Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-03
AMRiTION.

Our friend of the Charleston Courier, to
whom we often allude, and whose name
we at last discovered, occasionally takes a
seear. muonts the crazy steps which lead
s TO his gdrTet. and muses. on the various
matters which .astonish and interest the
mortals, which, on snch occasions, he says,
are below him. Not long since, he sat
>.dowo to plentiful dinner, bat neither the
choice dishes nor the delicious wines which
we're before him, could induce him to
forego his ,eperie. He drank the health
of the company, took bis segafs, mounted
the steps. and, after halt dozen pufs,
he hit upon the subject of .am6afioS, He
-, too amiabIe to attribute TO this source,
many of the dire evils which have afflict.
cd and still affiict mankind. He places
the propensity in a new light, and remarks,
that. "AMH,TioN is the noblest and most
powerful stimulus to action, Compared
with this. either in the sublimity OF IFS
objects. or the grandeur and extent of the
means II employs to attain them, every o.
ither passion dwiDdles into insignihCance.
To him who considers human actions aud
their causes, the necessity OF ambition to
produce any thing great or excellent, viii
be Immediately obvious This passion IS
peculiarly characteristic OF noble mind.
Bv intoxicating the precept nal HtortGlt-
BUS urduum esSe," it teaches its .vOtary 10
disdain isleriori;y and to aspire 10 supe-
rior eminence. II dis2els the empty tears
of cowardice, and gives even valor 10 the
brave. To ambition we are indebted Tor
the exercise of those faculties that eXalt
the human above every other species, aud
assjmilate man TO his God. Its effects are
every where visible, and universally be.
ne6cial. This produces the learned spe-
4culaions of philosophy. and the powerful
charms of eioqHeBce the heroic courage
sof The warrior. and the brilliant metaphors
Of the poet. To what other motive than
this do we owe the productions OF genius,
and, consequently, the diffusion OF know
ledge. This has reared the stately fabric
OF science; il has given il base as dura-
ble as time, and an apex as high as the
heavens This animates genus, that with
out il were inert, and gives energy to the
mental faculties, without which they were
useless From IFS power over the mind
are derived inestlmable advantages. A
palize every good quality of the heart,
and YOU will fad its source to be ambition.
As ambition is tbs most powerful Of the
r,assions. so 1t has the longest duration. -
Love. il not soon destroyed by caprice,
perishes at the approach of old age. and
ais extinction is more speedy as its com
,neocement is more violent. Hatred, all
though more durable than love, is general
II of short duration, necessarily yielding 10
The ravages of time. Revenge is only ex-
ACTED occasionally, and as soon satiated
!. with IFS object. But ambition is cueval
with life itself. No misfortune can impair
ats energy, or lessen.its exertions.
The other passions are weakened by the
absence of their objects but ambition is
more vehement as It's object is more dis
tant, more earnest in pursuit as its object
Is more difficult to be attained.
Without this invigorating principle, the
verse OF the poet would be lifeless, and
the arm OF the warrior inactive The no.
bier feelings of the heart would be en-
tireiy unknown and, as man would be
incapable OF admiring, SO there would be
nothing worthy OF admiration every thing
in science would be imperfect every
thing in art contemptible.'
saA Fed. Republicans.
THE EQUINOX
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