Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-26

III
! even common sense.
A furious party spirit, when it rages
in its full violence, exerts i,selfin civil.
war and bloodshcd; and, when it is un-
der its greatest restraints, naturally
breaks out in faIsehood, detraction, ca
Iumny, and partial administration of
justice. In word, it fills natioo with
spleen and rancer, and extinguishes all
the seeds of good nature, compassion
and humanity.
Plutarch says ve:y finely, that man
should not allow himself to hate even
his enemies, because, lays he, you in.
dulge this passion on some occasions,
it will rise of itself in others; if you
hate your enemies, you will contract
such yitious habit Of mind, as Ivy de-
grees will break out upon those who
are your friends, or those who are indif-
lercn. to YOU. might here observe
how admirably this precept of morality
(Which derives the maiignity of hatred
from the passion itself, and not from It's
object answers to that great rule which
was dictated to the world about an hun.
drcd years before this philosopher wrote;
but instead Of that, shall only take no
ticc, with a real grief of heart, that the
minds of many good men among US, APP
pear soured with party principles, and
alienated from one another in such
manner, as seems to me altogether in
consistent with the dictates either of
reason or religion Zeal for a public
cause is apt to breed passions in the
hearts of vlrtuous persons, to which the
regard of their own private interest
weald never have betrayed them.
If this party spirit has so i'll an effect
On our morals, it has likewise very
great one upon our judgments We
often hear poor insipid paper or pam
phlet cried up, and sometimes noble
piece deprecated BY those who are of
different principle from the author
One who is actuated BY this spirit is al
most under an incapacity of discerning
either real blemishes or beauties a
man Of merit in different principle, is
like an object seen in two different me
diums, that appears crooked or broken,
however straight or entire IT may be in
itself. For this reason there is scarce
person of any figure in England, who
does not go by two contrary characters,
as opposite TO one another as light and
darkness. knowledge and learning
suffer in a particular manner from this
strange prejudice, " hich at present pre-.
walls among ali RANKS and degrees in the
. British nation As men formerly be.
came eminent in learned societies by
their parts and acquisitions, they now
distinguish themselves by the warmth
and violence with which they espouss
their respective parties. Books are Va
lued upon the like considerations T: an
abusive scur,ilous style passes for sa-
tire, and dull scheme Of party-notions
is called fine writing.
There is one piece of sophistry prac.
tised by both sides, and that is the taking
any scardaleus story, that has been
ever whispered or invented ola private
man, for known undoubted truth, and
raising suitable specula;ions upon it,
Caumnies tia, have been never proved.
or have been often retutcd, are the or.
binary pos,ulatums of these Infamous
scribblers, upon which they proceed al
upon first principles granted BY all men,
though in their hearts they know they
are false, or at best very doubtful
When they have laid these foundations
of scurrlity, it is no wonder that their
snpcrstructure is every way answera6le
to them. lfthis shameless practice OF
the present age endures much longer,
praise and reproach will cease to be
motives of action in good men.
There are certain periods OF time in
all governments when this inhuman spi-
rit prevails. Italy was long torn in pie
ccs BY the Gueltes and Gibellines, and
France by those who were for and a-
gainst the League bat it Is very un-
happy FOR man to be born IN such
stormy and tempestuous season. 1t IS
tho restless ambitioa of artful men that
thus breaks people into factions, and
draws several well-meanins persons t"
their interest BY sPecious concern for
their country. How many honest minds
are filed with unchari;able and barba-
rous notions, out of their zeal tor the
public good What cruel,ies and out
RACES would they not commit against
men OF an adverse party, whom they
would honor and esteem, if instead OF
considering them as they are represent
cd, they knew them as they are Thus
are persons of the greatest problty Sc
duced into shameful errors and preJu-
dices, and made bad men even by that
noblest of principles, the love OF their
country. Il canno, here forbear nentlon-
-, c~,,, C,ar;.h prover RI 6 IT