Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Picture of a Demagogue.

The following is an extract from a Prospectus for a paper, to be published in Zanesville, Ohio, not inapplicable to this quarter.

"From whence come divisions and animosities among the American people?—Come they not hence, even from a lust of power and the wanton misrepresentations of the minions of demagogues? It is a lamentable fact, that we may trace the greater part of the divisions among the citizens of our country to the intrigues of avaricious office-hunters. No honest man should countenance an office-hunter—Nor should any office of profit or trust, if he is so licentious to obtain it, or especially if he electioneers for himself. There are great office-hunters, and little office-hunters. He, who aspires to a highly responsible, or very lucrative office, will say to the servile and spiritless creatures about him, "if you will assist me to obtain this birth, I will remember you when I get into power: you shall have this, or that, or the other title or office—you shall be secretary of State, or prosecuting attorney, or clerk of the court," (as the case may be.) A bargain is knocked, and means are immediately adopted to gull and deceive the honest Farmers and Mechanics of the country into a belief of their disinterested patriotism and meritorious talents.

Fellow Citizens! beware of such hungry ravenous wolves, who prey upon the peace of society; who fatten upon the labours of the virtuous, and industrious parts of the community; who foment divisions and factions among the people, to facilitate their schemes of aggrandizement. It is no difficult matter to point them out. You may easily know them on the eve of an election—see how amazingly polite, low complaisant, how smiling their countenance, how sweet and mellifluous their voice, how familiar with their inferiors, how ready to shake the dirtiest hand, to greet as an honorable friend the vilest vagabond of the town, to guzzle the vote-buying grog with the lowest menial! They are the greatest republicans on the day of election, and the greatest tyrants when they receive a commission. When "cloath'd in a little brief authority," they wave their petty sceptres with the despotism of a Nero.

Such men delight in feeding with the fuel of falsehood the devouring flames of partizanship. It is their interest that the people should be divided. They love to float on the scum which arises from the ebulitions of political acrimony, and their aliment is the fruit of detraction. Discountenance such characters as these, and the people will be UNITED—the government will be in safe hands."