448 HISTORY OF GREECE. prolonged altercation for two or three years. When Ilegesippns and Demosthenes maintained that Philip had wronged the Athe- nians about Halonnesus, and that it could only be received fom him in restitution of rightful Athenian ownership, not as a gift proprio motu JEschines and others treated the question with derision, as a controversy about syllables. 1 " Philip (they said) offers tD give us Halonnesus. Let us take it, and set the question at rest. What need to care whether he gives it to us, or gives it back to us ?" The comic writers made various jests on the same ver- bal distinction, as though it were a mere silly subtlety. But though party-orators and wits might here find a point to turn or a sar- casm to place, it is certain that well-conducted diplomacy, modern as well as ancient, has been always careful to note the distinction as important. The question here had no reference to capture during war, but during peace. No modern diplomatist will accept restitution of what has been unlawfully taken, if he is called upon to recognize it as gratuitous cession from the captor. The plea of Philip that he had taken the island, not from Athens, but from the pirate Sostratus was not a valid excuse, assuming that the island really belonged to Athens. If Sostratus had committed piratical damage, Philip ought to have applied to Athens for re- dress, Avhich he evidently did not do. It was only in case of redress being refused, that he could be entitled to right himself by force ; and even then, it may be doubted whether his taking of the island could give him any right to it against Athens. The Athenians re- fused his proposition of arbitration ; partly because they were satisfied of their own right to the island partly because they were jealous of admitting Philip to any recognized right of inter- ference with their insular ascendency. 2 Halonnesus remained under garrison by Philip, forming one among many topics of angry communication by letters and by en- voys, between him and Athens until at length (seemingly about 341 B. c.) the inhabitants of the neighboring island of Peparethus retook it and carried off his garrison. Upon this proceeding, Philip addressed several remonstrances, both to the Peparethians and to the Athenians. Obtaining no redress, lie attacked Peparethus s adv. Ktesiph. p. 65. c. 30. irepl avAhafi'tv 6uidep':uevcr etc
- Pseudo-Demosth. De Halonneso, p. 78-80.
