SECTION VI. Opposition of the Fleet and Army at Samos to the new Government of Athens: Thrasybulus. Dissatisfaction of the Peloponnesian Armament with its General. Assistance sent from the Peloponnesian Armament to Pharnabazus Satrap of the Hellespont. The Restoration of Alcibiades decreed by the Athenian Armament: Alcibiades elected General by the Armament. Fresh Discontent of the Peloponnesian Armament: Astyochus succeeded in the command by Mindarus. Commmissioners from the new Government of Athens to the Armament at Samos: Able and beneficial Conduct of Alcibiades. VI. March. 1. 8. c. 73. THUS Successful in their administration at home, SECT. and in train to put an end to war within Greece, difficulties were arising for the oligarchal leaders, B.C.411. which no wisdom on their part probably could have P. W. 21. prevented. Peisander, before he left Samos, had Thucyd. exerted himself among the people of that iland, so far as to persuade many of the democratical party to join the oligarchal; and a society was formed of three hundred friends of oligarchy, who, according to usual practice, bound themselves to oneanother by solemn oaths to support their common measures. Peisander thought the oligarchal interest thus secure among the Samian people, as he hoped it was in the armament. But, after his departure, tumults arose among the Samians: the Athenians of course interfered; and, Charminus, one of the generals, was, with some others, unfortunately killed. In these contests the oligarchal party had the advantage; they depended upon support from the Athenians, among whom they supposed the oligarchal to be now the prevailing interest; and they were proceeding to take farther measures against the supporters of democracy. But there had always been, among the patrons of democracy, at Athens, some of the first families of XIX. CHAP. the commonwealth: for of these there were always some who could more readily rise to power through the democratical than the oligarchal interest; and indeed some were considered in a manner hereditary chiefs of the democratical cause. The present generals, Leon and Diomedon, connected as they were with the leaders of the oligarchal party, yet having themselves great interest among the people, were averse to the proposed change of government; and, the democratical Samians soliciting their protection against the oppression of the oligarchal, they readily gave it. Leon and Diomedon, however, appear to have been moderate in party, and not men of commanding characters. There were two younger officers, of inferior rank, Thrasybulus son of Lycus, captain of a trireme, and Thrasyllus, an officer of the heavyarmed, who, by their reputation for ability, courage, activity and integrity, were of principal consideration. These were zealous in the democratical cause they instigated the generals, by whom they were well received; they were sedulous in argument and persuasion among the soldiers and seamen, by whom they were beloved and respected; and thus, while the revolution took place at Athens in favor of oligarchy, the preponderance of the democratical cause was restored in the armament at Samos. democratical Samians then, obtaining support from the Athenians, prevailed against their opponents. Thirty of the society of three hundred were put to death three were banished; and the rest, with a humanity not common in Greek sedition, on submitting to democracy, received a free pardon1o. The 10 The phrase of Thucydides, singularly concise and singularly expressive, is scarcely to be translated: Tois d'äλ2015 où μνησικακοῦντες, δημοκρατούμενοι τολοιπὸν ξυνεπολίτευον. VI. 1. 8. c. 74. : The revolution at Athens being unknown yet at Samos, Chæreas son of Archestratus, a man of eminence in the Athenian armament, was dispatched in Thucyd. the herald-ship Paralus to report these transactions; not without expectation that he would be the messenger of grateful news to the ruling powers. Information of the extraordinary change that had taken place meeting him on his arrival, he instantly secreted himself; and the event justified the suspicion which directed that conduct. Two or three of his officers were thrown into prison: his crew were moved into an ordinary trireme on the Eubœan station; and the sacred ship was committed to persons more devoted to the ruling party. Chæreas, waiting only to acquire information, in his concealment, of the circumstances of the revolution, returned in haste to Samos, and reported there, with the usual, or even more than usual exaggeration of party-spirit, the violences of those who held the powers of government at home. Regardless of truth, he dwelt upon whatever would be likely most to irritate the passions of those serving in the armaA few assassinations, if we may judge from the omission of all mention of them upon this occasion by the historian, seem not to have been considered as what would make much impression: the sufferers were probably little connected with the armament, or little esteemed in it: but that the 'Fourhundred inflicted stripes without reserve; 'that despotic restriction was put upon discourse; 'that complaint was held criminal, and that it was dangerous to open the lip against the ruling powers; that even the wives and children of those on 'forein service were not secure from insult; that it was proposed to confine, as hostages, the nearest friends of all those in the armament at Samos, who ment. CHAP. were supposed friends of democracy:' these were the topics on which Chæreas principally insisted. Such information, from a man of rank, just arrived from Athens, when the armament was already in a ferment, raised an instant flame. In the first moment of alarm and passion, the zealots for democracy were going to turn their swords against those of their comrades who had shown a disposition to favor oligarchy; and nothing prevented so rash a measure, but the consideration, warmly urged by some of the more prudent among them, that the Peloponnesian armament was near enough to take advantage of such a circumstance, for the destruction of both parties. Bloodshed being thus prevented, and the commanders-in-chief, as far as appears, passive, Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus took the lead: for it was not now a military business, but the civil interest of the commonwealth, which it behooved the armament, a large and almost a preponderant portion of the commonwealth, to take into consideration. The first measure was to require an oath from all, with particular attention to those supposed to favor oligarchy, binding them, in the most solemn manner, to support democracy, to persevere in the war against the Peloponnesians, to maintain concord among themselves, to hold the Fourhundred for enemies, and to admit no treaty with them. This oath, having been universally taken by the Athenians, was tendered to the Samians, who also took it universally. Henceforward the Samians were admitted to all councils, as men ingaged in the same cause with the Athenians, and bound by the same interest, whose assistance was necessary to their welfare, and whose welfare depended upon their success, VI. 1. 8. c. 76. Matters being thus far settled, the armament SECT. would no longer consider the commonwealth as existing at Athens, but took upon themselves to be Thucyd. the commonwealth. The generals Leon and Diomedon, notwithstanding the degree of concurrence they had thus far given, were esteemed not sufficiently zealous in the cause. As the general assembly of Athenian citizens, therefore, the armament assumed authority to depose them, together with every commander of a trireme whom they thought adverse to democracy; and Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus were, by the same authority, raised to the command-in-chief. These measures, in fact declaring a civil war, put equally the armament and the city, both watched by a forein enemy already too powerful, in a most perilous situation. The armament, however, says the historian, comforted themselves with the considerations, that they were the strength of the commonwealth; that the oligarchal party, tho in possession of the city were comparatively weak: that, the whole fleet being theirs, the subject-states must also be theirs, together with the revenue thence arising; the collection of which they possessed means to inforce, which the oligarchal party were totally without: that, even for subsistence, those who held Athens were more dependent upon them than they upon those who were masters of Athens; for not only they could more command the sea, but they could even more command the entrance of the harbor of Peiræus. With regard to a home, Samos, a fine iland with a considerable city, was no contemptible home. Such then being their means, not only of subsistence and security, but even of wealth and power, it was little to be doubted but Alcibiades, ill-treated as he had been |