Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-26
From the conneeticut Gourant.
couNTERFEITERs OF PATRIOTISM

From the Connecticut Courant.
coUNTERFEITERs OF PATRIOTISM.
PoLYBtus the historian of the Roman
Commonwealth, has the following remark
9 Those abuses and corrnptions, which 10
time destroy government, are sown
along with the seeds Of it, aud both grow
up together; and as rust eats away iron,
aud worms destroy wood, and both are a
sort Of plague born aud bred along with
the substance they destroy, SO with eve
ry form and scheme of government that
man can invent, some vice or corruption
ereeps 10 with the very Institution, which
sgrows up along with and at last destroys
it,
The truth Of this remark, mauifestly
appears throughout the whole history oil
popular governments, from the age of an
cient Greece up to the present day. In
the very institution of each, there was
sown the seeds Of corruption, which grew
with its growth, and at last ripened to a
harvest of wretchedness and misery
Nor can better ba expected till there be
a transformation Of man, from cunning
and selfish TO honest aud disinterested
or, ill the people, ii, their elective capa-
city become eoougi wise TO separate
the precious from the vile"
The worm at the root OF popular gov
ernments--the corroding worm against
which no effective remedy has ever yet
been ebund--lies 10 the broad circle Of
deceiriag and being deceiued process
that goes on as by magic, aud as steady
as time.
In ali free countries there are those
whofollow patriotism as trade or calling.
They follow patriotism for living, for
wealth, and for honour. And laying
moral principle out Of the question, these
men are to be commended as wise 10 their
generation; for 90 commodity can be mau-
ufactured SO cheap, nor is there any one
thing that sells better at the market. The
counterfei!er Of money lives in perpetual
danger OF detection; and 90 sooner is his
fraud discovered, than every body's hand
is against him. But the counterfeiter OIL
patriotism is sure TO have the bulk Of the
community Of his side, however plain the
fraud should appear to the discerning few.
AS whatever is generally considered o.
great excellence has its couuterfeits, SC
all free countries have aboanded with
spurious patriots, who while they pretend
ed passionate regard for the country
were only seeking their own honor and
emolument. And upon this ground the
celebrated JuniIs, in a letter TO friend
warns him "to be on his guard NTH pat
riots" Assuredly not meaning that hon
est patriotism had no existence, or that j
was not thing of real existence bu
broadly limited that patriots by profession
were cheats for the most part: wherein
Junius seems 10 have had an eye upon hi
correspondent, the notorious John Wilkes
whose patriotism glowed and boiled, anc
kept the nation 10 heat, till honest JohI
had made his fortune--instantly aftel
which, his fire turned TO frost.
In all ages, and in all free countries
high degree Of general regard and ven
Grafton has been attached to patriotism
But the people too often mistook the tin
sci for the gold.
The counterfeit patriots who hatteret
but to betray, stole their hearts and hat
their applause; while their hatreds AM
their execralions we're bestowed upol
their real friends, who had the honesty
and the firmness to tell them unwhole
some truths, and to discharge their dutie
faithfully without regard 10 popular ia
your or disfavour. Many a patriot o
exalted worth, has been detested and vii
flied, and in some Instances, torn in piece
by their enraged conntrymeD, who at tn
same time clung with afiectionate iondnes
to the knavish pretenders that we're Sc
cretly forging their chains, under shos
Of unbounded devotion to their interests.
Wherefore, good people, one and all
be on .yoar gard NTH patriots will
such, particularly, as are notorious 10
destitution Of moral principle; With sue
as, while pretending passionate love
country, are known TO be, in their privat
character, the most selfish mortals; wit
such as follow patriotism as au occupation
and by this craft haze their soealth. A
ways, and every where, men Of this de
scription have been the sappfrs Of ire
government.