Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-27

wills. always incline 10 rush intu tntir op-I
|posites: And tits not the least unfortu-
nate consequence Of the commissions of
the old world, that the enterprises of a
wild RIGHTEOUSNESS have communicated
their odium to the cause of true freedoms;
and have rendered perhaps less abher-
rent to- its people the usurpatlons, the ca
prices. the guilt, the rigours. and mad-
mess OF sovereign power those hercel
scourges of heaven to chastise our vlola-
lions or abuses of liberty.
What patriot, remembering the prodi-I
eies of revolutionary crime, shall here
after cast his country into the furnace OF
reforms What hero assault the halwarksl
| of royalty. and drag oppression from
thrones sustained by thousand vulgar
! vet potent interests. and fortified by nay
lriads of Snbservient merceAares ?--whatI
poIit a ian expect to guard from design
ling hands,-what philosopher to WELD
wisely and virtuously in his own.--theI
many and etiectual Instruments Of arbi-
trary power, which such enterprises call
Into lie and activity ?-What Sisyphus,
at once idle and indcfatisable, would
urge to such fearful height mass so
unwieldy, only to behold it rebound with
Fdesulating violence.
We are not, however, to infer the sta
Ebility of thrones from the number and
strength of their satellites While these
Cypress the people with an eternal slave
Try; they make royalty the sport CT their
own passions and caprice and as they
are the props of its elevation, SO they are
Iolten the causes of its fall. AS Rome In
the days of the empire, became militia
LEY republic, whose real citizens and cleo
ritorS were the traetorian oands; SO the
soyereignties of Europe seem approach
ling, with accelerated speed, that point
most unhappy and degrading to'states !;
when the rights Of the citizen are no
longer the cause, or the apology Oh COM
.notlon,---but the fickleness, TIE Incense,
and dissension of the military force. 10
the subj ects of such military rule Is de-
|nied even the lethargic repose OF despair.
IEnduring all the tumults OF faction, with
out the generous patriotism which re-
deems it IN free states all the terrors
of change, without the hope OF improve
[ment; they are fated to fad no aiterna-
lions but in the opposite vices .: their
'lprinces; TO bow by turns to adventures,
'Iwhose profigacy may attract, or whose
'Iferocity may constrain for time the m
|cIinations Of the soldiery, and behold
after every calamitous revolution, new
idol of the army, and not new parent
lof the people.
Such state, whether languishing un-
der hereditary bondage, or thus goaded
|by fortuitous and temporary tyranny, IS
equally destined to perpetual hostillties
abroad. New wars must be undertaken.
to divert the enterprise OF subordinate
leaders new nations be piundered, to
gIut the rapacity, and preserve the y ar,
| like habits of the army. Thathuge and
dangerous weapon of tyranny mast ex-
lpend lis force il externa! contests, to a.
vert j. from the bowels Of the state. Am
Ebition too, still greedy of fame. must
now purchase it at larger expense Of
guilt while its renown remains the
same attractive bauble, It's price is, from
! all these causes. an ever accumulatng|
weight of calamity.
| These views are not sketched in that
spirit of flattering anticipation which at
ltended the late close of the struggles of
Europe. Few minds, on that propitious
levent, were unconscious of some latent
Ihepe, that allies against common OPP
lpressor, victims of common calamity,
and partakers of a common triumph,
would hereafter be svayed by reciprocal
sentiments of amity and moderation
lit is not our business to inquire, how far
the sovereigns of Europe have fulfilled
these hopes. and how long. under the
sway of transient feeling and extraordi-
harry circumstance, they may i1cline to
the cultivation of repose. We would be
directed rather to that Fortunate period of
auman history, in which moderation has
continued the ally of power; in which
nations, grown wise from misfortune,
have been regardfu of mercy, or obser-
vant of right. Alas!
---.. Earth is sick
And Heav'n is weary of the hollow words
Which states and Kingdoms utter, when
they sTeak
Of truth and justice"
its in principles less fuctuaf:ng than
these that the European communities
n ~ OF tho