Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-14
Essay on History.


Continued
In taking up the connecting link, knitting
our historical topic with the battle Of Plaiaea,
and the Obstruction of the Persian fleet at My
lie. and Salams, we wIrh TO remind the read.
err that these disasters ended The celebrated
expldiditlon OF Nerves. against Greece and that
Xerxes after crossing the lIellesponl with his
dcmoralzed and defeated army, retired from
Asia, and took refuge In Snsa. the Persian cap
itsl There he gave himself mp to licenlious
ness, while the victorious Greeks followed up
their advantage with vigor and success; de-
rriyiug him ofhis posses ions, one after another.
1t i, relsted that Cimou, the Aihenian Gem
mander, in one day, destroyed Xcrxes fleets
aud defeated his armies, which so incensed
Artahsnes, the captain ct Xcrxes gnard, that
he conspircd and put him TO death y G. 4Gj.
In this maHrcr, The most powerful arma-
ineut of invasion, ever listed ont by any natinn,
ancient or modern, was desf.atct. and disgrace
cd, by 81 weaker and less powerful force. Amer
the death OF Xer1es, succeeding wars were car
ried on between Greece and Persia but on the
whole, favorable to TIE Greeks until the Per.
siaus iourd that the Grecians were terrible
foes, and aspiring rivals of their power. The
Persian monareh,, after this experience, came
came to adopt policy similar 10 hat pursued
in British modern diplomacy, "diyidc and con.
quern and thereupon succeeded in urning he
arms Of the Greek republics aguilsi thclnselvrs
instead Of beins used against their enemies.
By discriminating The preferences, and disrib-
ution of brides among persons Of greatest power
ard influence IN Greece Persian gold accom-
plishcd what Persian courage and bravery sig
nally failed to do, and for a long umr, Greece
War torn. and agitated, will intestine wars and
connections. At length period arrived Ia
which the Affairs Of Greece took turn which
proved equally fatal TO the liberties OF that
country, and tie existence OF the Persian mon.
arcby. Philip king Of Macedonia an iusignii.
cant, but rising state being endowed 10y Ma
turc with great aud aspiring genius, began TO
form plans for aggrandizjug hi. too limited
power By Il tain of the most profound and
successful politics lie procured himself TO be
recognized II member of the Ampbyclionic
council, or general assembly of the Greeks
which resembles The position OF Kaiser William
IN The German empire of today and which
proves, the often repeated assertion, That nis.
tory repeats itself Having gained shc poiul.
hc soon afterwards by his arms and intrigues
obtained a decided ascendrncy over Tee differ
cut staiee of Greece aud by arifnlly bribiug
The leading members OF the Grccian council,
aud by using every engine Of force and fraud,
al. llr
to his dominion, 50 That, while they retained |
the name of republics, he was in effect, soy.
eregn Of All Greece. The transactions that /
took place in Greece, at Ibis period to be /
found iu elementary historical literature, will /
well repay lhe political students pclusa
Philip haa brilliant accomplishments, but
the reader cannot fail to see that lac employed
them for The advancement Of his own power,
at the expense Of The liberties of a brave and
conHdlng people who admitted him into their
council Of state, notwithstanding the eloquent
protests, and repeated warnings of the great
Demosthtncs, against his mcousciculious
policy aud unprinciplcd conduct. The most |
laudaDle feature of Philips character MAS his
love Of literature, and the great care he took /
of the education of hi. son, Alexander; cn-
gazing the services of the renowned philoso.
phcr Aristotle for his preccptor from whom
lac war to receive due education suitable 10
his iunk and station. While he himself trained
him TO arms under his own inyincinlc banners,
being beyond all manner of doubt one of The
greatest politicians and generals that any
other age has ever produced.
Philip had resolved on the invasion Of the
Persian empire, aud 1t met with the entire APP
prevail OF Greece, in retaliation for what Il
had suffered from the invasion of NcrXes,
Philip OF Macedon WAS declared General issi |
mo of the confederate army of Greece and /
made the most Formidable preparations for
the great expedition against Persia, "but man I
proposes and God deposcs.' Philip was as !
sas,matcd ON the very eve of his intended .
departure. thus bulyins in Oh, grave with him (
self all III, 01iyrirg prospects OF universal .
sovereignty and leaving un expeditions That .
astounls the world, to be carried into cxecu- |
tior los hi. only son and successor, Alexander. |
JouN Co>MINs
TO be continucd.l