Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-16
vould TO God that this foreign Influence

object Of dress. But their principles ="
soyernmeut-their habitude Tor var
their political modes of thinking, which
are the foundation of action. are borrow
ed with a most alarming faithiulness.-
National honor, most splendid but un-
deinable metem-the balance of power
the v,ndication Of justice in the pro-
lection of the weak-tie support OF com'
merce, &c. are already talked OF with
the utmost familiarity as proper causes OF
war.
Nor is it wonderful that war is spoken
of thus lightly. We are the creatures of
education and habit. Things in them
selves most obnoxious, become by habit
to be not only supportable but desirable
The field of battle, with all it's danger,
and all its horror, becomes, | have NO
doubt, to the old soldier scene eyhilirs'
ting and delightful. In the first dawn
inss OF intellect, what are our amuse-
ments /! The nurse tells US tales Il Jack
the giant-killer, and we are taught to adj
mire his courage and proves. A step
onward. and Guy earl of Wsrwick and
the seven champions of Christendonn,
are placed in our hands. AS we ad-
vance, the histories of Greece and Rome
the exploits Of Alexander and Cesar,
are presented for our perusal. A. we
proceed, the fascinating poems OF Homer
pourtray the character Of the soldier SUI.
rounded with dangers and glory, as the
object of favor even to the Gods! We
see the armies approach and to fill the
mind with the highest possible admira.
ton for his fayorite warrior, we are told,
"Troy charged tine first, and Hector first
Of Troy"
Thus from the cradle to manhood are
we constantly presented with martial
men and deeds Of arms as objects of re-
.pect and wonder. Nor does the en-
chanting ailuremsnt to war, cease here.
Fulton was respected; Rittenhcuse was
esteemed. Those who have improved the
ag icui,ure and the arts of the country,
" receive their passing paragraphs OF
praise" bat i, is the VICTOR alone that a.
.skAns the loud plaudits which shake the
vaulted roofs OF the circus and the thes
tre. Jenner, the benelactcr of mankind,
has SAVED the lives of thousands ; but
would the people Cock to see him as the
would to behold Butcher or Wellington
=. would ], would % Mistaken men
you knew not your own hearts. Every
ole Of you would tread on the body Of
Jenner. 10 crowd, % get sight Of the
heroes of Waterloo
The soldier gorgeously arrayed in a
suit Of regimentals-his clothes trimmed
with gold-his brad sash descending in
crimson folds from his side, approaches
the bower Of beauty with consciousness
that he 10 always welcome and our fe-
males lend the enchaRtnent Of their
smiles to keep alive the military ardor
which every thing around US is but too
we'll calculated to awaken.
Hence il is, that the officers of the ar
my and navy. are rapidly becoming
privileged Order-not by statute, but by
common law-not an order Of nobility
instituted BY Congress, but BY ourselves.
Supported from. the public purse-wel
coined every where as a superior order
Of men, is it strange that the course
which has led them to fame and conse,
quelce, should be eagerly sought
Cast your eve to our navy. Look into
the cabin of the franklin and the WASH
inston. The commander is limited mo-
march within his domains, and lives in
all the luxury and all the spleudor Of an
eastern prince. Hence il is that our di-
tinguished men place their sons as md.
shipmen 10 the navy-candidates Tor pro-
motion--lnoking auxiously forward 10 the
time when they shall command a line o!
battleship. But in peace, STEW die and
none resign" What then ?-War wi
give activity 70 the navy-increase the