New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE.
MR.. ABBOTTS ACCOUNT OF THE PERSIAN
WAR AND IT'S RESULTS.

| IL
| might be applied the theory Of final cause withou
misrivings, it was the period reviewed by MT
Abbott in thi. volume The causes material
efficient formal-which brought about tie rcsul
sink into small proportions beside the result
Itself. The whole drift OF the times national, ind
,idual, religious and philosophical. conversed Il
one point, so that one is compelled TO ask himself
Could there have been definite purpose In al
these series of occurrences linking them together 4
that end 4? II he decides that it was only an acct
dent OF evolution he will nevertheless have to ex
claim, What q wonderful thing is this Protear
evolution which work. out even its incdcnta
effects with all the perfection OF design
For it must be remembered that down TO the
time when the Persian Empire the most efficient
political machine that had as yet been invented
began pres, upon the boundaries Of ASIA here AM
there forcing its way into Europe testing the weak
spots all along the crooked boundary from the
Pontc Sea 10 the River OF Egypt, dallying LITTLE
with the unfamiliar sea, in every way seeking that
which was in store for it-unvcisal authority OIL
complete destruction; the whole course Of Greek
civilization had beer one Of disntceration. II the
alliance Of the Greeks describci by Homer il
conceived TO be possible fact OF history. the con
trast hctweer Greek union under the walls Of Troy
and Greek disunior ever aftcrward becomes start
ling Tribal organization in it's ultimate FORM the
Greek city. had destroyed Pan-Hcllenic patriotism,
If such thing ever existed. As a spontaneous
emotion Of the heart the feeling that all Greeks
were brethren never existed IN times that are OF
record. But it was possible to evoke a sentiment
OF the kind that did duty on many battlefield
where Greeks fought with tho courage and the
success of despair.
There were degrees. however. in this separaist
feeling A Dorian, above al Dorian Of Sparta
had absolutely no generous wishes 10 spare even
for other Dorians who happened to live in a
different city. They foreigners and that
ended the discussion of Tolerate good will. With
the Ionians the case was somewhat better. There
was pcrccptiblc fcalty 10 the unity OF race
among them. sufficient in thc first place TO provoke
the Persian King and finally TO defeat him.
Throughout the long period OF conflict within and
without, Sparta in her narrow selishncss. though
she was the model praised by philosophers and
cnvied by Statesmen who should have been her
unrelentng foes. the most potent force Of
disunion; while Athens with all the faults tha,
are inherent in n popular democracy limited by
slavery stood for union and became the main
instrument in completing Hellenic civilization.
Consciously or unconsciouSy she worked ont her
destiny OF the teacher of the world in art, in
recognized more and more clearly by modern
scholarship, in religion. Never" says Mr.
Abbott. before or since has life developed 50
richly it developed in the beautiful city which
lay al the feet OF the Virgin Goldcss" Here WAS
. consummation great enough 10 be reason for
all the forces that bad been in action for genera
tiOns.
At the outset. when the danger seemed remote.
Sparta and Athens were alike in their con
tcmptuous treatment Of the Persian and his
cmissarcs They had an cNcmplar IN the way
Dcmoccdcs and tho people Of Crotona outwttcd
and nlsuscd the spics OF Darius. When the Great
King sent his ENJOYS 20 demand earth and water
M the tokens OF submission. the two Leading
Greek States promptly put them TO death. Those
who visited Athens treated as macfaciors
those who reached Sparta dropped into
well and told 10 get the earth and water for
But aid for Greek revolutionists in
Asia WAS accorded hy Athcrs alone Sparta con
sdcring her own s1fcty paramount. Thus. while
in the matter 81 international courtesy the
Iacedarmoni1ns were deemed NJ Susa rs great
offenders the Athcnians. the latter w"Ie the
only people 20 take action looking - efficient
resistance. And when the day of reckoning came
for the oIcnce-unjI siiEahlc though excused by
III rudenoss Of the timcs-agninst the law Of
nations. when the strength Of Persia was concrn-
tracd on the Plain Of Marathon Athens was LEFT
Ia meet the invader almost single handed Sparta
refused 10 move before the moon was full. Doubt
less her mouth would have lrcn fall Of suppl
cations if the result Of that battle had been differ
cnt A. il turned ont the example Of Athens
suiliccd not merely 10 shame her rival into action.
but 10 encourage the latter with tie hope Of not
fighting in vain For II was the essential element
in Spartan courage that ii was best excmpled
while the soidicry felt that the State behind them
WAS practically safe-as when Icondas held al bay
the Persian myrlads in the Pass Of Thermopylae.
Throughout the long conflict with Darius and
aftcrward with Xcrxes, the Greeks were con,ir-
uay on the point OF separation. So well known
was this incapacity OF theirs 10 work together for
any length Of time that on the eve OF the Battle
Of Salamis the Persian Autocrat was advised TO
use delay in the hope Of seeing the Greek fleet
dwnde away. II happened that there
was one man on the side Of the Ilelcncs who
not only familiar with the political vices Of his
but also with the traditions Of Per
sian warfare and the hnbitua violence and i'm
patience Of the Persian King. ThemiStoces played
a game which forced the Greeks TO meet their fate
together and tempted AcrNcs 10 risk all rather than
to allow time and trcachcry to rob him Of Il tri-
umph.
Even the comparatively trining contests Of
Athens with her ncGhbors impclled her forward
in the path Of empire. but for the quarrel with
Acgina. Thcmistoclcs could never have persuaded
his fellow citizens TO build u navy. Without the
hatred Of Corinth and the rivalry Of Sparta, the
walls that protected the city and the Pracus
would never have risen But the most important
increment in the forces that pressed her on
toward the destiny that was in store for her was
Inc scll-intcrcst Of the Greeks in the East. When
The tide Of rolled back to the Orient not Ia ~
urn for nearly two millennums Athens herself
might have rested secure. She might have re-
fused to he concerned about the fate Of the Aegean
ISLANDERS. But they kept her in mind Of their
inxictics. Athens ceased politically TO have any
need Of the Dclian League but the very existence
,f the league and the safety Of nearly all its com