Affairs of GREECE, from the End of the Sacred War, to the Acquisition of the Lead of the War-party of ATHENS, and the Authority of First Minister of the Republic, by DEMOSTHENES.

SECTION I

Change in the political State of Greece produced by the Sacred War, Policy of the Party of Chares at Athens: Popular Interest favoring the Party: Prosecution of hostile Purpose against Macedonia: Oration of Demosthene on the Peace.

That contest among the Grecian republics, commonly intitled the Sacred War, terminated with far less calamity, far less subversion of the former state of things, than was apprehended if either Thebes or Phocis might have commanded the use of victory, nevertheless produced a revolution in the political circumstances of Greece, very important and wholly unforeseen. The empire, as it was called, of Thebes, which had shone like a meteor under Epameinondas, but, from the moment of his death, had held only a sickly existence, was annihilated; except as the Theban people were confirmed in their command, truly imperial, over the people of all the other towns within the narrow bounds of Bœotia. Lacadæmon, with many struggles, had risen little from the low state to which Epameinondas had reduced her. On the depression of Thebes and Lacadæmon, Athens had exulted in fair hope of command over her sister republics, more unrivalled than in her former greatest prosperity.