It is necessary, however, to survey the events which will arise from these causes, in every species of polity. Democracies, therefore, are especially changed through the improbity of the demagogues. For partly by privately calumniating men of property, they cause them to conspire against the state; for a common fear will make the greatest enemies unite; and partly by exciting the multitude against them. And this is what any one may see taking place in many polities. For in the island of Cos, the democracy was changed through the depravity of the demagogues; for the nobles entered into a combination with each other. And, at Rhodes, the demagogues, by distributing bribes, prevented the people from paying the trierarchs what was owing to them, and this compelled them to enter into a conspiracy against the government, and destroy the democracy. The democracy, likewise, was dissolved in Heraclea, immediately after the settlement of the city, through the demagogues. For the citizens of note having been injured by them, quitted the city; but afterwards collecting themselves together, they returned, and destroyed the democracy. In a similar manner, also, the democracy was dissolved in Megara. For the demagogues, in order to procure money by confiscations, drove out many of the nobles, till the number of those who were banished was great, who returning, vanquished the people in a battle, and established an oligarchy. The same thing, likewise, happened at Cume during the democracy, which Thrasymachus dissolved. And whoever surveys what has happened in other polities, will see that the mutations in them have nearly been produced after the same manner. For at one time the demagogues, in order that they may gratify the people, injure the nobles, and cause them to conspire against the state; either by dividing their estates, or obliging them to spend their property on public services; or by banishing them, in order that they may confiscate the property of the wealthy. But in former times, when the same person was both a demagogue and a general, the democracies were changed into tyrannies. For, nearly, most of the ancient tyrants were made from demagogues. The cause, however, of their being then made and not now is, that then the demagogues were of the soldiery; for they were not then skilful in speaking; but now rhetoric being increased, those who are able to speak, are indeed demagogues, but through want of skill in warlike affairs, do not dare to act as tyrants, except in a very few instances. Tyrannies, also, were formerly more frequent than now, on account of the great power with which some magistrates were entrusted; as from the Prytanis or pretorship at Miletus; for the Prytanis was the lord of many things, and of great consequence. And farther still, tyrannies were formerly more frequent, because cities were not then large, but the people dwelt in the country, and were employed in husbandry, which gave them, who took the lead in public affairs, an opportunity, if they had an inclination for war, of becoming tyrants. All of them however did this, when they had gained the confidence of the people. But this confidence was obtained by their hatred of the rich. This was the case of Pisistratus at Athens, when he opposed the Pediaci; and of Theagenes in Megara, who slaughtered the cattle belonging to the rich, after he had seized those who kept them by the river side. Dionysius also, for accusing Daphnæus and the rich, was thought worthy of the tyranny, from the confidence which he obtained through his hatred of the rich, as being a popular man. But governments are changed from their ancient democratic form into that which is most new. For where the magistrates are elected, but not from a census, but by the people, the demagogues who are desirous of being in office, bring the polity to this condition, that the people are the lords of the laws. The remedy, however, against this, either that it may not happen at all, or in a less degree, is, that the magistrates be elected by the tribes, and not by all the people. All the mutations of democracies, therefore, are nearly produced through these causes.
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