Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

AN OBSERVATION, PROVED,

From the most certain way of becoming popular at the present day is by dishonesty, and how ever odd this observation may appear, 'tis most certainly a true one—(Proof)—Few men are more popular than those artful and designing ones, who are continually declaiming against the payment of the public debts,—and as 'tis hard to conceive of a more atrocious species of dishonesty than this—so I think this proves the observation.

Perhaps it might be difficult to give a satisfactory reason why such men are popular, since none of us are willing to believe that dishonesty is more esteemed than honesty.—Nor do I suppose this to be the case—but the reason to me appears to be—that as these men make an external hypocritical appearance of honesty and justice, few examine into their designs, and fewer into the consequence of having them carried into execution. However, tis easy for any man of common penetration, who will give himself the trouble of one moment's reflection, to see thro' their designs; for they are generally men void of integrity, and of too slender abilities to conceal their intentions from a penetrating observer.

Most of the men who declaim loudly against the payment of public securities, are persons deeply in debt, who by making public securities a handle (to stir up the populace) are endeavouring to make void all contracts whether of a public or private nature.

This is a fact which cannot be denied, and tho' some (few indeed) honest men may be deceived into their measures; yet tis because they do not see the consequences, nor consider that if these men succeed in their designs, no one can any longer have any estate which he can positively call his own.

These intriguers very well know that by preaching up that taxes are too heavy, or that the people ought not to be taxed at all, &c. that they shall soon be joined by poor ignorant men, who never look farther than their own private interest, and by preaching up that public securities ought not to be paid, that they shall be joined by all dishonest debtors who very well know if public securities are ruined, private contracts will be of no value.

Thus they become popular, and finding themselves joined by ignorant and dishonest men, are ready to think themselves of some importance, and indeed they cannot expect to be of importance amongst any others.

They however endeavour to conceal their designs by an appearance of honesty, and pretend to be great friends to their country, but let us not be deceived—For set this down as an undeniable truth, that those men who declaim loudly against the payment of the public securities, be their pretensions what they may, have not one spark of honesty or honor remaining in them, and only make the public securities a horse on which they may ride into popularity.

ZENO.