Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

The qualifications of a good ruler are ability and patriotism. Genius and acquirements, with an honest and good heart, fit a person for the public functions. To such they may be safely committed, and it is to such alone that freemen are solemnly bound to commit the public offices. But the difficulty is to determine who they are to whom these qualifications belong. Men of very moderate abilities, and smatterers in acquired knowledge, may appear both great & learned, in the view of the many who are uninformed. The vicious and immoral, to gain confidence, to secure emolument, and obtain distinction, may put on the appearance of virtue and sincere attachment to the public welfare, and it may be difficult, in every instance, to distinguish the real from the pretended patriot. But the difficulty by no means justifies the indifferency on this subject, so generally prevalent. There are certain criteria by which electors may distinguish the proper candidate for office. A justly admired writer observes, "that a bad husband, a bad father, a profligate and unprincipled man, cannot deserve the name of a patriot. A man of no private virtue must want principle; & a man who wants principle cannot be actuated by pure motives; he cannot entertain so liberal and exalted an affection, as a rational and disinterested love of his country." It ought to be further observed, that the best men for office are the modest.

They are willing to serve their country, if called to it by the unsolicited voice of their fellow citizens; but can never be persuaded to degrade themselves by becoming mere hunters of preferment. Those who can do this, who discover great solicitude and zeal to secure their own election, ought for that very reason to be suspected. The best rulers which the freedom of election has ever produced, were certainly those who have entered on office with real diffidence and distrust of their own abilities.

JUSTUS.

(N. Y. Com. Adv.)