The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-06-17
pOtit.rat @isfeiiarp.
NATI0.glL CH.iR.ic1TR.


docs NOT Value his seputa,ion more than pro-
psrly, and often more than life. AsPerse bis
character and you incur his heaviest yen-
KeaRcs.--To wipe Oat IDOL npon his fair
name, he will spare no effort, he will not be
sleterred by any considerations OF personal
safety, he will even stake his ltso. Invade q
mans essential rights, and be viii nos be cssyi
sill he has, at least, ATTEMPTED 10 redress the
vrioyance. He will risk his whole fortune in
an eodcavor to recover what he has unjustly
lost. We respect such feelings, when not
isduired 10 excess. They are not only i'm
planted in our breasts by Providence but
they are indeed essentially necesssry TO the
preservation OF society,
Yet there are men-.honest men ton, who
whilst thus alive TO every fersenoiini0ry,thus
tenacious Of fersonal privilege, thus delicate
". scrupuloas ss 1t regards tersonai honor,
seem to be completely Indifferent and cold
blooded when fhe character Of .he nation is at
issue. AS indiyidusis they will shrnk, like
the sensitive plant, from every rude approach.
They will extend their scnsioilitics to their
families and concessions, They viii feel for
the interests of the to1va where they were
born, or where they reside. But as mem
bers of The greaf community, they are insen-
sible to every insult, cailous to every blow.
They will cody reason With you about the
expeHency of resenting an injury, when
there is chance of no, being able TO obtain
redress. They will advise you 10 endure
Gfsie aggression, lest in attempting TO revenge
or removs il, you lose more than you gain.
They will very plavsibly preach to you, that
reason and religion equally demand the sacri.
Zee Of ,your hassio's that you had better be
- -,c a ErfIs hor ha~ ard nCsa inn,
of the whole. .--lsll this they will address 10
sos 10 your National capacity, but they wall
not allow one title Of the docirine in the con
Germs Of private life What reason is thers
for mis- Why make the disfinction Or If
one. must be made, are there not better
xrounds for repelling National than nrr-
senal attack!
These men, however, arc mi shtiy ready
with their arguments,to support their toi,ical
f,h!osohhy They say, that natioas, in mod
ern times, arc little else thao associations Tor
acquire, and preserving firoherfy that
l.IBgNfY and HoyoH are mere fNtering Wis.,
ions, delightful to the fancy, beautiful in the
cry, hat useiess in practice. To get money,
cay they, is the great object. II you can co
this, and at tho same TINE mainain an ap-
pearance of national dignity and grandeur,
very well---but never let these abstract notiens
Interfere with riches. II you can keep open
all the channels of wealth, you may esteem
yourselves fortunate, and you may perhaps,
with good policy. bluster about independence
and inal;enable rights; but should one chan
mel be closed, never Eight about il unless you
are absolutely sure Of victory, for if you are
beaten al the channels may be sloppsd !!
There are ofbers left, take to item. s. NIL
lions far defence, 6Es not q eens for tribute, I"
i, an exploded maxim. Pay millions for tri
hute, if you can still ssaks the bargain prof.
sabls- Suppose /tv of your iellow-ci,izens
bcref Of their liberty their slavery does no,
hurt you II you fight for them, there ere
two chances To one, you cannot get them
back. This doctrine is not very heroieai to
he sure, but the hero SELDOM makes RICH
man! Consider TOO, how much private misc
ry may ensus from the idle notion Of sup
porting the national character uDsullied, Of
preserving what We call our rights uGsioatcd!
Such is the language of our modern PEACE
men: Adnlrablc reAs1xeg! What would
the ancient Roman have said to n, vsS tE Id
that national honor was TO be rciinquished bn
with national existence who held that no
good was to be esteemed in comparison with
liberty that poverty was rather . blessing
than an evil that poor nation was likely TO
be the freest, the strongest and the happiest |;
who, above all, held that fhe herson ef eifi-
zen ras saered in every eAms and under cN
eireumsfcnces? Whsr woulG our fathers have
aid to this reasoning, who, sooner than pay.
paltry tax, plunged into q bloody and al
moot hopeless conflict These may, perhaps,
be romantic and chivalrous notions, but they
arc amongst the feelings nearest to oar
hearts. We would rather cease to exist as a
people, we would rather be at once re-Solini.
sed, ihan survive the loss Of our character,
and take q low and degraded rank in the scals
Of nations.
Policy, it is said, ought to b the govern
ing motive Of evcry nation. We allow it.
What then is true policyl To suffer our
selves TO be insul,ed and abused By every