Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-01-15

mcataets ilgnt upon the shoulders or It's
subjects, leaving sufficient freedom OF
action to their several powers, whatever
may be predicated Of The former, willin
general hold true when applied to the lat
ter. Ifssherefore man who is Justly
followed by the contemps and abnorence
Of his fellow citizens, be incapable of as
piring 10 those deeds, which require no.
bility Of soul, to conceive and TO execute
them, il is by no means a far-fetched a
nalogy,to conclude, thai nation whose
character attracts The finger of scorn, will
be impotsns in the field of honor. The
fear OF reproaeh is no ,rifling ipgrediens
in the composition Of heroisa1 /: but who
to avoid the impn,ation4of cowardice, will
bolGly take danger by the beard, whea he
Knows that private shame, may remain 10.
distinguished in the gloom Of national dis
graee? Bot ifindlvidual ,urpituse 6n6
an inviting refuge 10 general dishonor. the
spiendor OF highrepu,a,ion is not less
exhilera,ing TO virtue. When people
become renowned for lofty sentiments Of
honor, and for powers ID arms, they are
heroes of course. They have a conscious
ness Of superiority, which 10 ordinary
cases is uodaunted boldness, and when
dTivea to ex;remities, hardens into invinci-
bic obs1inacy. The habits of educa;,on, &
the laudab!e prejudces Of patriotism. teach
then 10 believe thai no exploit is TOO h.-
Eardous for their daring. no path of g!o-
ry TOO ardusus for their perseverance,
What object within the compass Of
human powers is no, auainabie by spl.
rits like these A band of wos,hies, each
of whom regarded Himself as he cham.
pion of national character high IN the
list Of fame, was isdecd crushed beneath
the vast pressure of countless hest OF
slave; but hey were nor conquered
Hrrois:a like theirs, is farsuperior to the
of.sn.imes capricious judgments Of vic,o.
ny Stripped of the ove'bearing lu9usaee
of numbers, the spiritiess minioHs OF.
pompcus tyranny, the vale particulars at
general disgrace, would have dwindled in.
10 pigmies. before the awful majesty Of
conscious greatness. This reputation, thia
pride of fame it is, which gives half his
tsrroys 70 the oppfessor of Europe. i,
marches before his asmles, and .anqulsh.
ing the hearts Of his enemies b, fore his
arrival, leaves scarcely any thing for him,
bot the murderous auausrmrn, Of waliow
Ing in blood The pa,iopal character Of
france, is The Invisible was.ior, who first
,aisarms the foe, and then gives him up
-dtfrnceless to the swerd I hanks to the
saueness Of the humsn character, that
insp,: ing priocipte which renders the great
Bandit Of Europe inviucible ca the con.
,inent, burns with equal ardor, ADD pro.
Dues correspondents effect, nthe British
nayy. National pride has erebegoesen
a habit of greatness, which has hitherto
preserved the empire OF the ocean to that
noble race, whom may the Almighty ne
yer Ia his wrath deliver over TO the phlan,
thropy of Frenchnen,
Blu, it is not only by nerying the arm Of
war, that national character, operates as
national power. The first lessons of poll,
tical grammar, will teach us, tina, repnta,
tion often renders unnecessary, the eser-
else of physical force that prompness
to repel injuries, is alwaysa better safe.
guard against the aggress,ons Of lawIcss
power, than the ability to revenge them,
withou, the courage TO exercise it. Ma.
,ions, as well as men, are cautious Of com.
,mi,!lng wrongs, when they have reason 10
expect firm, and manly opposition. The
brave and generous will never insult those
whom they respest, aud the marauder.
whose objeetis spoil, will seriously count
the cost, before be invades the rights of
true courage.
If such be the importance Of agreat ma
tional character, 10 what light ough, we 70
view the administration of tina. mao, who
.isdaily wasting this pa,rimony left us by
our political father Shall the com mander