uld feel that they had an interest in upholding the power and
dignity of the great house with which they had been thought worthy of
alliance. This system, which was entensively followed by Darius, had on
the whole good results, and was at any rate preferable to that barbarous
policy of prudential fratricide which has prevailed widely in Oriental
governments.

The system of checks, while it was effectual for the object at which it
specially aimed, had one great disadvantage. It weakened the hands of
authority in times of difficulty. When danger, internal or external,
threatened, it was an evil that the powers of government should be
divided, and the civil authority lodged in the hands of one officer, the
military in those of another. Concentration of power is needed for rapid
and decisive action, for unity of purpose, and secrecy both of plan and
of execution. These considerations led to a modification of the original
idea of satrapial government, which was adopted partially at first--in
provinces especially exposed to danger, internal or external--but which
ultimately became almost universal. The offices of satrap, or civil
administrator, and commandant, or commander of the troops, were vested
in the same person, who came in this way to have that full and complete
authority which is possessed by Turkish pashas and modern Persian
khans or beys--an authority practically uncontrolled. This system was
advantageous for the defence of a province against foes; but it was
dangerous to the stability of the Empire, since it led naturally to the
occurrence of formidable rebellions.

Two minor points in the scheme of Darius remain to be noticed, before
this account of his governmental system can be regarded as complete.
These are his institution of posts, and his coinage of money.

In Darius's idea of government was included rapidity of communication.
Regarding it as of the utmost importance that the orders of the Court
should be speedily transmitted to the provincial governors, and that
their reports and those of the royal secretaries should be received
without needless delay, he established along the lines of routes already
existing between the chief cities of the Empire a number of post-houses,
placed at regular intervals, according to the estimated capacity of a
horse to gallop at his best speed without stopping. At each post-house
were maintained, at the cost of the state, a number of couriers and
several relays of horses. W