Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... old and true saying, that in order to govern, men must learn to obey; but I do not think that the converse will hold good, and that whoever can obey is therefore fit to govern. 12. Criticism Of Grote's Estimate Of The Athenian Democracy. Again, as regards the comparison of the Athenian Demos and its acts with the conduct of the oligarchs, there cannot of course be a moment's doubt which side committed most, and most heinous, crimes; but it must be repeated that such a constitution as Phormisius proposed is really anything but oligarchical; that it is, in fact, quite sufficiently democratic. Only a madman could wish to defend the actions of which the oligarchy was guilty in this period of re-action against the democracy; but we are not to forget in this question that the dangerous character of this oligarchy had its root in nothing else than the extreme exasperation with which the wealthy and cultivated minority saw itself subjected to the domination of the masses, which necessarily consisted in great part of rough and uncultivated persons, and which were guided by demagogues destitute of merit and worth. That such a sovereignty of the masses must have been oppressive in the highest degree to all who did not belong to them, is clear; and the remarks made on this point in the tract on the Athenian commonwealth among Xenophon's writings, may be set down as one-sided, but hardly as unfounded. The hostility to the democracy can be thus explained, although the actions to which it led were morally most reprehensible, and even politically were mistakes. That, on the other hand, the populace of Athens compared with the oligarchs is seen to be infinitely better, any one will gladly admit. Every one will say, with the most assured..."
