The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-10-03

FROM THE sAriosAL rsrELLIcEscEs.

tveiy employed In traducinS the hmeriCah
namo. III there is any virtue, any honour IA
ny spirit in the pubick, they should cover
with contempt the unprincipled wretch, who
strives, by the propagation of endless false
hoods. to subvert those sentiments and con-
vctions, that are among all nations the i'm
mutabie foundations of whatever is great
aud useful. In free government much lat
itnde should be allowed TO political discussion.
The conduct of pubIick men are the legiti-
mate topicks of investigation, and their mo-
tivcs may SO freely arranged. But when this
liberty, deserving these themes, sports with
national character, and aims at destroying
patriotism, the main spring of free institu-
tions when it labours 10 blacken and dcpre-
ciac every thing native that is virtuous and
noble, and to nstil preference for foreign
institutions and habits, it is time for the in
disnant frowns of an abused people to pun
ish the calumniators, by Withdrawing their
support, and marking them as fit objects OF
general contempt.
This is not the cause of party, but OF the
nation.-The opposition is almost as much
Interested in il as the friends of the admins
tralion--r interest is common for what
ever set OF men the party may triumph Tor
time, the nation still remains.-The same
di hcultics and trials await it.--ln the success
sion of events there will be dangers within
and perlls without, which will call for co-op-
pcration and exc, tion, and for an active and
energctick use of all the means In our power
10 maintain our independence and rights.--ln
vain will this call be made upon people de-
graded in their own eyes.-The honour APP
rcaled To will be found to be shadow, or the
empty dream Of past times.--The spirit in
voked will be dead.
The individual who thinks meanly of him.
self is incapable of geaerous sentiments or
hcroick acknowledgement he may deceive
himself, he is considered by others as slave,
and will act and be treated like slave by
them. If the individual is thus degraded
how much more SO must nation be, that
forms such an estimate, every trait OF whose
character is fashioned by publick sentim ent
Why was the infant, which drew its breath in
the proud days Of Greece and Rome, reared
TO hardihood and hcroism ?-It was because
the universal sentiment Of bis country was
lofty and unbending. II was because the
cradle in which he was rocked was that of
Hercules /; it was because his mothers milk
flied hi. little weighs with the rich blood tina,
Apwed fresh from the heart of his father. In
s"ese days every thing pbyoieai anu moral
eonspired TO make the infant a man in the
best sense of the word The germ of free
dom had expanded with vigour, that repel-
led all those little sickly sensibilities, that so
often consgn TO premature debility or des-
truction weaker subjects. 1t struck its roots
amidst raging storms, and consequently struck
them the deeper. Hence arose stately and
noble supers.ructure, that endured for many
ages, and which history still exhibits among
the most spended monuments Of virtue
power and greatness.
Such, in those days, was the proud trophy
OF patriotism of proper direction given
to pubiick sentiment, whose conccntred
force once set in motion, swells like the
mountain torrent, and sweeps all before it.
How different would have been the result
had the precep,ors and leaders of those times
debased and humliated the pubIick mind
There is every probability that Rome would
have become a nation of robbers, instead Of
nation of heroes and The world never have
received the bright legacy, which, even in
her ruin she bequathed to benighted world.
Her example should shed light on our
course. Rome, under her Republican sys.
TEN, was IN many striking respects, in the
same situation we now are In numbers and
wealth and the arts, she was greatly interiour
to other powers So arc we. They laughed
at her pretensions to sovereign power. So
they do at ours. They ridicued her manners
and deprecated her character. So they do
ours.
Did she sink beneath this accumulated
scorn, injustice, and outrage In proportion
as they thought, or affected to think, meanly
of her, did she fall in her own estimation, or
remit her efforts No. The injustice of
others awakened her sleeping energies,
viii ch She hurled IN the he ads of hrrr ens
mics, whom she soon taught by niournful
experience to respect the little band of free
men, which they SO recently despsed. How
did she, in the infancy Of her power, accom-
p,ish this by unanimiy Roman dared
tho aa,aiAlieE x.i....a