The Public Orations of Demosthenes, vol 2 | Page 5

resources from which he can pay his men? Will
money drop from the sky? Of course not. He subsists upon what he can
collect or beg or borrow. {27} The real effect, therefore, of the
accusations made against him here, is simply to warn every one that
they should refuse to give him anything, since he is to pay the penalty
for his very intentions, not to speak of any action that he may have
taken or any success that he may have achieved. That is the only
meaning of the cry that 'he is preparing a blockade', or 'he is
surrendering[n] the Hellenes'. Do any of his critics care about the
Hellenes who live in Asia? {28} Were it so, they would be more
thoughtful for the rest of mankind than for their own country. And the
proposal to send another general to the Hellespont amounts to no more
than this. For if Diopeithes is acting outrageously and is driving the
vessels to shore, then, gentlemen, one little wax-tablet[n] is enough to
put an end to it all: and what the laws command is that for these
offences we should impeach the wrong-doers--not that we should keep
a watch upon our own forces at such expense and with so many
ships.[n] {29} Such insanity really passes all bounds. No! Against the
enemy whom we cannot arrest and render amenable to the laws, it is
both right and necessary to maintain a force, to send war-ships, and to
contribute war-funds: but against one of ourselves, a decree, an
impeachment, a dispatch-boat[n] will answer our purpose. These are
the means which sensible men would use: the policy of the other side is
the policy of men whose spitefulness[n] is ruining your fortunes. {30}
And that there should be some such men, bad though it is, is not the
worst. No! for you who sit there are already in such a frame of mind,
that if any one comes forward and says that Diopeithes is the cause of
all the mischief, or Chares,[n] or Aristophon,[n] or any Athenian citizen
that he happens to name, you at once agree, and clamorously declare
that he is right; {31} but if any one comes forward and tells you the
truth, and says, 'Men of Athens, this is nonsense. It is Philip that is the
cause of all this mischief and trouble; for if he were quiet, the city
would have nothing to disturb her,' you cannot, indeed, deny the truth
of his words, but you seem, I think, to be annoyed, as though you were
losing something.[n] {32} And the cause of these things is this--and I

beseech you, in Heaven's name, to let me speak unreservedly, when I
am speaking for your true good--that some of your politicians have
contrived that you should be terrifying and severe in your assemblies,
but easy- going and contemptible in your preparations for war. And
accordingly, if any one names as the culprit some one whom you know
you can arrest in your own midst, you agree and you wish to act; but if
one is named whom you must first master by force of arms, if you are
to punish him at all, you are at a loss, I fancy, what to do, and you are
vexed when this is brought home to you. {33} For your politicians,
men of Athens, should have treated you in exactly the opposite way to
this; they should train you to be kind and sympathetic in your
assemblies; for there it is with the members of your own body and your
own allies that your case is argued: but your terrors and your severity
should be displayed in your preparations for war, where the struggle is
with your enemies and your rivals. {34} As it is, by their popular
speeches, and by courting your favour to excess, they have brought you
into such a condition that, while in your assemblies you give yourselves
airs and enjoy their flattery, listening to nothing but what is meant to
please you, in the world of facts and events you are in the last extremity
of peril. Imagine, in God's name, what would happen, if the Hellenes
were to call you to account for the opportunities which, in your
indolence, you have now let pass, and were to put to you the question,
{35} 'Is it true, men of Athens, that you send envoys to us on every
possible occasion, to tell us of Philip's designs against ourselves and all
the Hellenes, and of the duty of keeping guard against the man, and to
warn us in every way?' We should have to confess that it was true. We
do act thus. 'Then,' they would proceed, 'is it true, you most
contemptible of all men, that