Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

FROM THE BALANCE.

THERE are two opposite sets of political writers in this country, which may be called the Antipodes to its real dignity and interest, as well as to each other; I mean the zealous and devoted partisans both of France and Great-Britain. If you should peruse some newspapers, which it is needless for me to name, and should observe their general spirit and tenor for years past, you would find them from the beginning to the end of the chapter, singing "Ca ira" to the honor of France. And, if you look into some of the opposite papers, you perceive the same strain of eulogy upon Britain: in the mean time both sides seem to agree in prostrating the dignity of the United States at the feet of those foreign nations, whose causes they have respectively espoused. Such a line of conduct is not strange in foreigners: this is not their country, and if the whole of the United States were to be sunk by an earthquake, they would regret it just as much, as if the same thing should happen to Japan.

Europe has been like a furnace seven times heated; and emigrants from thence come over with passions, prejudices and partialities inflamed in the highest degree, some for France and others for Britain.--Of consequence such emigrants as become knights of the quill, or editors of newspapers, must be expected to write under influence of those violent impressions which they receive in their own country. With them, one or the other of the great nations is the standard of political excellence, while united America is viewed through their optics as an insignificant satellite, made to revolve round the European luminary.

All this is natural; and such imported empirics, are perhaps less culpable than our own citizens who purchase and swallow their nostrums. But when native Americans, and men of talents too, are seen devoted to a foreign nation (no matter which:) and in the mean time catch at every occasion to pour contempt upon the country which gave them birth, we indignantly blush at their conduct.

Let the hand be withered, that would plume either the British crown or the French cap with a feather plucked from the American Eagle. In the name of reason, what benefit could accrue to mankind from the further aggrandizement or Britain or France? The safety of minor nations consists in the rivalry and equipoise of those gigantic empires: whereas, if one of them should subdue the other, the conquering nation would give law to the world. It would bestride the earth like a vast Colossus, and other nations would stand like pygmies between its feet.

Shall Americans, then, throw up their caps and exult, whenever one or the other of those proud aspiring nations gains a victory ?----When the corpses of thousands of poor wretches, who are reluctantly dragged into the service, are strown over the fields of battle or immerged in the sea, shall we shout because a foreign general or admiral has gained honour by the action ? Are we so stupid as to think that a trophy gained by a Buonaparte or a Nelson is a feather in our cap ?---Away with such foolish and servile attachments.

Let Britain live, that it may check the ambition of France; let France also live, that it may check the ambition of Britain: and let us be Americans, and respect our own constitution, and seek the welfare of our own nation, and mind our own business.- "To your tents, O Israel."

JONATHAN.