The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-16
W1SVIl,EA WY0
FOR TnE GAZETTE.
MERCENARY POLITICIANS.

Mr. HorFMAN and others. of New York,
who il should seem are qaoadom tedc,al'sls,
prior TO the late election of Governor of that
state, published an address 10 The people, de-
claring themselves posed 10 the re election
OF Governor CEINTos, and in favor OF the for
mer Governor ToMPkINs. In this address they
declare the federal party 10 be dissolved, and
signify their intention IN future To beong TO
the great republican party OF the nation. A
writer in the last Argus seems TO dlsallow 10
these busy people the merit of going over in
body. with sincerity and truth, To the ranks
Of the MARKINGS who, IL seems, are TO be IN
derstood a. the true republicans OF New York.
No word in the English language has been
more unbhishingy prosiitu,ed TO the purposes
Of political intrigue and gross fraod than This
same word g republican" II il not therefore
strange that the Argus should disirust The sin
cer,ty Of these men. But there is something
strkingly homogeneous IN The i1ea that they
are entitled 10 less charity, than lie numerous
individuals in Maine, who as temptation offer
ed, have taken themselves from an inferior
standing in The federal ranks, as men of prob
ity and intellect, and become at once the
most eminent republicans, entitled TO the
highest degree of confidence. Indeed it is
not easy 10 conceive why they are as little
deserving of credit for sincerity as those who
have gone before Ibem individually, with no
other apparent claim TO public confidence,
than the empty name OF republican" sound.
ed from hollow heart.
There is one fact IN considering The address
alluded TO which is worthy oil remark in rela
ton TO the policy Of the general government
of the present day. which former converts
certainly would not sdduce in their favor
and tina is, that the measures OF the ext ctti,e
in relation to the great subject OF national
security are precisely such as the leading
federaists~of 1880 and up 10 The present day
have considered sound aud eiiicacious. Ships
and ioriilcaiions have always been demanded
by them a, the hands of the general govern
ment ; and when granted 10 secure the best
interests IT the nation, IT surely ought 10 be
satisfaction, 10 those who have insisted on such
establishments as thu ssres pledges OF nation
al glory and prosperity. Was there an equal
Involvement TO men holding these doctrines, 10
become converts under the gun.bo and re.
slriclise systems, when the economy OF using
state papers and proclamaiions, instead OF
sUliis dHu dTInss duueu w our SUlbSSr poiie y
was pursued till the empty vaults Of osr treas
ury echoed economy" on the public ear in
derision Yet during all this time the closer
this policy pressed upon the interest and The
character Of the uat,on, the more certain was
the harvest of converts. How many were
sincere and how many were corrupt, would
puzzle cs.uist 10 determine. II the New
York address MAS dictated by selfish and
fraudulent motives, in whose mouth IS II 10
cast this in the teeth Of IFS authors Surely IT
is not Tor toe executors Of Skinner 10 do Il. or
Tor the bersds of Biasu aud Gannet, issuing
from the guilty abodes Of these once eminent
converts, in the wllds Of Canada. Neither is
il becoming in the inferior disciples OF these
high priests Of moral and political lurpiude io
issue their malignant invectives against the
tumble instruments of their own craft in the
sl.Ae Of New York. But corruption Of char
acter, though from motives OF policy it some