The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-07-24

h3t u 70 create Fictitious excitement arnonr
te people 70 array, ia hostile attitude. citizen
arlinst citizen, TO excite spirit Of rancour. and
q poison the best channels Of harmony and 60
cal intercourse in society.
The origin OF these assemblages i easily ira
ced 70 the aspirings Of faction. and the motives
Inch produce them, though tricked out in tho
dress Of patriotism are not ~ he mistaken
They arc the creatures ofambiticds dernarooues
of mushroom patriots, Of insolvent debtors. and
coffee house politicians. We do not find the So
her citizen, the quiet and domestic woman. the
honest and industrious mechanic. the high mind
"a politician, the dignifed statesman and real
patriot commlnghng with these meetings. They
have Objects far more noble views far more
pure, than are prevalent upon such occasions.
Political harIangues Of stump orators. enven-
omcd paIlippcks from the tongue Of coarse rltl-
gGrity, or unbhtshing impudence personal de-
frdctioA JesttiticaI & iauendoes, against good
reputarYn and fair morals, have not the counte-
nance and support Of men, whose minds are en-
lightened by the beams Of philosophy, or enrich
ed BY the lights, which the arts and sciences
shed around them. Public opinion requires none
Of the aids which il receives from such proceed
ngs, to give if healthy tone and right direc-
ton.
IN tire county Of York, and on day dear 10
frcemen, 1.-THE 4tb of july and which ought to
be consecrated to liberty, Cabal was holden
for the laudable purpose Of forestalling public O.
pinIon, and debating to the independent yeO-
many Of that county, for whom they are to give
their suhrages at the annual State election in
September next Accounts of this meeting have
been given in the public papers, BY the parties
itigant and which do not rebound much to the
L., -.of4t s-.s, ~
establish the verify Of the preceding remarks in
their fullest extent. The synopsis of speech
delivered upon that occasion, BY gentleman
high IN office IN the councils Of the nation, IS a.
bundant IN inyective corporate and individual,
and Is bit new proof, if proof were wanting
OF the baletul effects of democratic rule, and the
enycnomed poison, which the diffusion of demo-
cratic principles is calculated to infuse into the
pubic mind. Meetings, for like purposes, have
been holden in other counties.
AT a period so fagitious as the present. and
upon an occasion like this, it is to be hoped that
every high minded and virtuous man, every dis
ciple of Washington in the State, will stand a.
loot from a contest so loathsome from a scene
where foul obscenity and vile detraction are the
principal persOnaCes. THE CONTEST IS NOT ONE
or PRINCIPLE il Is not to secure political rights
but mere scramble for place and power among
native democrats and Gp0state federalists. tits
20 exhibition Of keen appetite and foul weapons.
The combatants are worthy Of the cause, but
the spectacle IS appalling. 1t is wounding to
the PRIDE OF honest patriotism, when it reflects
that the State, which has but Just been called in
TO life, and the ink hardly dry, which has enroll
ed her name among the States Of the Union,
should have the first pages Of her history stain
ed with the sooty deeds of Jacobinic misrue Is
Maine to take the lead in party feuds, and rival
the great State of New York in her political fac
tions, If 50, well may the honest among the
friends OF separation regret that the severance
has taken place; and the opposers of that meas
IRE exult that they did not participate in bring
inC about an event productive Of 50 much obo-
guy and disgrace. In every event, we repeat,
il should be the bounden duty of Federalists not
to intermingle in these cabals nor to counte-
nance in thought, word or deed, the machina-
tons Of those rival factions
G0RGFS.