Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-09
PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.


In free elective governments, the true
character is clearly seen in that Of their
rulers. If these are wise men, fully
competent to the duties OF their offices,
men who eschew evil, who fear God, and
hate coyeteusness it is then plain that
such is the people which gave them rule !;
that the treelnen who put them into office
are themselves an enlightened and virtu-
Gus body. On the contrary, whenever,
and wheresoever. in free country, the
rulers are incompetent in point OF know
ledge, or of loose morals, or of tainted
character and reputation, it is an intal'i-
Bile proof that the people love to hare it so,
and of course that the people, or at least
a majority of the people, are either de.
plorably ignorant, or deplorably corrupt
ed in moral taste and feeling. AS is
the shepherd, SO are the sheep. They
have the shepherds mark upon them
They are not only ear-marked, but the
express image of the shepherd is i'm
pressed upon their foreheads. Hence.
rulers of superior excellence reflect no
nor upon the people they govern, because
their wisdom, their integrity, their mora!
rec'itude, clearly evince the wisdom, the
integrity, and the moral rectitude, OF
the body polite that elected them, and
2iycs them support. So, by the rule OF
contraries, incapable rulers, and rulers
that are wrong headed aud wrong heart
ed, reflect foul disgrace upon the people
because there is proof positive, thai
the people at large, are either naturally
or wiIlfuIly blind, or else possessed Of
grossness of disposition. The truth is,
when rulers are naueht, they are but the
instruments, which. in the righteous jadg.
mcnt Of heaven, a naughty people yClun-
tarily, but blindly uses for lis own pu-
nishment. What has been here said il
Of a general character, and is not meant
for any individuals other than those who
shall see cause to take it to themselves.
-- ibid.
TEACHING SCRAP OF HISTORY.
In the 18th century, the divisions and
animosities that had subsistcd between
The free republics of Italy greatly iucreas.
ed 10 violence by the assumption Of two
party names, Guelph and Gibein. 4
Guelph hated a Gibelin, with all his hear
and soul, and a Gibelin hated Guelph
with the like inyeteraey, more en- &C
count of this nominal distinction thai
for any thing else. These party name,
were kept up for ages ard generations
after the particular cause Of appIyin,
them k,d ceased, ard after the mass o
the people had become altogether igDo
rant of the reason why the RESPECTIVE,
partie; were so called ; but nevertheless
the distant Posterity Of the origina
Guelphs and Gibelines harbOred tn
same venom of heart toward one aro
Their as their foreiatkers did a centur,
or two before. A Guelph deserved {
have his throat cut for his name, aud
Gibelin for his this was The opinion
of the ignorant and violent rabble, jus
as they happened to be attached to tn
one side or to the other. The riva
names of Guelf and Gibelin, as they fur
nished full play for aspiring dimagogUf'
had no inconsiderable influence in III
destruction Of the liberties Of | aiy-o
which some parts were once as free a
are any parts Of the United States.
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