Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1805-01-28
Bistf!, mp.
FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE

a..* 3H Hui .s3asl faat =
MANKIND feldons preferve a perfeee con
aftency il, their conduit. That happy measan
which would enhance their individual haPpi
nels, as we'll as promote the gene al good, i
not always apparent. One extreme, or the
other too frequently characterizcs their actions
This is 40 LET'S oblerv,ble in rhc modern ages O.
civilization, shan was ii, the b ed periods O
of antiquity, when shshaman mind was cloud
ed with the thick miRs OF ignorance and upper
-ftition, which havs been diiiipated by the iAum
mating rays Of fcience and religion. From tft
departure of our hrit parents from parable, ua
till the prcient moment, this has in greater
or lefs degree psryaded the various grades of To-
cietg, from the highet to the loweit, from the
mott wealthy to the mott INDECENT We can
mention, but few iubieets, which have oecapi-
ed the attention ofiociety, that do NOT receive
complexion from this pallion for the extremes
In the more weishty and important affairs OF
government. as well as in ,he .cis momentuous,
but intereiting concerns Of human life, this is
eqsally viGbte. In politics too this circumstance
is ltrikingly obvious. The modern delnacral
will fcarcsly allow him, who will not implicitly
fubfcribe to hispoliscal creed, even TO approx
mate to the truth of any thing. He from igner.
ance, or the hopes of his own aggrandizemen
with enthuialiic zeal, breaches up nneatxol3s.
THIRTY and p:ffect cq laltsy among all orders o.
the community, which in foeiay is little conEo
nant to the enjoyment Of the grcateh individual
happincfs, or confident with the public good
The exceiIive prevalency of this erroneous doc
trine has irguphed nations inthe dreadful yor
,F H. ,l,.. r.,
the mott defpotie governments on the globe Il
is an obiervasion worthy of perpetual remcm.
brance'of every intelligent being, that Ciza Lib
fyty and Rational FRICTION are eflential to the fu
fruition of the rich bleiings, ariGng from a
well organized community, and that people,
government and contribution is the mott free
which makes the leaf proviiion for enatting cf
expedient and f4'utary laws" Who can bu,
admire the enormous lengths, this improper
bias OF the human intellect has carried man
kind in the extremes of the falhions. In one
year, fcarcely more than one garment in the
colde:as feaions is by the yotares of faih;on
IN another, halfa dozen will rarely be fluff
Gent in one a waiitcoat of three or four in
ches ia length in another, one that would en-
tend aImon to the kasss is fashionable. Are
theie things rational DO they comport with
his character, who is cn!tamped with the divine
image Of his maker
he contribution Ct man remains nearly the
fame in all ages. The climate does not very
materially change. he. who has tn. preropa-
tive TO lay they are not right !. Few have the
independence and courage 10 ridcule and wholly
ditresard the fashionable foies of the day.
Bat III projections of fr;endihip, this has exceed
ed all rational bounds. In this age of 6neiTc.
there is no diangniihing thy friend from rhe
contemplate iycophant What one would give
md rcceive for fashionable exprellion Of civil
ity, another would conlider as the hiyhetl AMI
tincere token of real frienl,ip ami regard. !.
Many therefore who havo aaisersd thendelves
with the enjoyment Of the unfeisnsd friendfn;p
of their acsuantances, have frequently learnt
by fad experience that they have no, botom ms
warmed with the lacred flame.
Ihefe have gathered fram the bufv
wcrld 'hofc fashionable modes of exnre,r,on
which lketch the outlines of the rea isv hut
caleus fouls never glowed with the crleGial 6,.
A large proportion Of fociety, are very an. 70
!lu INTO inis co@nou error of humanity.
Rut enough has already been flil to prove H..
above afienlon. Mankind therefore thopl3 h
ealulous 70 pystcrve rational co1Gltencv !, -,
their actions In politics. may civil bcr,v AMI
rational freedom b. the Object and aim Of -,
cry American In friendih,p may afrankncf, ,,d
finserisy predominale In ihcrt, my .ss;.
good and honor ever animate. ever
ION OF liberty TO the Achievements of noble and