[X] [Epidamnians] Eretria Eskhata should host them. They are the representatives of liberty, and do not wish to cause trouble besides. They have conducted themselves honorably, and present advantage to Eretria without creating a route to war.
[X] [Immigration] Manpower. What the city needs above all is people, to work its fields and fight its wars. The emissaries of the city ought to look for healthy, hale, and strong men who would be willing to come to Eretria to work as tenant labourers for merchants and farmers. These men shall girdle the city and be the legs that carry it forward [If successful, higher number of low-skill immigrants with higher overall immigration].
[X] [Prytanis] The Prytanis will remain a chosen citizen.
[X] [Standardization] Allow a standard presentation of grievances every eight years, counting from 346 OL.
[X] [Marriage] Reform the laws so the Metic Father has the same rights in the marriage of his daughter.
[X] [Citizenship] If the city should bound citizenship grants by strict rules, then Metic heroes should be given it.
[X] [Juries] Allow Metics to appear on the city's juries if the situation involves their peers as defendant.
Since we came to these shores, all have sacrificed and fought to build our present prosperity. We should not forget those sacrifices, nor should we forget the Gods, upon whose good graces all our good fortunes lie. The Epidamnians helped us in our time of need, and hospitality is one of the greatest virtues. Can we refuse them hospitality in turn? Can we refuse a friend, who may one day be able to do us a good turn in return? To do so is not only blasphemy, it is base folly. If Korinithos wishes to continue their quarrel, let them try. Are we such frightened maids, that we will be dissuaded by hollow threats?
The metics too have sacrificed and laboured much for our city, and proven their loyalty. It does not show weakness to assuage their lesser worries, rather it shows our strength and confidence. We can trust that they will reward such considerations with loyalty, as they always have done in the past. Their grievances are all small and reasonable, save one. If a father cannot protect his daughter, can he really be a father at all? Should we not reward those who have shown their virtue for the city, and have made sure the long-haired Mede or the hairy barbaroi will long remember the name of Eretria? Should a man not be judged by his peers?
All entirely reasonable concerns, and so too is a regular Assembly, which is to our benefit and theirs, and removes the worries of having to wonder when to call for the next one. The only unreasonable demand is a speaker of their own from this Assembly. This sacred space is for the citizens, and to ignore that, even if we wished it, is to risk the displeasure of Divine Oylmpos!
If their request were more reasonable, perhaps asking that their representative could be a former Metic who won their Citizenship through valour in Eretria's service, then perhaps we might consider it. But this must be rejected out of hand.
Lastly, we come to the matter of our new people, those many brave and desperate enough to risk all for a new life here, in Italia, as we once did. This current plague of warfare in Hellas is a sign that the rank impiety and profligacy of this age of lesser men has not gone unnoticed by the Olympians. With our foresight and our hospitality, we may pluck something of worth from this calamity, those men courageous and daring enough to join us here, and build a strong and virtuous city.
Many have said that we cannot be sure of the loyalty of these new arrivals, or that we should seek only those most gifted in crafts among them.
I say that a hungry man with only the clothes on his back is reliably loyal to fresh baked bread, and silver, and we offer both. When they are here and working their own plot of land, or labouring each day for good food and good coin to build a Temple to the gods, will they care overmuch about the petty quarrels across the sea? They will have a new life! If Korinthos or some other city should attempt to send spies amongst them, they will be easily found, for our Democracy is not so fragile as in other cities.
As much as any man here, I am an admirer of those gifted in music, and the making of beautiful things. It does us all well to honour the arts, for in doing so we honour our own mortal existence and make it more virtuous. But we have many gifted in crafts already, and are spending vast sums of silver to beautify our Temple, which will attract more talented men from across the world. What does our city need the most, at this present day?
I say it needs strong backs, and strong hearts, men who can wield the plow, or the dreadful spear if need be! Let us not forget there are still many who would still like to see us driven into the sea! We need to become stronger, stronger, and stronger again, so that we can overmaster our foes and secure a future for our sons and daughters! Every new man willing to bear the heavy Hoplite's panoply, every man willing to plow rugged barbarian soil into a good ordered farm supporting our city, they are a small victory, another inch closer in the mile we have yet to walk to safety and security!
So speaks Arktos, son of Arktos Arkadios.
