Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

132 A KING FROM THE START.as well as acts were all in favor of our Alexander. His Lyncestiannamesake, as before said, saluted him king, and hewas readily accepted by all but the usual crowd of grumblersand malcontents ; and these speedily subsided or were suppressed.For there was in Macedon no ride of successiondefinite enough to be respected. Attains and Cleopatra andher son, as well as the murderers of Philip, were put to death.This apparent — so-called inexcusable— cruelt}^ was a matterof necessary personal safety with Alexander. That such anact was in the regular course ofproceeding in those days explains,if it does not palliate it.Indeed the act was no worsethan Macchiavelli advocates in " The Prince," as the duty ofa ruler who wishes to secure his throne. Alexander was noworse, he was better than his times ; but there is no claimthat he in any sense approached perfection, excej^t as a soldier.Amyntas had perhaps a prior right to the throne, hadhe been in a position to assert it and to do justice to thegrowth and power of Macedonia ; he also was put to death,ostensibly for conspiring against Alexander.The simple facts,rather than the discussion of the right or wrong of these politicalexecutions, — murders, if you will,—concern us here.Though but twenty years old, Alexander was both matureand self-poised. No sooner seated than he proved himselfevery inch a lung. He began by reviewing the army."Though the name has changed, the king remains," quothhe, and the power, order and aspirations of the king andcountry were kept intact.Philip had found Macedonia a smaU state ;he had raisedit to be the greatest nation of the world, excepting only Persia; and as the centre of civilized power Macedonia was themore important factor in the world's economy.Neither Philip nor Alexander were Greeks. The Macedonianstood midway, as it were, between the despot-ridden