I would wire them both in before testing as you might be messing with the impedance and could blow your output transformer in your amp. If there is no load at all it could damage your amp too so be careful when testing that you're not gonna explode your amp. They shouldn't need any more driving than the old speakers, doesn't really work like that. Put it at a normal bedroom volume you would've used and test it like that, if there's no sound then turn it off so you don't hurt anything.
Pretty sure the wires get shoved into those eyelets, maybe the hooks aren't connected to the conductor part, unsolder them and put the wires in through the holes, wire up both speakers how it was wired before and try again.
If it still won't work after that maybe you should consider the possibility that the speakers you got off eBay are broken? Could happen, who knows.