Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-07-22
FOR JERKS PORTLAND GAZETTE.
Communication.


mean enterprise and it is probable that the
audacty OF it in point Of felf-oPinion may be re-
pretended more than its iuccefs will be allowed
Yet IN great outlines it is not difficult for the
obierver to be efficiently jna, and as The great
outlines form the general character, and the
general character in great affairs may fome.
times be fad to be more accurate than even
the mott minute analysis; it may no, be Who'll
ly prefumptuous TO eGay Gseteh in which a
mere failure Of fuccefs eau hardly be viewed
as dnparagement. 900 >
The letter to Mazzei clearly evinces tina, the
oppoiers of our form of government have ever
been party, and party whole views are
very far from being limited to querulous fub-
ordination. Winged by the French revolution
it has taken daring fight, and like that has
afumed hyperboiieal form and language
fitted to give falfe idea of power of very i'm
polling operation, and fome fubfantial effeet.
There was natural affinity between the level.
lers OF exiting formularies, which dictated an
alliance in one and the fame attack upon the
human imagination. In this country it was
mPolii5le for them to fay what they would
have in lieu of the late arrangement, and
therefore dangerous to aGa it openly in front
but afliited by the extraneous fpeeacle and
influence of France, it was not hard matter
TO acquire by all forts of means comfortable
acce0on from the MATS of she people without
decided objea or clear intelligence of anything.
With fueh an advantage, government might
be fretehed upon the rack OF partial and per-
iecutive inveltiga,on, and in many pollibls
events be brought to compromises, even the
public favour and very principle OF t be wholly
defroyed. Should this t-k- place, men of
republican tenets. and ptilotabbieai refsarchss,
would furely be able to manage a fhp which
had loa rothing bur her rudder and fails in
the tsmpyauous Jss" of chaos, or emaneipa-
lion of the people from every obligation human
or divine. Bur at lssR the leaders of the fpc,
celsful party being the patriots Of the times,
sobaf Eonn be dom would always be quef
ton which they might anfwer as circumstances
fhould recomm-nd
Equally congruous to the deGgns of modern
phiofbphy in the fubverlion of opinions, the
eG.nlisl vulgar:,y of mobhifm or democracy.
and the oonfpiracy aganIi the conf tuition, all
which wefe coordinate undertakings, fort of
deadly, fearful and Hooking ridcule was let
loofe upon the world to debilitate, like French
intrigue, the places which were to be finally
afaulted. To elevate dreams into public ere.
dence, and to ohafe the realities of long expe.
ricnce from the perfpeefive, wand Of no COM
mon virtue was requifite, and it was judcioefly
made Of beneyolence and wit In the groher
hands, and more critical juntiures, this iniiru
ment becomes, like the rods of the magicians,
venomous ierpent, which infuriates what before
it only amufed. and the corfquence i madnef.
iin9uIar and terrible. Figure side, under the
name of arnoeracy it became eafy to iidicule
not only The honet fruits Of eminent virtue,
wealth and ditinetion, but even thoie very at
tempts at excellence which emulation dictates,
and the knowledge of human nature enioins.
A Drunkenness Of public opinion was attempted,
and to the point Of applauding all manner OF
vulgar ridicule, nyeaive, and abufe, it was
perhaps obtained. In the mean time the daily
example of France was at hand to debauch
anew remorle itfelf, and LEFT any refpi,e ihould
be given to delufion in which the human mind
might recover its candor, purity and content
ment, when ridicule ceafed TO imulate, plain
dull lying was refo,ted to, but very foon de.
teaed.
For what earthly purpofe could fuch a fer.
mentation be excited in America I'm the real
OF imaginary charatteriitics of nations is thar
of my couutrymen, folly, childhood and fop.
perry -Surely it will puzzle the hiaorian to
reconcile the bafe fact of our momentary de-
clenGon with any character but French levity.
To aniwer the queaion we are driven back to
the plain and iimple petition which nobody
will yet underRand, that the whole bnfnefs in
America was NAKED rebellion againIt the
contribution, as hagitious as any on record, and
infinitely dangerous from the hypocritical tenn
per OF its plot and profecu,ion. 1t is neither
more nor lefs-But in anfwer To this true and
facred declaration the raieally ridicule which l
have mentioned oppofes the Charming laugh,
and rebel now in thief. latter times is as well
hid and fortified in lie, as formerly he was in
den or cattle. To this it may be faid by
fome fool that toe eosPtption Is as mucb rs[pesed
Iyt6s euemies as BY tie Jfiends Of gopsvnm0p When
but now would fuch ridiculous nonienfe be be-
Il. II.