Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/266

 260 THE CITY. BOOK III. same religion, so long as it held its sway over the minds of men, forbade the right of citizenship to be granted to a stranger. In the time of Plerodotus, Sparta had accorded it to no one except a prophet; and even for this the formal command of the oracle was necessary. Athens granted it sometimes; but with "what precautions! First, it was necessary that the united people should vote by secret ballot for the admission of the stranger. Even this was nothing as yet; nine days afterwards a second assembly had to confirm the previous vote, and in this second case six thousand votes were required in favor of the admis- sion — a number which will appear enormous when we recollect that it was very rare for an Athenian assem- bly to comprise so many citizens. After this a vote of the senate was required to confirm the decision of this double assembly. Finally, any citizen could oppose a sort of veto, and attack the decree as contrary to the ancient laws. Certainly there was no other public net where the legislator was surrounded with so many dif- ficulties and precautions as that which conferred upon a stranger the title of citizen. The formalities to go through were not near so great in declaring war, or in passing a new law. Why should these men oppose so many obstacles to a stranger who wished to become a oitizen? Assuredly they did not fear that in the po- litical assemblies his vote would turn the balance. Demosthenes gives us the true motive and the true thought of the Athenians : " It is because the purity of the sacrifices must bd preserved," To exclude the stranger was to " watch over the sacred ceremonies." To admit a stranger among the citizens was "to give him a p:rt in the religion and in the sacrifices."' Now ' Demosthenes, in Nearam, 89, 91, 92, 113, 114.