The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-07

their cowardly fear, their Unsuitable
hatred. Remember those heroes who
fought side by side with the Spartans
at Platea, Chalcidice and upon num-
berless other battle fields, guarding
their masters on this side, repelling
an enemy on that, making fierce on
slaughts and striving with all their
might to win. While the Spartans
stand back safe from the weapons and
darts of the enemy and then assume
the honor of the victory or punish
those intrepid soldiers for the defeat.
Thus for years have they been strug-
Cling, until, at last, the Spartans, de-
feated on every side, harassed by
Athenians and Messenians, fear that
the Helots will desert them and join
their enemy. Hence they proclaim that
all those who have distinguished them
selves during the war may come for
ward and obtain their freedom.
Crowned with garlands and honored
with religious ceremony, they are made
free, but few hours later by secret
order from the Ephon they disappear.
Cries and groans issuing from the dun
geons of a distant temple tell that death
has, been the reward of their cOura-
geous efforts.
Shall we forever endure such injus-
tice? Shall we forever bend down to
the very ground before men in no way
our superiors? Helots, avenge this
wrong, rise in open revolt and throw
off this yoke of slavery, for if we mean
to gain our freedom now is the time to
strike the blow. A few years ago when
Sparta was renowned far and wide for
the superiority of her arms, and the
splendor of her conquests, we could not
have aspired to liberty. But Sparta
then, is not Sparta now. She is re-
pulsed by the Athenians in Attica, and,
at Pylus, her fleet is overwhelmed
and destroyed; her bravest men are
away in Bertha contending with a vic
torious enemy, and at home she is be-
seiged on every side. Fortune has
deserted her and the sun of her glory
is fast declining. Not only is she de-
feated on land and sea by her mortal
enemies but the very gods have de-
clared themselves against her. They
have sent this destructive and terrify-
ing earthquake to punish her for her
sacrilege in dragging our pious wor-
shippers from their holy affairs. This
great upheaval of mother earth, caused
by their mighty power, has lain her
capitol in ruins and has killed twenty
thousand of her citizens, including he1
most valiant youths, her only hope Of
future glory, who at that very moment
were performing their military drills
in the great arena of the acropolis. ~
The Lacedamonians, themselves, are
frightened by this signal of divine
wrath. Then why may we not take
courage? The Perivci promise us theil
aid, the Messenians will join us. Why
delay longer? With brave allies, a, jus
cause and divine favor on our side, wha
: have we to fear? Is life more dear; tt
you than liberty? Is death more to: bt
dreaded than this continual, calling
bondage. But since the gods will tina
we shall be free, we need suffer neithe:
bondage nor death. Why do we hest
tate when we know success awaits u
and that we can not fail? Let us to
gether make one desperate struggle t.
save our homes, to rescue our children
from slavery, avenge our ancestors AM
l once again face the world as honore
I and respected as the Helots OF old.
Fastening to our homes, let us sacrj
fee to great Zeus, ruler of all, the
I take the Ephors, still sleeping, cas-
them into prison. Then seize 20
' acropolis, fortify it still more strongl
Q and there make firm stand agains
e the enemy and regain your freedom O
G perish upon the battle field.