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Article THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ATHENIANS. Page 1 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Constitution Of The Athenians.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ATHENIANS .
TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF XENOPHON .
XENOPHON wrote this in Greek upwards of 2200 years ago . He here atiempls an apology for his republican countrymen ; but , in so doing , he is obliged to accuse them of the most flagrant injustice in their elevating the false patriot and crushing the moderate but well-intentioned citizen .
I PROCEED now to describe the Constitution of the Athenians , and I confess I do not commend them for having chosen their present form of Government ; as , in so doing , they are under the necessity of crushing the good man , arid of elevating to their prejudice the wicked and desperate . It is on that , account , I do not applaud my countrymen ; but ,
having adopted such a constitution , I will shew , that they take , the most efficacious means to secure it from any attacks , and for the administration of public affairs , although it is on this subject that all the Greeks have reproached the Athenians . I affirm that , in such a state as this , it is necessary that the rich , and men of noble birth , should derive less advantages than the
populace , or the lower classes ; - as these last constitute ' the strength of the Navy , and the support of the Republic . The pilots , the various marine officers , sailors , and shipwrights , are those , who . in effect contribute much more to render the Athenians formidable , than the citizens of more noble birth , larger property , or more intrinsic merit;—though in such a stateit is still iiitablethat
, eq , all should have an equal right to public employs , decided either by ballot or election , and it should also be equally permitted to every citizen , to speak his sentiments in the assemblies of the ' people . But the populace are never solicitous of obtaining those important employments , on which depends the sole safety of the Republic , or that would threaten it with any danger , whether these
employs are lucrative or burthensome . There are no persons among the lower orders , who think they have interest enough to obtain the command of the different corps of infantry , or cavalry : every one of them knows it is his interest , not to interfere in these establishments , but to resign them to the more considerable citizens ; at the same time there are none but will endeavour to procure the other principal employments , from which they may derive emolument , and make their private fortune . PI
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Constitution Of The Athenians.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ATHENIANS .
TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK OF XENOPHON .
XENOPHON wrote this in Greek upwards of 2200 years ago . He here atiempls an apology for his republican countrymen ; but , in so doing , he is obliged to accuse them of the most flagrant injustice in their elevating the false patriot and crushing the moderate but well-intentioned citizen .
I PROCEED now to describe the Constitution of the Athenians , and I confess I do not commend them for having chosen their present form of Government ; as , in so doing , they are under the necessity of crushing the good man , arid of elevating to their prejudice the wicked and desperate . It is on that , account , I do not applaud my countrymen ; but ,
having adopted such a constitution , I will shew , that they take , the most efficacious means to secure it from any attacks , and for the administration of public affairs , although it is on this subject that all the Greeks have reproached the Athenians . I affirm that , in such a state as this , it is necessary that the rich , and men of noble birth , should derive less advantages than the
populace , or the lower classes ; - as these last constitute ' the strength of the Navy , and the support of the Republic . The pilots , the various marine officers , sailors , and shipwrights , are those , who . in effect contribute much more to render the Athenians formidable , than the citizens of more noble birth , larger property , or more intrinsic merit;—though in such a stateit is still iiitablethat
, eq , all should have an equal right to public employs , decided either by ballot or election , and it should also be equally permitted to every citizen , to speak his sentiments in the assemblies of the ' people . But the populace are never solicitous of obtaining those important employments , on which depends the sole safety of the Republic , or that would threaten it with any danger , whether these
employs are lucrative or burthensome . There are no persons among the lower orders , who think they have interest enough to obtain the command of the different corps of infantry , or cavalry : every one of them knows it is his interest , not to interfere in these establishments , but to resign them to the more considerable citizens ; at the same time there are none but will endeavour to procure the other principal employments , from which they may derive emolument , and make their private fortune . PI