Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-31
Frsn. the CONNECTICUT CouRANT.
Dissertations on GuA-CatchinS.
No. III.

NO. IL.
IN discussing our subject, no notice will
be taken ofthe arts ofdeceptlon and knave-
ry, which are practised in private lite, and
effect the ruin only of few Individuals
The design of these IS to expose the tricks
Of political, knayes,, who dape the confidence
of the public in order to abuse It; who
draw the people with cords efaattery, ana
Tudas like. betray them with "a Kiss. 4
would be found on an accurate dissection
.oflunlan nature, that inordinate selfish
ness is thread which runs through 1t IN an
Infinite variety Of directions. This laor-
! dinateSselashness pervading, and IN de-
/ gres, binding the great'nrass OF the human
race, prompts them to attach themselves
with most zeal to those men (however cor
ruptand vicious in moral principle and cha
racta) from whom they are led 70 expect
the greatest personal advantages. Hence
| in frte states where the people are the &C
knowedged source ofpower, cunning, rest
! less inriguers, destitute Of principles, and
Fired With ambition leap towards the top OF
/ the Ladder and seat themselves in places
| of highIaulhority in the following man
ner:
| One eeat object Of their efforts has ever
been TO acite hatred againt thr most abie
| and faithful servants of the public. Here
they hndt necessary, at the beginning to
act with treat cation, especially, Il the
men, they w3uld disgrace and suPplant,
shouldbe @ry eminent for their greatness,
| goodness, bid public services. Well a.
ware that tobegin their operations against
such men bssn open and violent attack,
| would set paderous stone arolllng that
might probatlAall on themselves, they at
| first artfully soSthe seeds Of jealousy in
the public mindS II this succeee, they be-
| come more oPp ard daring in their
| charges and ordinations, ill at length a
| character the moA pure and illustrlous--
one that had unit7$ll hearts, one whose
public services hadbeen pre-eminent both
in the held, and IN be cabinet, one who
had been silled by mGons of grateful and
eGectionage people, e Political Saviour
and Father Of his eoStry, is publicly de-
| nounced as amoltiousco corrupt, and trail
torous. As Olsen as tn horrible charges
are repeated, they reSEiterated, and are
inccssantI, dirned in the,ars of the public
till at length they make th,desired impress
| sion.
/ Some Old author nentiols a strange spe-
! cies Of Screen. that wants 18th and conse-
! qaently cannot bite, but rs wait is so a.
5omanapiy poisonous that il wInu,r;fv a,iv
! lesis IN whica il fails. Ths.5Iumn;es
winch u one age safsanother mice coun-
! tries, nave been necessarily ADD Successful
| y poured f9rsh IS 5lnst ststssFo5nse most
) ahl4 aud virtpous, nave often ProveSto be
- taelT deadly effects as flley we in
the-c Es vac llSe she yomitof thai sesent.
hlau4 insganee2 n PQlRf might be adcRceti
| from the Grecian ana Roman historAs
many also from the history OF modern u.
. rope ba. shall now mention only OF,
! Near me beginning, Is my recollection
correcD ofthe 17th century, In the reput
he of Holland, the Dewitts, two brothers
| greatly emirenent for theirtalents, for thei
public services, and long tried patriotism
were torn IN pieces by the enraged multi
tude, Who listening to the tales of their ca
| iumniators, had been made to believe then
/ guilty of reasonable practices; and IN
| public was Immediately changed to
/ species Of royalty, Simple Baasians !
IKE 9uHs they were drawn INTO the trap b
! tue neck, and were instlgated to destro,
With horrible fury, the faithful guardian
| Of their liberties.
The voice Of history, ancient and no
dern testifes, that political impo>tess
while bending their efforts to disgrac
and destroy statesmen of exalted merit
tail not TO use every mean and cunninl
art to catcfl the attention Of the people