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Letter to Editor
December 14, 1796
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
The letter defends strongly praising President Washington's virtues and services against critics who hypocritically idolize French revolutionary 'liberty' while ignoring American prosperity, referencing the Genet affair and biblical imagery of straining at gnats while swallowing camels.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
COMMUNICATIONS.
Some persons pronounce it base and servile to speak as strongly of the virtues and services of the President as even his revilers think is true—for few of those who speak against him believe their own calumnies.
Yet these men who strain at a gnat, actually swallowed a camel in the case of Genet. Dinners, songs and addresses—feasting on roasted and raw oxen—flags, cannon, and all the fooleries of liberty-caps on slim poles and thick heads, could scarcely satisfy French idol-worshippers.
In like manner, the praise of our free constitution, and its prosperous administration, offend those patriots, (what a name for such men!) who quarrel with you if you compare any thing with French liberty, or suppose any place out of Paradise so happy as France. These men would be cursed if they should enjoy for only six months the glorious privileges they so much prefer to their own. They want a little of the self-respect spoken of by the President.
Some persons pronounce it base and servile to speak as strongly of the virtues and services of the President as even his revilers think is true—for few of those who speak against him believe their own calumnies.
Yet these men who strain at a gnat, actually swallowed a camel in the case of Genet. Dinners, songs and addresses—feasting on roasted and raw oxen—flags, cannon, and all the fooleries of liberty-caps on slim poles and thick heads, could scarcely satisfy French idol-worshippers.
In like manner, the praise of our free constitution, and its prosperous administration, offend those patriots, (what a name for such men!) who quarrel with you if you compare any thing with French liberty, or suppose any place out of Paradise so happy as France. These men would be cursed if they should enjoy for only six months the glorious privileges they so much prefer to their own. They want a little of the self-respect spoken of by the President.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Provocative
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Morality
What keywords are associated?
President Defense
French Liberty
Genet Affair
American Constitution
Political Critics
Hypocrisy
Letter to Editor Details
Main Argument
it is not base to praise the president's virtues strongly, as his critics do not believe their own calumnies; these pro-french 'patriots' hypocritically idolize french liberty over america's prosperous constitution and would not endure france's realities.
Notable Details
Strain At A Gnat, Swallowed A Camel
Case Of Genet
Feasting On Roasted And Raw Oxen
Liberty Caps On Slim Poles And Thick Heads
French Idol Worshippers
Self Respect Spoken Of By The President