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Article THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ATHENIANS. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Constitution Of The Athenians.
The populace behold with joy our allies coasting to Athens , to prefer their numerous accusations , for in these states they hate any man that is virtuous ; the Athenians know that the sovereign country is necessarily odious to the people subjugated , and that if they suffer in the states , the rich , or those who through other means possess power , to aggrandize then selves , the empire of the Athenian republic would not be of long continuance . It is for this reason
that they deprive virtuous men of their property , confiscate their estates , send them into exile , and ever ; deprive them of life ; at the same time they encourage and applaud wicked men . Amongst my countrymen I confess , that those who have a respect for justice endeavour to support men of character among our allies , and to guard them from the danger with which they are
threatenedknow-, ing what advantage it is for them to preserve if possible , at any time and in any country , men most remarkable for their moral qualifications . Perhaps it may be thought that the power of Athens consists in their allies being able to assist them with pecuniary succours ; the populace of this city regard it as a greater advantage , that the Ather '
nians should bear that part which should fall to the lot of our allies , while they remain themselves in the greatest poverty ; having only their subsistence , and daily labour ; by these means they are deprived of the power of scheeming or plotting against the Republic . ' ' . They reproach us also for having made an oppressive law in obliging the states to try their causes at Athens . In answer to this it
will he proper to enumerate all the advantages which result to the Athenians . The charges of these suits turn immediately to their profit , and they j'ield , during the course of the year , justly speaking , a daily revenue : they can moreover , by these means , govern all ' the confederate states without an Athenian quitting his house , or putting a vessel to sea . They have , by these proceedings in the
courts , the opportunity of acquitting those who are attached to them , and to ruin , on the contrary , those who are of the opposite party . But if the states had each of them a tribunal to decide their own causes , as they bear with impatience the yoke which we impose on them , they might use perhaps the same means , to destroy those of the citizens who are most attached to the people of Athens . .
We might mention here many other advantages which accrue to ¦ the people from the necessity imposed on our allies to decide their legal affairs at Athens . The post duly which they levy in Pirea , and which they call the hundredth penny , produces considerably to the state . The hire of houses and slaves is a great profit to the Athenians who are the proprietors , and the voyages of our allies bring in also considerable gain to our public criers . But , on the ether hand , if the allies did not try their causes at Athens , they wouldnot respect ancl honour such of " the Athenians as
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Constitution Of The Athenians.
The populace behold with joy our allies coasting to Athens , to prefer their numerous accusations , for in these states they hate any man that is virtuous ; the Athenians know that the sovereign country is necessarily odious to the people subjugated , and that if they suffer in the states , the rich , or those who through other means possess power , to aggrandize then selves , the empire of the Athenian republic would not be of long continuance . It is for this reason
that they deprive virtuous men of their property , confiscate their estates , send them into exile , and ever ; deprive them of life ; at the same time they encourage and applaud wicked men . Amongst my countrymen I confess , that those who have a respect for justice endeavour to support men of character among our allies , and to guard them from the danger with which they are
threatenedknow-, ing what advantage it is for them to preserve if possible , at any time and in any country , men most remarkable for their moral qualifications . Perhaps it may be thought that the power of Athens consists in their allies being able to assist them with pecuniary succours ; the populace of this city regard it as a greater advantage , that the Ather '
nians should bear that part which should fall to the lot of our allies , while they remain themselves in the greatest poverty ; having only their subsistence , and daily labour ; by these means they are deprived of the power of scheeming or plotting against the Republic . ' ' . They reproach us also for having made an oppressive law in obliging the states to try their causes at Athens . In answer to this it
will he proper to enumerate all the advantages which result to the Athenians . The charges of these suits turn immediately to their profit , and they j'ield , during the course of the year , justly speaking , a daily revenue : they can moreover , by these means , govern all ' the confederate states without an Athenian quitting his house , or putting a vessel to sea . They have , by these proceedings in the
courts , the opportunity of acquitting those who are attached to them , and to ruin , on the contrary , those who are of the opposite party . But if the states had each of them a tribunal to decide their own causes , as they bear with impatience the yoke which we impose on them , they might use perhaps the same means , to destroy those of the citizens who are most attached to the people of Athens . .
We might mention here many other advantages which accrue to ¦ the people from the necessity imposed on our allies to decide their legal affairs at Athens . The post duly which they levy in Pirea , and which they call the hundredth penny , produces considerably to the state . The hire of houses and slaves is a great profit to the Athenians who are the proprietors , and the voyages of our allies bring in also considerable gain to our public criers . But , on the ether hand , if the allies did not try their causes at Athens , they wouldnot respect ancl honour such of " the Athenians as