Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-09

ton this was happily effected. Our state
of neutrality was proclaimed and oy our
government its duties were then impair
tially performed. This neutral system,
justified by our rights as an independent
nation. and called for by our interests,
proved obnoxious to multitude OF our eli
tizens. whose violent prejudices render
ing them blind to all the enormities OF
the actors of the French revolution, they
elamored against their own government
because it was not infected with entllusi-
asm wild as their own and its members
aud supporters were reviled as monarch
lists, aristocrats and enemies to republl-
can form of government. These unbound
ed reproaches artfully raised and indus
triousiy circulated by ambitious dema-
gosues, were used as powerful means to
undermine ard oyerturn the federal ad-
ministration.
Hitherto. the opposers of the govern
men. had been known as ant!tederaGStS,
because from the beginning they had OPP
posed and endeavored to prevent the "a
doption of the federal constitution OF the
United States, which now they profess SO
much to admire. Exposed to just re-
proach as ant1sderalists, that is, as enc
mics to that bond Of union. by means OF
which under the administration OF tede-
raiists, our country had risen from power
ty and insignifcance, to wealth, impor-
lance and dignity those men artfully rid
themselves of that unpopular name, and
assumed that ofRepublicans; and falling
in with and flattering the people in their
eXtravagant admiration Of the new ''Sis-
ter Republic of France, succeeded in
making them believe that they 7cere e;rciu-
sirely patriots and staunch friends to Re-
publican Government: and with this cant
they continue to deceive the people. That
this deception should continue while
France continued to call itself Republic,
is not very wonderful names mistaken
for realities, influence a large portion of
mankind.
But under that imposing name, France
was governed by a succession of ruthless
tyrants, naughty, uuprincipled, unjust
trampling on the rights of independent
nations, violating treaties, and commit
ting attroeious piracies on the high seas.
Their conduct towards the United States,
more especially in the years 1896, 1877,
and 1898, furnished but too abundant
proofs of the truth of this change. Yet
France was still the favOlite Of our ex-
elusive patriots and republicans her rul-
crs boosted of them as her partizans and
friends and it is certain that among them
amidst her unexampled insults and iniu-
ries to the United States, she always
found apologists and advocates. Still she
called herself a republic; & in that name
overturned all the republics on Garth
except our own. which was saved wholly
by our distance beyond the reach of her
arm. The tyranny at home of these re-
publican rulers, has been surpassed only
by the iron despotism Of the arch enemy
Of mankind, the Imperial Napoleon. Yet
in the height of their tyranny, these re-
publican rulers protested like some of
their American brethren, 10 adore the
people. So he sovereign people" was for
ever in their mouths; and the people
dupes to this ilattery, fancied they were
free. What was their IS sovereignty" and
their /" freedom" may be understood by
the following fact. Mr.. Monroe NOW Sc
eretary Of state) Oh his return from
France, where as American minister he
had resided about two years. came to Phi
ladelphia. In conversinS with him on the
state Of France and the condition of the
people, he made to me this striking re-
mark he people are nothing---and the
government erery thing" If the French
people (and Mr.. Munroe had the best op-
portunities TO know & judge of their con-
dition) were at that time So nothing''-
how much :: less than nothing" are thew
now. Then the magic charm of the word
Republic, a name so dear to Americans.
though in France an empty shade, fur
nished some apology for their attachment
to that country. But now, when even the
name is banished-when nothing is more
odious. nothing more detestable in the
eyes of her imperial uaster, than republi-