Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-10-29
EFT r ER :.
osfbe fa's Of literature aaa stalihses ia
.America. p34s
= RI RI = y

osfbe ga's Of literature aaA pafitifss IN
.Anenica. rsa
To the Editor Of the sFarmer's Muieum.
DEAR SIR,
IN my iaft ie,ter, 1 reviewed, inayery
curiory manner, many unfavourable traits
in our political literary and general cha
raeter. But complaints againa our coan-
try have become 70 fashionable, even "a
mong thofe who live by public bounty,
and ale fill rioting on the iiberality OF
:" the people," that fhould difmifs the
fubjed Immediately, did not a patton
more honourable thar frerful petulence
prompt to further remarks. Though, like
Jonah we may with to be forever ihadow-
ed BY fome advantitious gourd; yet it is
neither religious or reaionable to murmur,
becauie we cannot fit always at our cafe.
The beit mans life is marked with fome
complaints yet thefe are conlidered as
fhades in his character; if 70, what fhall
we fay of that man who diicards patriot
ifm, becauie villains have anumed the title
. of patriots? Truly, we mutt conEder
him neither patriot, or man of reaion.
If there is fuch a PATTON as patriotifm,
as elegantly defcribed by Qxmtiian and
prattiied by thoufands in America and
ellie where: it cannot be dearoyed by the
freaks of fortune, or folly; but continue
inmate with life. But, to quit term
lately rendered deipicable, / will only
obferve that no man ought to call himielf
an American, who is eternally degrading
his country, becaufe he perceives mad
men in power and fools worlhipping idols
Whatever Aatsery we may receive, from
foreign aaociates and however hncerely
we may prefer the government of one
country, to the politics of our own yet,
it is the viletf of ingralisude to infult thofe
who fupport ana protect Us, by the
opprobrious ePithets of Jews and tapeers.
National errors may be pointed out, with
our Liberal companion and the dark
inades of our governmental character
exhibited, for other means, than purpoie-
ly 10 aRllt the reliev0 of foreign virtues.
To every nation let US render due praife
and in iuch manner, as not to reienble
Amadis de Gaul, or the philosopher of
Ellis; as If we were mad nen, or doubted
their merit.
AsmJris made up of bundle fhabiss
and nation of bundle of men, it is not
to be wondered that America, at this day,
exhibits Rrange and motley picture, toa
contempiatiye philosopher; feeling the
South has given up, and the North
kept not back that her daughters have
come from altar, and her patriot ions
from the ends of che earth. But, when
we Ultimate the character Of America,
we ihould call TO view her hrlt iettlers,
and their worthy defendants; not thole
etbemerjf 6r.toi, whom the embrocations
of the old world have generated, and
ica,tered from St. Johns to Lake Huron.
Americans, thus conGdered, are as virtu-
GUS, intelligent, amb 5ious and indufrious
as any people on earth. Conflicting their
advanta yes, the youthful atate of the
country, that their property comes not by
inheritance, and thar ever fince the adoP-
ton of the federal Contribution, from the
peculiar and intererefing fate of the old
world, Commerce, Ejaculation and poll
tics have engroaed their every thought
it is not to be wondered that the grove OF
fcience is neglected, and an embargo laid
on the waters ofHippocrene.
Had the number of our inhabitants in
created by natural population the buhnefs of
life and government would have progreh-
ed advantageouay; wealth would have
walked hand in hand with icience, aud our
great men been as noted at m0ant He'll
con, as at bark Manhatten; but the iweets
of America drew to our lhorcs every
fpecies of infecrs, who, like the dead fly
in the facrea ointment, iend forth pu-
trid ana malignant ttench. 10 the lioe-
rality of our yirtuous and wellmeanng
fathers we a,uf charge the evils rtfuit-
ins from emigration. They invited The
GOOD and offered an alyIum 10 the poor