Gazette Of The United States

THE TABLET. NO. XI.

"There is scarce any thing more common, than animosities among parties, that cannot subsist, but by their agreement."

SOME persons, who read my last number, complain beyond the life. If it is meant as a portrait; it is too bold; and the picture, in some respects, is raised too hard. Part of the image is said to be too plain that a few of the strokes were drawn where shall we look for an exact original? If it is a fancy piece; why is the figure allowed to exhibit, what facts will contradict?

It must be confessed, and it is a happy circumstance, that in the present age, the evils of faction have not run their full length. They have been controlled by several causes; but they are capable, when unchecked of reaching all the extremes I have described. The present state of society, in America, and some parts of Europe, is unfavorable to the success of head-strong, turbulent incendiaries. A few individuals, how much soever disposed, cannot easily blow up a flame, that will spread over any large district of country. Most people are so intent upon their occupations, and so desirous of pursuing private objects in life, that they are averse to disorder and contention. The mild influences of commerce have diffused a spirit of moderation and order. As the love of gain is now a very predominant passion, and as that is best gratified in pacific times, it operates as a strong guard against restless, clamorous men, who are ambitious of kindling factions. This love of money is not confined to the mercantile profession alone. All denominations of men are more or less under its influence. Those, who are aiming at the acquisition of property by the regular steps of honest industry, will only be feeble instruments in party rage and animosity. There are not wanting characters, at the present day, to throw society into confusion and quarrels; but they do not easily find materials. The great bulk of mankind are otherwise employed.

Among the individuals, I have observed, who had a contentious spirit, no one has combined all the qualifications, or accomplished so extensively his designs, as leaders of parties used to do, in a more imperfect and outrageous state of society. People in general, though they may be individually unconnected, are yet so relatively situated with respect to each other, that an injury done to any particular class of the community, impedes the prosperity of the rest. The dissensions between the landed, mercantile and manufacturing interests can never proceed to any detrimental lengths; because each party will itself feel the evil it is levelling against the other, before it can be pushed to any injurious extreme. The whole system is so complicated that it must stand or fall together. Disputes, between the different orders of society, are as unnatural, as the sedition between the members of the human body, which the old Roman fable so aptly represents.

In proportion, as the relative interests of men are examined, will it be found that mutual harmony and prosperity should be promoted. Indeed they will in some measure promote and regulate themselves. Some jealousy and jarring are far from producing a bad effect. The spirit of competition is indispensable. In some cases it may bear too hard upon certain individuals, and even one branch of the community may get an undue advantage over others; but in a general way, the system will take care of itself.

The subject is not yet finished, though I intended this number should have closed it.