The sun., 1898-01-23
".

All the facts relating to the structure and
working Of the Achean League which were ac-
cessible to Madison and Hamilton and other
defenders of the Federal organic law framed at
Philadelphia in 1887, were carefully studied by
them. though as we have said, they did not
possess the exact and nearly complete informa-
tion which is summed up in the book before us.
The constitution of the Achean League was
of strictly federal character. the constituent
States being sovereign In all matters distinct
from tho common purposes for which the feder-
alton was formed. and the central Government
exercising no interference with their internal
laws or constitutions. As a matter of fact. the
latter seem to have been oil democratic, but
this WAS the result of natural tendency. and
not fixed condition of the union. The weights,
measures. and moneys were also the samo In all
the cities OF Greece. but we do not know whether
this uniformity was prescribed by law. The
League as a whole was spoken OF somewhat
loosely as forming nation. just as we
are becoming accustomed to speak of
the United States; there was. probably.
some interchange of civic rights between
tho different communities. although of this
there is no direct evidence. 1t is certain that,
in oil foreign and diplomatic action, tho
sovereign powers of the cities were surrendered
entirely to the League. Once. indeed (B. G. 224)
wo find Il dispensation granted to MeRalopolis
to send envoys to Macedonia. but. as permission
was accorded by tho central Government,
this was really an embassy of the League; an
assertion OF the true federal principle was con-
tanned In clause of the first treaty between
Achea and Rome tB. G. 1881. by which 1t was
agreed that embassies should be sent to Rome
not by any particular Achean city. but only by
the common Government. Like tho Congress
established by our Articles of Confedera-
\ toI. a. Al.
made financial and military acquisitions on
the constituent cities. We find. for instance
tho Federal Congress voting supplies, and. as
we hear OF cities refusing to pay contributions
to the common treasury. the central Govern
ment must have assessed each city at a fixed
sum. Mr. Greenidge thinks that II did not die
tate the manner In which this amount was TO be
raised. but he notes that. on one occasion. II In
terfercd to check a financial revolution at
Sparta. In order to secure its own interests. Tho
whole military force OF the cities at the dis
posal Of tho Federal Assembly. which either re-
quired particular towns to furnish given con-
tnRents or raised mercenary armies to DO paid
from tho common funds All questions of In
ternational law were referred to the central
Government. and not. rs thcy had been In the
looser Peloponncsian confoderacy TO arbtra-
ton; tho federal Government had the power not
merely of arbitrating, but Of Furnishing.
The constitution OF the Achean League is do
scribed by Polybius as n typo of the purest de.
mocracy; but, as in the case of Etolia. limited
by its federal character. Tho vast primary as
sembly which WAS tho nominal sovereign could.
in theory. be attended by any citizen over 80
years OF ago from any State In the league;
practically, 1t was controlled by those whose
political enthusiasm or wealth urged or on
abled them to attend. This Assembly had
a., - AI
extraordinary meetings were dependent on
the discretion OF tho Magistrate. The COM
paiatiye infrequency of those meetings. com.
bined with the constant pressure OF impor"
tAnt business military and diplomatic. ON the
permanent otdciAlS, threw great responsibility