Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

POET'S CORNER.

PATRIOTISM:

Or to the Liberty of the PRESS.

All public officers are public game,
Heirs to our praise as objects of our blame:
Pseudo patriots may perish in huge,
But constituents must compare and judge,
Turn them from office and the same impeach.
Or those that want just principles to teach.
That man who sees the public office'd knave
Betray the people and their faith deceive,
Without displaying to the public eye,
Their dark deceptions and manoeuvres sly,
Is not the friend that true republics need;
But is a villain to the state indeed.
First from the people power is all received.
Therefore the people should not be deceived
The man who wrongs them to his country's foe;
To God the first, our country next we owe,
And third our families, are nature's dues.
Debts which no human being should refuse:
God claims the soul, our country life and estate,
And social families our faithful heart:
Those are the debts which life incurs on man,
And to desert them changes nature's plan.
Believe me friend, tis nonsense to debate,
Or whether voice or virtue guides the state,
Without you lend a friendly hand in need,
To crush corruption and each noxious weed:
Let each contribute every proper due;
And have the general public good in view,
Then wheels of government will move along
With due gradations and coercion strong;
Not clogge'd, embarrass'd, nor their progress stay'd.
Nor public justice half an hour delay'd;
No plaintiff's cringe to speak with folks of state,
Nor worthier men on meaner tyrants wait.