The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-12-17
FOR TIE GAZETTE.
M. Irxk,.

n FULLY agree with the author Of
il P0FLfr SPIRIT, in your Gazette Of
the Sd ina that the political motives Of the
great body Of the people are right, and II
he errors Of their conduit are imputable to TIE
influence Of few deGgning men, who have
other purpoles to anfwer.
1t is an old oblervation, and / think bv the
author of Junius' Letters, that the community
are more capable of feeling than Of rsaJ5n;mg.
Tbs readily accounts for the wrong bias which
mcH events Of Importance are calculated 70
make. We may difcover this in the ki((orv Of
our own times. When Genet began to inliR
our own citizeos to fight the Spaniards, with
whom our nation was at peace, and to claim
the right of holding Courts within our country
Tor the adjudication of prizes, taken from our
allies and friends, the people ieemed TO give a
momentay fan6rion TO his views. When the
BHtih Treaty was fri puhlilhed, the whole
country feemed to be againf jt-becaufe French
liberty and French fraternity were apparently
lnjared by it, Ths Pading of the alien, fediton,
and tax bills, has had Gmilar efcf. No
iooner has rehettion performed its Office, and
the deiign and operation Of meafures been diff
covered, than appreciation has f1cceeded 70
incorporate clamor. When it was feen, that
Genet ahumed the rights of our own govern
ment, he was hated and defpiftd-and his
dHSrace diluted univerial pleafure. When i
was Teen, that the Brtilb Treaty placed the in
terelt OF the two contracting parties on equal
grounds. and that the op2oGtion To It by
France arole from tniaer and diihonorable
views, the pubic tone was wholly changed.
We now Zee that the alien, lediton and tax bills
are neceaAry-lhe 6tf to get rid Of difo4ganiz-
ing foreigners the r.cond 10 bride the TONGUES
OF imPous libellers of honeR fame-and the
third to prepare US for the events OF war for,
70 be prepared for war, Is the only way to pre-
ferve peace.
Il Is unfortunate for Us, that many Of our
citizens, - whole opinions We generally mott
conhde, guided by fentmcnts or treacherous
detection. This, however, IS eafly accounted
tor. The tyralts of France divulge their plans
only to teW-and the moi Influential are the
ohjetts OF their bzil. Th1fe men Of influence
let themirlves Up as the advocates Of liberty
and the rights Of man, and therefore become
the idols OF the people. They loudly execrate
our own government as hoIde of tyrants, and
as ddPoied TO come again under the yoke Of
England, and therefore the rvorn enemies of
French Liberty. No wonder that thief. flvorite
topics, voclferated fron the mouths Of pretend
ed patriots, ihould caafe temporary dsHium
IN the public mind-but that they hould en-.
endanger the sovereignty Of America, and
wound its Independence and fame, excites the
wonder and di!trels Of every citizen, who has
abilities and leiGure to underlaad The true in.
tere0s of our nation.
Therefore, fellow citizens When an exalted
chaFact.r, who has made It practice to be ia
the company of French rninfiters and French
agents, iPeaks Of our own government in terms
Of reProach, and Of the French councils in
terms Of appreciation, mark him for traitor
put no confidence in his projections Of love to
our country, for thefe are words of courle, and
in The months Of fuch men have meaning
totally different from their common import
Regard their IA elites too a the enemies Of YOUR
haPPineis-and PIT confidence in noce but luch.
as are The friends Of our own governmental
meaiures. REGULUS.