The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25

ginning Of our era. slavery was universal. Arip-
totle maintained that M perfecthousehold could
exist without slaves as we'll AZ frcemen, and
that the law OF nature az well ~ the law OF ma
lions made q distinction between bond and free.
Even Plato avowed that every slaves soul was
fundamentally corrupt. and that no rational
man could trust him. In Tyre, slaves were 10
numerous at one time that they succeeded in
massacrlng all their masters. Tho Scythians.
on returning from an invasion OF Medea, found
their slaves In rebellion. Horodotus tells US
that, after vainly attempting to conquer their
slaves with spcars and bows, tho ScythiAns cast
these weapons aside and DCmed themselves with
horsewhips, which proved effectual. In Greece
tho slaves greatly exceeded in numbers
the FREQ population. Attica. for instance,
had at ono date but 10000 citizens
and 400. 900 slaves. females not being included.
Sparta contained $4,000 citizens and $4,000
bondmen. Tho number OF slaves In Corinth was
48O. 900 and Egina, 100000. In Rome, for 36e
years, from tho fall Of Corinth to tho accession
OF Alexander Severus, 1t 10 computed that the
slaves o~utnumbered tho freemon three to one.
1t is significant that at ono time the Senate
forbade them to wear a distinctive dress, lest,
becoming conscious of their numbers. they
should endangor the public ssfcty. In Rome,
for n long period, the head Of the family was
absolute master of his slaves, having over them
UuB pOWCT VI ~ hhu uOubb. hlb htEOCloubt AW
was modified by Hadrian. the Antonincs. and
Alexander scvorus, but tho imperial clemency
was rendered almost nugatory by q provision
that the master could not DO indicted
for the murder Of his slaves unless the
intention to kill could DO proved. A saw
age Roman law ordained that, II q master was
murdered, all the slaves in his household, or
cepting those in chains and helpless invalids.
should be put to death. This law was no dead
letter. On ono occasion four hundred slaves
OF Pedanius. tho Project Of Rome, were exo-
cuted to avenge their masters assassination.
Aged and infrm slaves were habitualiy exposed
to perish in an island in tho Tiber. Even the
older Cato. who lived in a relatively uncor.
rupted era of tho republic, and who may be
regarded as an exemplary typo of the Roman
magnato of his time, considered slaves simply a.
machines for acquiring wealth, to be cast aside
In decrepit old ago like worthless lumber. When
condemned to execution for o crime, the last
moments Of a slave In the Roman empire
were embittered by excruciating fortunes,
the usual death penalty being crucii1ion,
until, out of reverence for tho Saviour.
it was abolished by Constantine. The
marriage of slaves was not recognized BY law.
Their union was regarded only as . oontu-
burnium or concubinaRe. Hence they had no
parental rights over their offspring, who be-
longed exclusively to their masters. For them.
the words adultery, incest, ~polygamy. had no
meaning. The wretched condition Of slaves In
pagan times was rendered moro intolerable BY
aggravating circumstances. Many Of them had
S Seee e asSSSeed Inc TO StssddiHSs By ST The bsse oaIan Sst se q
war. Others had been made slaves through
kl mnnls2;sE.d Children Oh snrdia were nse,1 frsa aDd dSu sold BY
were sold for debt, or for the non-payment of
taxes. Unlike the negro slaves OF America,
they were usually OF the Same color as their
@SSss5s and and m some Senn 1asi'n than G fsoss
Of the Stole philosophers, was himself a slave,
and Horase and Juvenal were the sons of men
over, a pern:cious influence on the free popula-
ton IT degraded labor. increased idleness. and
eenary tr t@itaV T Be .ord diie and e dishonora nj % snd
P Pitg OF a tses tine MoFffs hs Ins S4'EHSTsh ie, Of te os db5f,
practice of medicine. and the Instruction Of
supervision Of their masters. The de6auch.
ure of slavery. Reinforced from various
parts of Europe. Africa and Asia the
iittev vice t to swell sS'eii the eomaon tide tide Of 7, de ,erCr
ity. All slaves, whatever their original purity,
sSsir e sssa%S ,nso' bspsi1sd t of t tss p '9l14Sa.s Ct &
iss c%fSa " Te saoss they RIsnss sbt into 9h the m Lowest
Of off Roman az %eisisens had asseT To train ine th @Gt o%n
children they had neither inclination nor ca
pac1ty Tor such duties. Tho instruction OF the
Roman youth OF both sexes was. consequently,
conided to the slaves. who. for the social degra:
dation OF which they were the victims, avenged
themselves by the moral degradation into which
they plunged their pupils. Excluded from civic
honor and preferment. they welded their
committed to their care with terrible effect,
by initiating them into every species OF
arms. the bondsmen used with CONSUME
mate skill the weapons of mendacity.
hood by their accommodating teachers to
regard no law but that of their own whimn, the
Roman youth Of both sexes grow up proud, In
solent, ana overbearing. The first victims Of
their caprices were often the slaves themselves.
Many a bondwoman received on her naked
breast the sharp point of the stiletto darted at
her by her imperious mistress. In q word, the
homes OF the rich and noble wero hotbeds Of
moral corruption.