Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1805-01-28

they were tividea and Neakenea by FAC
lions their faite patriots co-operated
withshe;r invaders and their Covefn-
mems fell, not 70 much ty the arms OF a
conaueror, as BY the weight OF their own
vices. Such are the effects of violent
.diiorders or ilnplacabie dil coriin all lie
States they lead TO anarchy and end III
defpociFn. There may tic ntuch rtisarh-
IL in Tie proccfs. bur the rci.!t $ nearly
the fame the chief difference is, thatlnfa'l
oates generally call in a mailer from a
broad, and great nations make tyrant Tor
thenlclvcs.
When political difputes are cSnt.ssted
with moderation and candour, they are
innocent and MAY be nieful. BIT when
parties become eager Involvement, when
in ,he heat of contention they locie fight
of tie putts!Eic fntereit, a.r1 eraleavor 10
mifead the citizens by falle repreienta-
.ions, they corrupt the public morals
and tendd directly to iicentiosfnefs and con-
futon. IF fuch cafes there woeffd be dan.
ger that the mott unprincipled would be
the moft fuccefsfnl they might rei6rt to
measures which their opponents might be
unwilling 70 adopt for honeft men
would diidain TO deceive the people, and
would never deviate from right conduit
TO promote any caule. or produce any
change in opinions or meaiures. But it
men of corrrpr principles lhouldthus pre-
dominate, they might chooie rather TO
fubmit 10 delpor of their own Election,
Than hazard the lofs Of their Ill acquired
influence.
Frcn, our fitualion We have the means
of fafety, in peculiar manner, in our
own power, and it depends upon eur
delves, whether as people we become
The mott Respectable or the mott wretch
ed.-lf We are united IN affection, it we
retain frugal courfe of living, and are
animated with zeal FOR the public good,
s we fhaii poAeIs reiousces fully efficient
for our lecurlty, AMI lhall rile TO the
higheft lfate of public honor and hapPi-
nels. But if intefine diyilions and civil
difcord prevail, we ihalI be expoEed. not
only te foreign infi1tts, bat TO thoie re-
) sengefcl domeliic snornrities which have
been the terror and diigrace Of other na-
lions. his the great duty then of every
citizen, .inftead of exciriug variance and
party itrife, which are the iources of con-
fulton and mifery, topromote concord a
1nong. the people. And it Will be the
aim of good government to unite the
citizens IN ffe ties offriendihip, and make
the happinels Of the aate coniif in the
harmony OF its leveral parts. Such a gov
ernm,ent will be superior to ielffh con-
alterations aid partial attachments !; and
will infpire respeet by the equity and u
niformity of its principles, by a conitant
adherence to probity and good faith in
its mealures, and by caufng moral rec
titude to be had in honor.
You will readily perceive, gentlemen,
that our fafety would De endangered by a
general relaxation either of the military
or political virtues a decay of the for
mer would expole to former aggretlion,
and by the decline oftfre latter. we fhould
become ar eafy preyto ,heambiiousprojeai
of reflefs and aipiring men among our
.ieIves. The hiifory Of ether republics
will ferve to lay open to our view, rhe
.diiguiies under which tyranny may be
introduced in free fate. In,he modern
Republics of Europe, the henes which
were dispsayed in those of Greece and
Rome, have been repeated. Ditien.!on
and party fpirit were excited among the
people, and their paflions were artfut!y in
famed againf the mott able and virtuous
citizens, and againa thofe inftitu'ions
andreitraiats which wifcom had deviied,
and the experience osases had ianetioned.