Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-26


mate end. II canuot he t,rg 'hat inc
peonIe Glad in sos,nauy ages have ga'o-
cd few privileges al ne hanu oI po" 81,
will be content with the aWes 'meh' ., .ue
abuse of the authority OF which they are me
fountain Certainly, too. IL 10 ne'lher wiz
nor dangerous to hope tor then strong anu
durable interposition IN government all
whose genuine objects concern tnem aioue
am aware that this is the brighter siae OF
the prospect, and that, alarmed ~ the ex-
cesses of re yolution on the Que hand, and ny
the accession which, for wh'ie. they seem
ed to give to the power Of sovereigns on The
other the friends of freedom have feared
very opposite results. Under sucha feeling
were sketched, | remember, some remarks
on this toric, contained in former address
to this society. 1t has been our tate IN this
century to behold the unfortunate event OF
great struggle by great people Tor free
form of government. As it has been the
fortune of mankind TO achieve the triumph
of scarcely any great principle without large
pains and bloodshed, go, after every great
struggle, as If alarmed at the penalties which
attend the obtainn;ent Of good, they are seen
10 be most sensible TO the peculiar evils OF
the epoch. novation-the peril OF de-
stroying what we would retorm--have been
the bugbears of the last quarter OF a cen
fury; and since the unhappy results OF Inc
French revolution, not only ITS rashness ana
errors are Justly blamed, hut the Just and
true principles out Of (which it arose, are held
perhaps in too little respect. or, at least, too
little in remembrance. Whatever timidIty
may be affected on this point BY such as are
interested to uphold existing abuses nothing
is more certain than that innovation will
recur as long as any thing remains to a.
mend. We have only to hope that that ne
cessary law by which nations gravitate tore
form will render their motions more steady as
well as rapid, as they approach the common
centre of their wishes.
There is no virtuous friend OF liberty who
does not lament the mischiefs OF change. or
who would wish to see political reformation
in Europe outstrip the intelligence OF her
people. Unhappy as is that condition OF
affairs which puts the oppression Of the ma
ny into the hands OF the few, yet more un.
happy is that where the multitude are en-
trusted with the government OF themselves,
without the capacity or the temper to con-
duct it. Il were fortunate in many cases if
the sanctuaries of old institutions, however
perverted and defled, could remain unvio-
lated, until proper shrine for reform were
prepared in the breast OF the people. Yet
as il is rash policy which pulls down the
political edhce before materials are prepar-
ed for more regular structure, while their
vain builders suffer all the storm OF the po-
ltical elements; SO il is the melancholy con-
sequence of long ami grea! abuses in GO
vernment, that their victims become unfit
for the very enterprises on which the despe-
rateness Of their circumstances urges them.
The i'll concerted and sangninary efforts of
the colonies OF South America. furnish ex-
amples to this point as strong as they are de-
plorable.
Some latitude. however, is to be allowed
to an inquisitive age, which in The eageness
OF discovery adventures too far into the ter
rtory OF established principles; and refor-
mers are excusable for that rashness which
is in So many cases hardly distinguishable
from just enterprise. Some allow aDce OF
this kind is required tor every great revo-
luton know Of either Of politics or reli-
gion, 4. for none so much as that OF France.
While we feas onably complain OF its mis-
chiefs let Us remember some OF the bene-
fits which have been purchased at such cost.
In the midst of its worst excuses, there
was ELECTED more genius than crime. From
the commons, depressed so long by the pr-
ydsges and the pride of the nobility that
these regarded them less as the members
than as The Helo,s OF the state, talent sprang
I'D with frequency and boldness which
must crafty every true lover of bis nature.
Peasants were wrought into generals and
statesmen, and ascendec thrones. The high
est stations were reached SO often by those
whom with teudal prejudice we denomin-
ate base born, that believe no man re-
fleets on this singular revolution. without
less Of that secret lingering Difference which
we feel for hereditary claims. 1t taught a
truth most important to free states-.be i'm
possibility of subduing nation which is
animated by one common sentiment; and
the people learned a lesson never to be for
gotten, &. to be applied, trust, with better
success when applied ain,--their worth,
their rights and their ability TO viDdicate
them. Above all, from amidst the lust of
innovation, g. the absurdities of sceptical
philosophy, there survives a bold and in
quisiive spirit, which having once ventur.
ed to think freely, will be taught, we hope,
by its errors to think justly, and whose in
Auence is abundantly apparent, after all the
enomi;ies which might have bro't it in into
discredit
In Germany this influence is most visible,
and it is impossible 10 contemplate her with
out great interest, as probable great agent
in changing the temper OF government in
Europe. Already the source OF one refor-
nation, she is likel y to play first part in
another. Though her discoveries gave the
great impulse to modern literature, il is but
of late that her own ha, been her concern,
or has diffused its influence on the mass Of
her population. This people, whom French
writer calls the old men Of Europe, apply