Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

From the United States Gazette.

NATIONAL RESPECT—
Connected with the correct opinion of
Magistrates and Rulers.

The celebrated prediction of our
Illumined President, that there would
not be a single monarchy in all Europe,
in twenty years, is now completely reversed.
Ragusa, the last republick exists no longer.
The French Marshal Le Brun, took possession
of it the last year, on his way to the mouths
of the Cataro, and assured the inhabitants in
the name of the emperor, that their
institutions should not be violated, but
sacredly preserved. This promise is
forgot, and the whole country, by an
imperial decree attached, forever, to
the kingdom of Italy. Notice of this
astonishing foresight of the president,
was first published, the last summer
in the Boston Gazette, as contained in
a letter from one of his European companions—who
very sensibly observes that the philosopher
confounded causes with effects—he mistook
the ebulitions of the passions, and the irregular movements
of the rabble, suddenly let loose from the shackles
of despotism, for liberty. He ought to have known
that institutions made for one community,
would be totally inadequate for another,
in proportion as each may have advanced
from a savage, to a refined and polished
state of life : as well might you expect
that a savage could seize at once the sublime
moral beauties of Christianity as to expect,
that the subjects of an ancient and corrupt
monarchy could of a sudden relish and embrace
the simple and pure doctrines of republicanism.

I have thought it necessary to bring
into view, this strong case, to show
how delusory is the hope, for us to
expect any favour from France, when
we see her government act with hostility
and hatred against every people, who have
even the semblance of freedom, as to crush
every appearance of it, in open violation
of solemn assurances. On what does our freedom
therefore depend, England once subdued,
or indifferent to our preservation? On the
distance, some will say, and our means of
defence The distance is nothing, and our
means but little to defend our rich cities
and fine country—we will then retire, say,
some, amongst the savages, and enjoy freedom!
It is much better to take measures to defend
what we now enjoy. What are the means
of defence ? not ink, and paper, in newspapers,
and proclamations ; but forts, ships, armies,
seamen, powder and balls, guns and swords.
Our militia men are as good as any such
ever were, I presume; but in general they
do not like a military life—and on a sudden
occasion are ignorant of military duty—we
ought, therefore, to have several thousand
of well disciplined soldiers as a nucleus
for immediately forming a disciplined
regular army, in case of war. We ought
also to have at least, ten ships of the line !
Do not be frightened ! Consider cooly—I
will tell you why !—because, that is a force
which would always deter any European
nation from insulting us on any trifling
occasion, in our ports, or on our coast,
and there is no object for a foreign power
to be at the expence of keeping up a force
as great as this, in time of peace ; and in
time of war, if we are not able to fight them,
we must retire to our safe harbours, and
unitedly with our gun-boats, defy the enemy
that may venture to attack us. The fleet
I propose would be sufficient to deter any
nation from insulting us—as it would require
double the number to be sent after us, for
fear of an accident, and having on our coast
no port, they must retire frequently, to repair
a little. Our situation is different from Copenhagen,
as that city stands on an Island, and of course
all supplies may be cut off by an invading power
of superior force. Nations often insult, when
there is no force, but are cautious when they
see some danger of injury to themselves, in doing it.

The fact is that nations know no law but that
of Power. The question always is what are
the means of injury and defence ? and not who
has the right or wrong of the question ? This
is the system universally established throughout
the world, and if we wish to be free and respected
we must have recourse to it ; and if not, we shall
occasionally be insulted, always despised, and frequently
trampled under foot. Lay aside, therefore, your
wavering characters, who never ask what is best
to be done—but what will please the popular
prejudices of the people for from such ignominy
will be your reward !

FRANC VERITAS.