Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-10-08

OF an intelligent eye WiiHesS w " -.
prosperity and the happy effects OF It's po'in-
cal institutions.
1t is Justly observed, by this enlightened
and eloquent writer, that the English people
have been as in represented in America as al
home. Few British travellers who nave VI
s;,ed that continent have been qualihed ell
Their to do Justice to the country they pro'eS-
sed TO describe, OF credit TO that which sent
them forth. The best of them in their ell
forts to be liberal, have seldom been able 10
shake off entirely the "beggar elements oil
the old world. Hence the strange misre-
presentations which prevail among US, anu
unset,le mems opinions on subject ne'tnef
obscure nor difficult. In prospecting coun"
try. with ten millions of inhabitants, some
see nothing but forests, bears and rattle
snakes: in the intelligent and yirtuous hus-
bandmen OF the Republic, they see nothing
hut drunken Doors; in her free press, moth
ing but negro advertisements; in her Con.
gress, nothing but demagogues; and IN her
mild and eositable government, nothing Out
weakness and anarchy, Considering the
mischeyious effect OF bad institutions ~ VI
tia,ing mems moral perceptions, such ois-
tcr,ed views are not surprising. fIity years
ago, had any individual Affirmed, that such
a government; as that OF the United ots'es
could exist. lie would have been denounced
as an enthusiast. That ten millions OF men
could govern themselves by system OF uni
yerssl suffrage, and live in the most perte CT
order and security. enjoying liberty OF
speech, thought and action never eqnalied
without standing armies-wlihout hierar'
chy of priests-without shackied press
without sta;e Experimentation ld'e pa
geants-and (most strange OF ally almost
without taxes-in short, without force APP
piled to their persons, or frauds praotIsed on
their understandings, is conclusion most
devoutiy to he deprecated 10y those who hold
mankind in thraIdom. and only slowly be-
ieved by the liberal minded, even alter 1t
had received practical demonstration. Ge-
nerations yet unborn will bless and honor
the men who conhded in the virtue OF their
species, in defiance of power and ridicule,
and made the bold experiment, the issue OF
which has raised the destiny of the human
race The Hashingtoas, the Franklins. the
Jeffersons, who framed these noble instiiu-
tons, will be forever canonised in the hearts
of the enlightened and generous. as the
greatest benefactors of mankind, Their cou-
rage and wisdom have realised state ut So
ciety surprising all that ancient sages had
imagined in the dreams of their benevoence.
While their glorious work exists, were ii e.
ven in the remo'est corner Of the globe there
is hope Of emancipation for the most be.
nighted nations. But in its present state IS
see but the feeble beginnings Of that inf1u-
ence which, 10 the fulness of its strength.
i is destined TO exert over the fate Of the
world. Ii is deducible from undisputed data
that in the short space of one century, the
T. States will contain hundred millions OF
inhabitants Such population speaking one
enjoying the benefit OF institutions calcu,at
ed above all others to deveInpe the energies
OF man, will be = phenomenon of which
the pas, history of mankind can scarcely en-
able US TO form conception. The Ameri-
can government will then be al the head of
an amount Of moral and physical force which
has never been equalled, and must le ir-
resstib'e. IT tyranny shall then exist in
any corner OF Europe, it must be by the
suferance of America.
governU. Mt so constructed is the great
est achievmeht Of philosophy since philoso
ply had her birth. And i; is surprising that
an object possessings such unrivalled moral
grandeur has so seldom awakened cores
ponding sentiments in the minds Of those
who have contemplated or described it,
Something must be allowed for the effect Of
those modes of thinking which have grown
up amidst the usages of the old rd;wh;ch
teach us 20 confound grandeur with 2agean-
try, and simplicity with mesnness, Not
withstanding our prelensons to refinement il
is undeniable that in all public matters we
exhibit the grotesque and piebaId taste OF
An Indian The South Sea Islander, who
tatoos his face With ochre, and runs a hsh's
bone through his nos.. is not more ridicu
lous, in the eye of reason, than the Euro
pean Prince or courtier, who covers himself
~ III uiiHinn and trnmneru uaunaws 10 hinh