Politics

​And the remedy which they adopt for this defect is absurd and not constitutional but characteristic of a cabal. For often some individuals form a conspiracy and expel the orderers, either some of their fellow-magistrates or private citizens; and it is also permitted for the orderers to resign their office during their term. Indeed, it is better for all these things to happen according to law than according to human will; for that rule is not safe. But the worst of all is the lawlessness of the powerful, which those of the powerful who do not wish to submit to justice often establish; whereby it is also clear that the arrangement has something of a constitution, but is not a constitution, but rather a cabal. And they are accustomed, by dividing the people and their friends, to create anarchy and to engage in factional strife and fight against one another. And yet, how does such a state differ from no longer being a city for a certain time, but rather having the political association dissolved? A city in this condition is in danger, when there are those who wish and are able to attack it. But, as has been said, it is saved because of its location; for its distance has had the effect of an expulsion of foreigners. Therefore also the condition of the perioikoi remains stable for the Cretans, whereas the helots often revolt. For neither do the Cretans share in any external empire, and recently a foreign war has crossed over into the island, which has made manifest the weakness of the laws there. Concerning this constitution, then, let so much have been said by us. The Carthaginians also seem to be governed well, and in many respects outstandingly compared to others, and especially in some things very similarly to the Laconians. For these three constitutions are somehow close to one another and differ greatly from the others: the Cretan, the Laconian, and third of these, that of the Carthaginians. And many of their institutions are in a good state; and a sign of a well-ordered constitution is that the people voluntarily remain in the order of the constitution, and that neither factional strife worth mentioning has occurred nor a tyrant. It has things similar to the Laconian constitution: on the one hand, the common meals of the clubs to the phiditia, and on the other, the office of the One Hundred and Four to the ephors (except for one point which is not worse: while the ephors are from ordinary people, they elect this office based on merit), and their kings and elders analogous to the kings and elders there; and it is better that their kings are neither from one single family nor from any ordinary family, but if there is some outstanding family, they are elective from these rather than by seniority. For having been established as authorities over great matters, if they are of little worth they do great harm,