Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

FOR THE GAZETTE.

The Tyranny of Party Spirit.

The Republicans, as they are stiled, are of two kinds -Those who rule and those who are ruled-The Rulers are men who all lengths-whom no arguments will convince; no accommodations gratify or appease-they are artful, intriguing, ambitious, overbearing, obstinate, and in too many instances, unprincipled Those who are ruled are people of a very different character-With the exception of the poor and ignorant, who have no means of information, the Republicans who are led by their rulers, are farmers of good property, and people of good moral character; men who mean well: who are honest in their dealings, faithful to their engagements, and who, if they were possessed of facts and were permitted to think for themselves, would nine times out of ten decide correctly 'Tis a lamentable thing that men of such a character should be in a sense lost to the community, by adding their influence to the support of such men and such measures, as they could not approve, in the hour of calm reflection The Tyranny of Party spirit occasions all this! a man's own party feelings tyrannize over him, when they will not suffer him to look at both sides of a question, or read the Gazettes on both sides: or to believe what he reads in a Gazette which is published by one of his political opponents In nothing but politics, do people dupe themselves in this way. This shews the tyranny of the party spirit which they feel Again, a man is tyrannised over by the party feelings of others, when, he is not permitted to read or think for himself: when he is forced to believe and to circulate any story true or false, which the leaders of the Party he belongs to, have dictated : or to disbelieve and deny any assertion or proof made by those opposed to him What is this but downright tyranny, which in any other affairs, but politics, would be considered downright impertinence as well as folly This tyranny of Party spirit is again manifested most strikingly in the case of those who from pure conviction have left their party I do not now speak of those who have given up their honesty and their principles, for the sake of a paltry office, and have joined the republican standard, for the loaves and fishes. I dont mean these; such tyranny, and the tyranny of satire too is good enough for them. But I mean those, who have believed and followed their republican leaders, until their judgments and consciences have forbid their following any longer : yet even in such case they are too often afraid to acknowledge their error and openly embrace the truth, on account of the tyranny of party spirit This evil should be corrected : why should we not be willing to use our own judgment here as well as in other cases, when by so doing. we avow honorable sentiments, and pay homage to truth and virtue.

Let us lay aside this sin of the day ; let us walk by the light : and when any man is convinced that he has been deceived by others or by himself; or is satisfied that his political friends are in the wrong, whether their motives be pure or impure, 'tis his duty as an honest man frankly to avow his sentiments and act accordingly. Such conduct will never be condemned except by those whose good opinion is a reproach.

AN HONEST MAN.