oratorical efforts of Demosthenes were directed to
rouse the Athenians from indolence, and to arm them against the
insidious designs and ambitious schemes of Philip, who, in the year
358 B.C., began the attack upon the northern maritime allies of
Athens.

In modern times, Lord Chatham's speech on American affairs, delivered
in the House of Lords, November 18, 1877; Edmund Burke's, on the
"Nabob of Arcot's Debts," delivered in the House of Commons, February
28, 1785; Fisher Ames', on the "British Treaty," delivered in our
House of Representatives, April 28, 1796; Daniel Webster's, on the
"Public Lands," delivered in the United States Senate, 1830, and
Charles Sumner's, on the infamous "Fugitive Slave Bill," delivered in
the Senate in 1852, will, for effective, brilliant, and logical
eloquence, rank side by side with the masterly efforts of Demosthenes.

PHILIP AND THE ATHENIANS.

(_Oration of Demosthenes._)

If any one of you, Athenians, think that Philip is hard to struggle
with, considering both the magnitude of the power already to his hand
and the fact that all the strong places are lost to our state--he
thinks rightly enough. But let him take this into account: that we
ourselves, Athenians, once held Pydna, and Potidaea, and Methone, and
all that country--as it were in our own home-circle; and many of the
states now under his sway were beginning to be self-ruled and free,
and preferred to hold friendly relations with us rather than with him.
Now, then, if Philip had harbored at that time the idea that it was
hard to struggle with the Athenians when they had such strongholds in
his country, while he was destitute of allies--he would have effected
none of those things which he has accomplished, nor would he have ever
acquired so great power. But he at least knew this well enough,
Athenians--that all these strongholds are prizes of war open to each
contestant, and that naturally the possessions of the absent fall to
those who are on the spot, and the opportunities of the careless are
seized by those willing to work and to risk. It has been so in his
case, for, possessed by such sentiments, he has thoroughly subdued and
now holds all places; some, as one might hold them in his grasp by
custom of war; others, by having made them allies and friends. No
wonder; for all are ready to give their heartfelt adherence to those
whom they see prepared and ready to do what necessity demands.

In like manner, if you, also, A