Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-06-20
FROM THE BOSTON RAPEAroRY.

1T is subject Of fearful curiosity to
enquire into the causes, which have 20
rapidly conducted France to the conquest
ofthe continental part Of Europe. By
carefully tracing their operation, we may
be the better enabled to calculate the
chance, Of her triumph over England,
and, of necessary consequence, over A
merica.
Il vas long time the fashion to as.
cribe F rrnch victories to the republican
fAnaticism Other citizens. When France
ceased to be republican in name, and il
was only u name that she ever was re.
publican, the superior personal bravery
Of the French soldiers and the superior
genius Of BonapArte were deemed to be
the two adequate causes Of her triumPhs.
There is probably little ground for
these opinions, orthe influence Of these
causes is much overrated. The body OF
American democrats are, no doubt, the
greatest political bigots in the uaiVerse.
They are accused to believe that no renets
can be true or wise but their owa. That
all power is derived from the people and
should be exercised for their benefit is a
principle Of which they fancy the world
was ignorant. ill it was discovered in
the course Of our revolution. Consider
ing themselve. the sole dePositaries Of
political truth, having in their hlnd- her
casket where she keeps liberty. the most
precious Of her jewels, they think our
country is entitled to be not lttle vain
Of the office. They feel too as If all pl.
trio,ic merit consist. in prop1g stinS their
principle. through the world sith a rage
/ Of proselytism. Fhsy would rejoice 1t
not only France but the Grand Turk and
the Dsy OF Algiers should gather their
unlettered rabble into PRIMARY assem-
bli.s and make them swear, with all the
Zeal and sincerity of opium and brandy,
! to maintain the rights oENa::p- with their
dAggrrs and their pixies.
Accordingly, when France said and
sung and swore the words Of their rePuh-
r liean creed, they were sure the grovell-
= ing world was very near being hoisted
from its centre it would be launched
into the sky and glitter among the bright
est Of the stars. The reign Of perfecti-
bility was beginning. man so long rep
tile, trodden in the m're, vas rising to
over top the tallest Of the seraPhs. Their
teeming fancies had made a creation Of
their own and lighted it with new sun
shine. Allows all things, it delighted
their hearts and seemed to realize all
their hopes, TO see the low vulgar, the
squalid boast. Of vice and ignoraee issue
from the opening cellar. Of the Faux
hourg Of ST. A ntoine and from the en'0n.
e;pa,ed jails, to exercise the sovereignty
OF The People by signal vengeance on
the Magistrates, their sasmies. They
were sure the structure of society must
have risen, when they saw its low foun.
dations' already higher than it, roof. Il
was not long before thi. rAbble army was
arraved as a7body of Marseilles patriots.
and as a p.ft OF the National Guards
'Ehs splep.iid virtues Of France were at.
tributed to the exalted heroism of these
men, who it was said, fought well, not
because they were soldiers but because
they were citizens. More than million
Of the grown people Of America believed
that the liberty loving passion Of French
men male th-m an over match for the
disciplined nscrceadries OF Austria and
Prussia, and that the citizens were the
better for their ignorance of discipline.
The French Generals drilled and punish
cd their eitizen,, till they would stand
FIRE and push bayonet, and if they would
not, they shot them.
| The notion that the political opinions
Of the common men will make them any
better soldiers is strangely absurd. They
are more likely to effect nutiny than a
triumph. Men may fancy they are sol.
diers, but they are not really such, until
discipline and habi: have new moulded ID:
their thoughts and inelinations. The.
reviews ofpeaeeable tradesmen are no
more than the solemn foPpery Of a pan