Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/206

188 188 HISTORY OF GREECE. that we be one and all in a condition (o repel the invader. And eT-en should the necessity not arise, there is no harm in strength- ening our public force v v -ith horses, arms, and the other muniments of war. We generals shall take upon ourselves the care and supervision of these matters, as well as of the missions to neigh- boring cities, for procuring information and for other objects. We have, indeed, already busied ourselves for the purpose, and we shall keep you informed of what we learn." The language of Athenagoras, indicating much virulence of party feeling, lets us somewhat into the real working of politics among the Syracusan democracy. Athenagoras at Syracuse was like Kleon at Athens, the popular orator of the city. But he was by no means the most influential person, nor had he the principal direction of public affairs. Executive and magisterial functions belonged chiefly to Hermokrates and his partisans, the opponents of Athenagoras. Hermokrates has already appeared as taking the lead at the congress of Gela nine years before, and will be seen throughout the coming period almost constantly in the same position ; while the political rank of Athenagoras is more analogous to that which we should call a leader of opposi- tion, a function of course suspended under pressing danger, so that we hear of him no more. At Athens as at Syracuse, the men who got to real power and handled the force and treasures of the state, were chiefly of the rich families, often of oligarchi- cal sentiments, acquiescing in the democracy as an uncomfortable necessity, and continually open to be solicited by friends or kins- men to conspire against it. Their proceedings were doubtless always liable to the scrutiny, and their persons to the animadver- sion, of the public assembly : hence arose the influence of the demagogue, such as Athenagoras and Kleon, the bad side of whose character is so constantly kept before the readers of Gre- cian history. By whatever disparaging epithets such character may be surrounded, it is in reality the distinguishing feature of a free government under all its forms, whether constitutional monarchy or democracy. By the side of the real political actors, who hold principal office and wield personal powers, there are always abundant censors and critics, some better, others worse, in respect of honesty, candor, wisdom, or rhetoric, the most distinguished of whom acquires considerable importance, though