The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-12-16

expedition. feTlcleS cIlosc WIS pl'
ment to bring himself before the pub
lie.
He proclaimed the rights OF the
people. and 10 a series Of orations so
brilliant and forceful as to dazzle his
hearers he showed forth the need Of
reform. Backed by his own vast wealth
and his genius fortified by years o.
careful planning, Pericles carried all
before him. Soon he found himself
the real master Of Athens and The
chosen champ ion Of the plain people.
There is no special reason for be.
| lieving that Pericles was in the very
least interested in the people from a
personal standpoint, or that their con-
dition concerned him one way'or the
other. He was an aristocrat by birth,
breeding and inclination The wrongs
Of the people, however, had occurred
to him as the most potent weapon
within his reach and the people them
selves the stanchest allies he could
possibly have. There was general dis.
satisfaction among the poor because
Of the high.handed methods of Peri
cles' predecessors. SO, like mans a
latter popular hero, this "horse.faced"
genius availed himself OF their aid TO
rise to the heights which he could not
reach without such help He formed
a so.called democracy, but in reality
he himself ruled the country as con :
pletely as any tyrant.
Il As soon as he was fairly In power
Pericles began the lrework which has
made ancient Greece the eternal
synonym Of culture, beauty, intellect
and the arts. Athens was little more
than commerce center and seaport
when Perlcles began Its adornmcnt-
He transformed it into wonder city,
browning 1t with buildings that are
still the wonders Of the architectural
world. The Parthenon, the Erecthe.
UNI and other famous temples were
reared under his directions.
The drama. literature and art OF al
sorts we're encouraged and by his
, guidance reached heights hitheito un
dreamed Of. He had the faculty oil
drawing about him the greatest mer
! OF all times and OF bringing forth al
That was best In each. The famou.
, writers, Sophocles, Euripides a.lt
i, | Aeschvlus; the philosophers, Socrate,
q and Plato, and Phidias, the sculptor
q were but few of the countless nota
ole geniuses Of his regime Never b.
> fore had any nation attained sucf
eminence as that to which Pericle.
/, raised Athens Thanks to him, Greec,
shonc forth like star in me black
ness OF world of ignorance and bar
barism.
Having thus transformed his owl
, commonwealth, Pericles next set about
J. forming all the scattered Greek citiel
e and provinces into one mighty fedora
tion, with Athens at its head Bul
!. before ne could accomplish this tn,
!. state Of Sparta, always at odds will
!, other countries, picked quarrel with
q him and invaded Athenian territory
: Here Pericles showed himself az grea
In war as 10 peace Instead OF tryinl
' to defend the whole country he KEEP
{ the Athenians within their walls
, while the Spartans wasted the outly
!. Ing lands at will. Meantime an Attic
!. nian fleet ravaged the unprotecte,
r Spartan coasts. and when the Spartan
army Of Invasion was worn out iron
It's campaign Pcricles followed the 70
back into their own territory, scourp
ing and declmating his late assailants
But now even the people he ha
= made great and prosperous turne
against their benefactor Pericles wa
a accused of various crimes, and whe
Id the Atheniahs could not convict hir
~ they revenged themselves by attacl
= ing his closest friends They thre
n Phidias into prison, killed other az
n. herents OF Pericles, brought his vii