BOOK V - CHAPTER V

________________________________________________
_ We ought now to inquire into those events which will arise from these
causes in every species of government. Democracies will be most
subject to revolutions from the dishonesty of their demagogues; for
partly, by informing against men of property, they induce them to join
together through self-defence, for a common fear will make the
greatest enemies unite; and partly by setting the common people
against them: and this is what any one may continually see practised
in many states. In the island of Cos, for instance, the democracy was
subverted by the wickedness of the demagogues, for the nobles entered
into a combination with each other. And at Rhodes the demagogues, by
distributing of bribes, prevented the people from paying the
trierarchs what was owing to them, who were obliged by the number of
actions they were harassed with to conspire together and destroy the
popular state. The same thing was brought about at Heraclea, soon
after the settlement of the city, by the same persons; for the
citizens of note, being ill treated by them, quitted the city, but
afterwards joining together they returned and overthrew the popular
state. Just in the same manner the democracy was destroyed in Megara;
for there the demagogues, to procure money by confiscations, drove out
the nobles, till the number of those who were banished was
considerable, who, [1305a] returning, got the better of the people in
a battle, and established an oligarchy. The like happened at Cume,
during the time of the democracy, which Thrasymachus destroyed; and
whoever considers what has happened in other states may perceive the
same revolutions to have arisen from the same causes. The demagogues,
to curry favour with the people, drive the nobles to conspire
together, either by dividing their estates, or obliging them to spend
them on public services, or by banishing them, that they may
confiscate the fortunes of the wealthy. In former times, when the same
person was both demagogue and general, the democracies were changed
into tyrannies; and indeed most of the ancient tyrannies arose from
those states: a reason for which then subsisted, but not now; for at
that time the demagogues were of the soldiery; for they were not then
powerful by their eloquence; but, now the art of oratory is
cultivated, the able speakers are at present the demagogues; but, as
they are unqualified to act in a military capacity, they cannot impose
themselves on the people as tyrants, if we except in one or two
trifling instances. Formerly, too, tyrannies were more common than
now, on account of the very extensive powers with which some
magistrates were entrusted: as the prytanes at Miletus; for they were
supreme in many things of the last consequence; and also because at
that time the cities were not of that very great extent, the people in
general living in the country, and being employed in husbandry, which
gave them, who took the lead in public affairs, an opportunity, if
they had a turn for war, to make themselves tyrants; which they all
did when they had gained the confidence of the people; and this
confidence was their hatred to the rich. This was the case of
Pisistratus at Athens, when he opposed the Pediaci: and of Theagenes
in Megara, who slaughtered the cattle belonging to the rich, after he
had seized those who kept them by the riverside. Dionysius also, for
accusing Daphnseus and the rich, was thought worthy of being raised to
a tyranny, from the confidence which the people had of his being a
popular man in consequence of these enmities. A government shall also
alter from its ancient and approved democratic form into one entirely
new, if there is no census to regulate the election of magistrates;
for, as the election is with the people, the demagogues who are
desirous of being in office, to flatter them, will endeavour with all
their power to make the people superior even to the laws. To prevent
this entirely, or at least in a great measure, the magistrates should
be elected by the tribes, and not by the people at large. These are
nearly the revolutions to which democracies are liable, and also the
causes from whence they arise. _

Read next: BOOK V: CHAPTER VI

Read previous: BOOK V: CHAPTER IV

Table of content of Treatise on Government


GO TO TOP OF SCREEN

Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book