The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-10-27

munlty, ana IN eaCn party more tSSdIo 40 Paio
to the persevering activity and lieentIous
sratagems OF the deInagogue, than TO the tall |
ents, integrity and honour OF the independent
statesman and honest patrlot--tbat while this
alienation Of feeling continues, the national
prosperity will decline, social intercourse be
embittered, learning, religion and virtue lam
guish and decay, and our republican institu-
tons become the objects ofsuspicion and con-
tempt to the other nations Of The world.
These considerations induced them to make
the overtures they have for political recon-
citation. These overlures, instead of being
received with corresponding sentiments by
our opponents, have been tortured into
grounds of the most unjust and ungenerous
insinuatons against Us, and spurned at as
piece of hollow hearted chcanery and false
hood. 1t is said, that, under the colour OF
moderation, we are making an insidious at
tempt to obtain power, having failed 10 effect
our object by an open and avowed hostility
that our acauiescence in the measures of gov
eminent is altogether delusiye--and that no
confidence ought to be placed in men who are
so vaciating in their conduct, as one day
strenuous to oppose the administration, and
the next TO praise them.
These charges we know TO be altogether
unfounded, and we believe that they emenate
rather in an unworthy disposition to perpetu-
ate animosity, than an honest belief of their
correctness. To prove that we are hypo-
critics, time servers, and sycophants, they
should show some inconsistency in our conduct,
some derelction of our principles-tbat the
same measures which we formerly condemned,
we now support. This they cannot do. All
those doctrines which the government former
ly espoused, and which were the objects Of
our opposition, have been abandoned by them,
and those which constituted the leading fea-
lures in the federal system embraced iii their
stead.-A national bank, a navy, y standing
army, which were once the themes of demo-
cratick ridicule and inyectve, have since been
received into high favour, and taken under
their protection. The policy which federal
government observed towards France during
her revolutionary struggle, Of strict neutral
ity, has since been copied by Mr.. Monroe in
relation TO the Spanish Patriots. And the bu-
sy and ruinous interference with European
politicks, which has been the source of all
our national difficulties and Of the late war it.
self, has given place to a cautious avoidance
of intermedling in their controversies, or Civ
ing either party the weight of our influence
These changes having taken place, the feder-
al party find the administration on their own |
ground, and are forced by regard to consis-
tency TO support them. They must either
support them, or prove traitors TO themselves.
Such being the case, we are perfectly will |
ling 10 meet the inquiry, Who have proved |
themselves the most honest, patrotick and |
stedfast-those who, through every change Of
times, in prosperity and adversely, ia peace
and in war, through good report and through |
evil report, have continued undertaking in
their opinions, or those who after pursuing
for a long time a particular course Of policy,
at last, satisfied of their errours, abandoned |
it These remarks and this inquiry we have
not made with view Of rejecting upon the
administration for their change Of opinions,
but to remove an unjust imputation which is
attempted 10 be fastened upon federalists.
As to the charge Of federalsts' maintaining
an organized party, and engrossing all the
high offices in their power, we say that, if
the fact be true, they have been driven TO ii,
against their own wishes, BY the conduct
of the other party. Their professions of
friendship and endeavours TO effect union of
parties have constantly met with The decided
and violent opposition OF the democrats, and
been made the subject Of unremitted obloquy |
and reproach. The democratick papers have
seized every opportunity Of making i'll natured
reflections upon our past conduct, and teemed |
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