Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-07-15
pu, when n. storm .t faction Iours,


when revolution and dangers threaten lhe
thunder that rocks the civil world, thu
daunts the timid minds The music ina
invites true great % action, AMI cheer
the rugged tH sHa marks It's way. IL
great talents a. any country, times
Of great TURF atr nd commo.ion, VIII
generally brinz ae view. Danger on
Iy roises the the brave, and difii
cul,y presents .-14es for ability to over
come. The human mind strengthens b'
exsr,ion, and expands in proportion 70 It's
object. It was the ambitious Vaccinations
ofPhilip that nursed the eloquence OF De
mosthenes, and the turbulence OF Rome'
the factions Of Sylla, OF Cataline, that raj
sed the towering structure Of Iully's lame
In the great struggle for American inde-
pen5ence, some Of the brightest sparks OF
genus were elected, that, perhaps, the
world ever knew. We had our catalogue
of heroes and sages, and statesmen, as
SPLENDID as the proudest nation can boast
We had our Washington, whose name
suffers in no comparison, for his greatness
was ming led with no alloy. And the bright
haloo Of glory which surrounds his trophi-
cd brow, shall retain its lustre, when the
pompous marble that would perpe'uate his
memory, shall have crumbled, and moul-
derec away, and the mighty thrones and
princes that vainly opposed him, shall be
lost in the revolutions OF time.
The question has often obtruded itself on
our view, and we doubt not the same has
happene6 with others--where are the Nigh
~ talents, ths splendid abilities, and the
conspicuous characters, which the unCom-
mon scenes of turbulence that have so long
prevailed IN South America, have presen
ted TO the world ! Il is true, indeed that
success is generally necessary 10 stamp the
| character ofthe general with merit butt
Is no less true, THAI it is merit which gener
ally ensures success, And who that has
observed the languid and feeble conduct oil
old Spain, in her war with the colonies, can
doubt ofthe success that would have crown
ed their struggles, had the military skill oi
a WAsHrNGToN led their armies! Wheth-
er :he colonies be destitute of talents,
whether, from prudential motives, they
o'oAsu oAOJA itOtl WIG SOhlGSt3 - C1uaii1 ub-
promising TO their success. Cettain i is
lha, the whole progress of their revolution,
resembles alhrr the vain efforts of the ma
MAC TO break his chain, than any regular
sysematiz d mode ofoperatiun Their ex
ertions appear disiointed and disconnected
II not contradictory and although there
may be spirit reused in the psople, which
will eventually prevail, yet unless some
great and commanding genius shall arise,
the splendor of whose virtues and talents
shall summon the scattered forces of tht
patriots 10 his standard, and bird them like
charm 10 the true interests Of their coun
Try, the vigor Of whose mind can overthrow
the schemes oil the ambitious and interestt d
mark out and persevere in his plans-South
America will never be free ! though her
struggles may exhaust the resources of the
mother country, and al length, cary her to
peace yet, in our view, il boots but little
whether she be governed by foreign tyrants,
or rent by domestic factions oppressed BY
petty chiefs, or full grown desPols We
sincerely wish, with all true friends Of lib
erty, that her independence may be estsb-
llshed on just and honourabe foundation
But we must confess, that these wishes are
At present cloaded with many doubls, that
this will be speedily accomplished.
SGp0nnah Gaz.