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

y
ltcnt to be forgotten, amidst the pa
Igeantries of ambition and conquest.
There are philosophers who con.
ltend with some show Of plausibility,
that tumultnary condition is essen
tial to man that, repress the yio-
Ilenoe, the Injustice, and wretched-
ness Of society, and you both reduce
him to an insipid uniformity. and
render vain or impossible the dis
lplay of his most striking capacities.
While we persist, however. TO de
lpIore disorder as an evil, and CONT
nue. the disciples Of q pacific religion,
liz is important to inquire how far
the education Of the young may in
some points contravene its spirit.
and foster the dispositions We con-
denim.
Disciplined 10 the schools to the
early admiration Of classical learn
ing: familiar with the poets. the
orators; the statesmen, and generals
of the antient republics !; penetrated
with that lofty heroism, which en-
dured all sacrifices and hazardcd
all dangers. to defend their institu
tons, or augment their renown; we
extend our respect to their selfish
and arrogant policy, which conyerg-
ed all their generous emotions on
themselves. and sanctioned abroad
the oppression which it stigmatized
al home.
From any other source than this
early prejudice. fortified indeed by
the immcmorial usage. and natural
! Injustice Of men, it would he difficult
Ito explain our freqdent and wide
misconceptions of the love of coun
try, a principle, as expounded by
pseudo patriots. Narrow and un
Just which would enlist all our
charities on the side Of one people ;
consuI: the felicity Of mankind. as il
suhserved national interest; aud
consider communities rs separate
associations for rluader and violence.
! While we yield to cur rulers every
legal obedience, we are compelled
by no precept Of morals with which
we are acquainted to accord cur ap-
probation 10 every error or crime in
their policy; or place TO the ac
count Of generous patriotism,
their transgressions of that un-
ehaDgeab!e law Of nature, which is
paramount 10 all the attachments of
soil. all the claims of patriotism,
and all the law Of the land and
whose jurisdiction embraces, not a
petty commonwealth, nor confede-
rated republics, nor a powerful EN-
pire, but the whole family of man
kind.
! While we refer our youth For
examples to the iilustrious wor;hies
OF Greece and Rome, we should be
cautious TO display in their JUS, light
the barbarous principles. and perni-
cious operation OF their external pc.
LEY. :. The Romans," it has been
said, s. we're born 10 give models TO
posterity." Distinguished alike as To-
sers or their country. & foes to sheir
species ; for individual magnanimity,
x national seIfshness as the votaries
oi'li5er,y, u the tyrants Of mankind ];
their history is, indeed. perpetual
exhibition Of virtue and genius, or
fortitude and enterprise /; Of sage
institutions, and political skill, en-
nloyed under a system of uaexan-
pied rapacity, perlidy & oppression.
The citizen ola christian republic
might be excused if. even amidst the
fragments Of the Capitol, he beheld
in the ruins OF the mistress OF the
world, not only the venerable re
liques of wisdom and herois'a, but
the merited sepulchres Of ambition
and OF crime ;-if on that spot, to
which the nations Of antiquity re
sorted to give the tribute of their
wonder aud their worship, their
wealth and their woe, he remem-
bered the guilt with the glory of
that extraordinary people. whose
destiny it was, to exhibit the mos