is of
more interesting nature than any
other wars which happened before
that time. During the whole period |
which elapsed between the first
Invasion of Greece by Darius Hy- |
stapses, and the extinction of the
Persian monarchy, which took place
on the defeat and death of Darius
Codomannus A. G. $50, we see the
contrast between n rising and fall |
ing people; between n nation weak
in recourses, but war-like, active and |
enterprising; and nation numerous
and oppulent, possessing vast re-
sources, but luxurious and effemi.
nate; whose power was apparent
rather than real; whose numerous
armies kept up by fallacious APP
pearance of military strength, and |
the ostentatious parade of whose
court da2zled the eyes of the neigh |
BORN nations with false show of |
power
Asia had, till the event of Alex
ander's expedition, been the theatre !
of all the great transactions which |
had taken place among men, and |
together with Egypt had been the |
seat of arts and sciences, of litera- |
ture and commerce, and the only |
quarter Of the globe where exten
siye political plans had been formed
and powerful Kingdoms established. !
Europe had till that time been UNI
noticed, but was Just now emerging
from barbarity. Greece had receiv-
ed from Egypt and Babylon the rud-
iments of civilization, and acquired
some knowledge of the sciences.
She began to establish colonies in
Italy, Spain and the southern coast
of Gaul, as well as the islands of
the Mediterranean, and began TO eN-
tend her commerce, her literature,
and her philosophy Now, the wars
between the Greeks and Persians
were to decide the grand point
whether Asia or Europe should have
the ascendency. After long con
test the balance turned in favor Of
Europe, which then gained a superb
GRITTY over Asia, and has maintained
it to this very day. This grand and
decisive contest was therefore of
greater importance in every political
and moral point Of view, and in
volved consequences of greater mag
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