The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-15 00:00:00

DEMAGOGVES AND PATRIOTS.

There are certain testa by which the demagogue may be
distinguished front the patriot :-
1. The hiundation of patriotism is virtue in private life. 'I he
patriot is reared amidst the charities of home : he learns to love
Isis country. from his mother's song, from his father's prayer,
front his wite's respect and tenderness; from his children's love
and duty. Such were the patriots of old; such was Wm. Tell;
such was Washington ; such are thousands in England.
The demagogue has neither heart nor household god he wan-
ders to and fro; he shows his aptnt-is to manage the affairs of the
common-wealth by the neglect and ruin of his own family. Such
was Confine ; such are the modern demagogues.
2. The patriot prefers the good of his Country to his private
good. When Pompey was in the conunission for purveysuce for
a famine at Rome. he was vehemently dissuaded by his friend
fruit risking his life, by venturing to sea in an exuemity of wea-
ther t " It is necessary that I should sail, not that I should live."
—Ne mat cal at can% into sit vivant' —was his answer.
The demagogue refers all things to himself as if he were the
world's centre, and cares not in all tempests what bemuses of the
ship of the state, so that he may save himself in the eock.boat of
his own fortune.
The patriot's conduct originates in love of his country ; the
demagogue's; in love of himself, either to gratify his irritability
because a rrnonable or at unreasonable request has been refused,
or to force his way by virulence and invective, or to be pleased
with the sound of .iis own harangues; or as some reason for nett
'ening hi, nearest connexions:-a" It dints lee 7:whites poor
etre dispense joisifts see vuisins"
As the sailer obtains knowledge of the art of navigation.
that his vessel may not strike on a rock, and be wrecked. SO the
patio( studies the science of government, that be may not miskad
or be misled by an injudicious seal. He sentembers the admo-
nition of Jolm Milton. that "he who is born to promote the
public good. should read the law of God above his years. and
make it his whole delight." Ile remembers the admonition of
Socrates, " that the meanest trade is not attempted without an
apprenticeship, but every men thinks himself qualified by in-
notion for the hardest of all trades, that of gsvernmeno
The demagogue can manage a ship in the tempest, although
lie never saw the ocean; he an cure diseases, although lie is
unacquainted with the structure of the hnman body: he would
be a governor, without any knowledge tithe being so be govtrned.
4. The patriot is seldom a member of any party. lle doe. tot
surrender his judgment to any man, or to any body of men. He
does not adopt opinion upon trust. He does not unite himself tt
the upposera of Government ; nor sloes he juin those herds and
rocks of people who follow any body that whistles to them or
drives them topasture. The happiness of his country is his rale
conduct : Ins mode of ascertaining it is the exercise of hi. own
undemanding. The demagogue is the worst of all partisans. lie
is the leader of the nab; the triton amongst the nunoows.
5. The patriot does not deny his governors their due praise.
Tile says, with John Milton, " This is toe the liberty which we
can hope. that no grievance ever should rise in the coturaon-
wealth ; that, let no roan in this world expect. But when com-
plaints are treely heard, deeply considererhand speedily reformed,
then is the utmost bound tat civil liberty attaitial, that wise oleo
look for.

" This is true liberty. when freeborn men,
" Having to advise the public. may speak free."
The demagogue is. marked by acrimonious and unremitting
opposition to the court. Ili, love of the people consists in excit-
ing hate against the Government. If public distress incline the
Latter orders to tuibuience, he infuses vindictive and discontented
fancies into their minds. He exaggerates the evils. to produce
rift. He inflates pairing events into permanent causes of misery.
Ile ildays defects without their accompanying advantages. lie
altitude by chains of simple questions whew the apparent
answers arc obvious, but lithe real answers require the oomprehen-
sum of a system.
G. The patriot views the people as a father vim' Lis children.
erring and liable to err from want of knowledge ; he therefore
avails himself of every opportunity to diffuse information amongst
hie countrymen. He enJcavours to inculcate right opinions iota
higher tanks, end by their influence to regidate the lower. He
lives with the wise, the temperate, the regular, and the virtuous.
The demagogue professes to wish that education should be
progressive, but be dreads and shuns intellect. The frogs are
hilent when a light appears. He endeavours to infuse his opinions
into the indigent, who are always intliunmable; into die timid,
who are naturally suspicious; into the ignorant, who are easily
misled; and into the profligate, who have no Lope but from
mischief.

7. The patriot views the people as a father views his children,
erring and liable to ern from the impulses of generous or tuibu •
1.-nt passion: he therefore prevents their being hurried to excess
by popular harangues.
The demagogue promotes them ; he misleads the populace by
addresses to their beat and to their worst passions; he deceives
the timid with fictitious mischief; appeals to the judgment, and
natters the vanity of ignorance; he slanders honesty, and insults
nigr.ity. lie talks of natural equality; the absurdity of many
made our one; the original compact; the foundation of audios
r'ty ; the rights of man; the majesty of the people; the advances
of the prerogative; and the danger of arbitrary power. The
pinuis for the people; the alvasagogue pleads to them.—
•• At the =inclusion of the American war, while the citizens of
t e United States; were anticipding the blessings of peace, their
army, to which Amen,: a was so greatly indebted, was onrewanhal
f./ its services. The States. which had been rescued by its exer-
t:nil, were in no condition to pay them. An attempt was made
theby anonymous and seditious publications to inthame the
minds of the officers and soldiers, and induce them to unite
in redtessing their own grievances, while they had arms in
their hand,. Ai soon as General Washington was informed
of the oath re of these papers, he requested f,e general and field
offieets, wiM one officer from each company. and a proper reprz-
sentation of the It ,ft' of the army, to .osemble oa an early day.
The General sent for each officer separately. and enlarged in
private on the fatal consequences, and particularly o:: the lota of
aliatacter to the who:e which would result froin intempe-
sate ieselutions. When the officers were convened, the com-
mander addressed them. Ile pledged hitmelf to exert all his
utimorc in their favour, and requested them to rely on the faith
of then wintry. and conjured them. as they valued their lam
t*ur, as they respected the rights of humanity, and es they
rug/idled Cie military and national character of America, to
camels their utmost detestation of the man who was attempting
to ()ern the floodous of civil dis.mel, and deluge their rising
empire: with blond." Gen. Washington then retired. No reply
whim set was made to the General's speech. After a short silence,
a revolation mu unanimously adopted, by which they declared,
•• that. do arcumstanee of distress should induce a conduct that
:.:ight mad to sully the reputation and glery they had acquired ;
t 1.. t the army continued to have an unshaken aallidenee in the
j. lee of (;ongress and their casnotij; and that they viewed with
almorrenee, and rejected with dies i..in,the infamous pmposhions
Late amanyinams address to ::.e officere of t many.
it. Tina patriot ptorre.ws a masculine and hadrK•ndent spirit in
Ca: people: he i. always ready to countenance their just claims,
1.1 animate their reasvnable hovel: :at rewinds them frequently
ei alien- rights; he encourages them to oppose encroachments,
add to multiply securities.
The demagogue debases the spirit of liberty by inflaming all
(lasses to acts of violence; he countenanze, tho claims of the
people, whether just or unjust, and rakes false hopes to secure his
coa n purposes.
If necessary for the happiness of the people, the patriot in-
etitS the,: txubuni ailLougs, as au uuttuatsit of good, be is not