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CONSTITUTIONS OF THE GRECIAN STATES. 117considered by the Grecian politicians, as the surest characteristic of a democracy. 1But where the appointment was leftto be decided by that method, the decision was not alwaysmade solely byit. He on whom the lot fell, could still besubjected to a severe examination, and very frequently wasso. And where some places were filled in this way,it wasby no means pursued in the appointment to all.But in the election, also, the greatest differences prevailed ;since sometimes all classes, and sometimes only particularones, took part in them, 2 To admit all citizens to vote, isone of the chief characteristics of a democracy and;weknow this was done not only in Athens, but in many othercities. But when the aristocratic and democratic party hadonce become distinct, endeavours were almost inevitablymade to exclude the mass of the people from any share inthe elections. For the aristocrat found nothing "^more humiliating, than to approach the common citizen as a suppliant, before he could arrive at places of honour. Where thefirst step succeeded, the second soon followed ;and themagistrates themselves supplied any vacant places in theirboard. This, says Aristotle, 3 'is the peculiar mark of oligarchy, and leads almost always to revolutions in the states.And who was eligibleto office ? This question is stillmore important than that respecting the electors ; and anequally great difference prevailed on this point in the various states. The maxim, that men, to whom the control ofthe public affairs should be committed, must not only possess sufficient capacity, but must also be interested in thesupport of existing forms, is so obvious, that the principleof excluding the lower orders of the people from participating in the magistracies, could hardly seem otherwise thanjudicious and necessary. 4 But when it was adopted,itcould seldom be preserved. When a state became flourishing and powerful, the peoplefelt itself to be of more im5portance and it was not ; always flattery of the populace,which in such times induced its leaders to abolish thoserestrictive laws, but a conviction of the impossibility of1Aristot Polit iv. 15.2Aristotle, 1. c., classifies these varieties. s Aristot. L c.*That not only Solon, but other lawgivers, had adopted this regulation, isremarked by Aristotle, Polit. iii. 11.* See, on this subject also, Aristot 1. c.