17.8 Return of the Prodigal
<p>As the Athenian fleet in the Aegean and the Hellespont gradually gained ground against the Spartan navy, things went badly for the oligarchic <strong>Four Hundred</strong> in Athens. Clearly the fleet was committed to democracy. The regime itself consisted of two factions, the hard-liners who wanted to keep all power in the hands of the few, and the moderates who wanted to include as many Athenians as possible in the regime, namely the middle class. The former wanted a quick end to the war, which would reconcile them with the oligarchic Spartans and banish the democrats forever. The latter wanted to continue the war in a more disciplined manner than the democracy could manage it and establish an equitable peace.</p>
<p>When the regime sent a peace delegation to Sparta consisting of hard-liners, the crew of the ship carrying them put in at democratic Argos, arrested the delegation, and sailed away to Samos to join the naval forces there.</p>
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