The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-11
PUBLICOLA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE Enquirer.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.
SIR,
The following letter having accidentally fall
en- into my hands, and not knowing by whom
1t was written or to whom it was address,
ed, have Thought could not do better
with it, than to send it to you for pubiica-
tion. ltappears"to have been written two
or three years ago, but the advice,it gives
applies to every period, and may be patti
cularfy serviCeable to our young politici-
ans at the approaching election. ] hope
some of the alfnanack makers will in
sert it in their useful publications under
the denomination of the CANDIDATES.
GUIDE" or, the "WAYTo GET GREAT"
X
C. VoLPoN1Us TO NJ. c.ALLIDUs.
Is YES, my dear Callidus, entirely agree
with you, that the love ofpopularity in q re-
pubic, strictly corresponds with LOYALTY in
monarchy. Each is a sentiment of devoti-
on to the Hege sovereign, who is Tie foun-
tam OF honor and the rewarder of merit -
they are in fact the self-same virtue under
different names. 1t delights me to find you
superior to the prejudices of stern and
homely morality that affects to decry this
noble sentiment of allegiance, and to degrade
1t from Its proper station in the scale of right
ana wrong. Believe, my young friend, from
the correctness of your present principles,
draw the most favorable presages of your flu
ture reputation and success. I most cheer
fully comply with your request, and have &C
tually set down to give you. in the form of
short and easy precepts, such advice as my
experience suggests, to guide you in the dark
ana intricate track you are. about to pursue.
am aware that some of the rules are min
ute and seemingly insignificant, yet do not
on that account disregard them. You will
be every day more and more sensible of
their Importance, and find that not few
nave already attained considerable height
on the ladder of popular favor by arts of not
whit more magnitude or difficulty.
Before you exhibit yourself in public as a
courtier, would advise you to practice in
your chamber, before large looking glass,
the various bows and smiles which are used
to express assent, complacency, respect or
veneration-after few weeks .exercise
they Will sit as easy OH you as the coat on
your back, and you may put them otfand put
them on with the same readiness and facih-
ty.-Furnish yourself with full suit of
homespun, or If that is not convenient coat
may answer your purpose, and repair to the
hrst quarterly court held for your county
This you must consider as yeur debut on the
great theatre of politics.--Here is the place
where your talents are 10 be brought to the
test, and whefe you are to find yourself borne
alott In triumph amidst Your re-echoed ap-
plause, or retiring in disgrace the scorp and
the jest of "a merciless mob.-F. A: S. b. -.
Examine yourself well and see whether
you are more fitted to storm the fort by a fu-
rious display of party zeal, or to undermine
your way by address and ingenuity. If you
determine in favor of the first course, Won
need but observe this single rule: fume and
fret, and deciaim against all who are known
or suspected tohave spoken, acted, or tho't
against the interests on wishes of the people.
Set no bounds to your transports, and Be pre-
pared to fight and bully every one who op-
poses you, and you will stand a good chance
tor success. The other mode, however, tho
1T is more slow, is alse far more certain.
Indeed, have rarely known it to fail. when
pursued with becoming patience and perse-
verance. Its duties may be little laborious
athrst, but habit will soon render them easy.
until at length you will find them, as know
from experience, of all the exercises the
most pleasant and delightful-T. T. d. L.
Get introduced to some man Of influence,
WHO'S very fond of talking, Of whom there
are an abundance in every county. By lis
tening to him with attention, you soon get
thorough acquaintance with the charact ers
and private affairs of all the leading men in
the neighborhood and at the same time
confer favor on him by gratifying his rul-
ing propensity. When you have by great
difference ofbehaviour, and by asserting to
all he says, given him favorable opinion of
your understanding, and secured his good
will, ask him to introduce you to some of
his particular friends, which he will readi-
ly agree to, and under that description, take
care to include every man in the county WORTH
knowing &C. w. K.
BE very sly of giving your opinions at first,
but grow holder as you get better acquainted
When you are tefe a tete, always contrive
to express the opinions of the man with whom
you are conversing; but appear unconscious
OF this coincidence, and even affect to dread
giving linn offence, by difference of opini-
on. You thus gain the credit of independence
without mourning the usual penalty of crea-
ting an enemy-When you meet with furious
zealets, say, "that some people may accuse
you, OF want Of liberality, but for your part.
you are not able to be coolly investigating a
mans motives to ascertain whether thew pro-
coed from weak head or a bad heart and
that you look upon every man whose politi-
cal tenets are not sound as an enene to the
country, and of course, to Yourself That
the cry OF harmony and moderation is mere
prete%t tor lukewarm and treacherous in
difference to principles" If you arc with what
was lately called third party-man; accuse
yourself of moderation. Say that persecuti-
on generally serves instead Of injuring tn .
cause against which it is directedThat 4! the
tedeTalistS may be allowed TO keep their t1a-
ees, now that we have them down, &c.
When among federalists, do not carry your