Alexandria Daily Advertiser

From the New-Haven Visitor.

We are told by our democrats of sagacious phiz a mighty deal of stuff about national philanthropy, national kindnesses, &c. &c. and of the generous friendship of Frenchmen and enmity of Britons towards our country. Whether these discerning creatures who so easily embrace the universe in the scope of their conceptions, believe a syllable of the jargon they utter, is foreign to the purpose of these remarks. Certain it is, were it not for the mischiefs their silly notions have already done, and may yet do, to our national character, they would be infinitely below the range of contempt. To talk about the friendship; the fraternal sympathies of nations, is most pitiable indeed! and as for all the acts or professions of this sort, such, for example, with which Frenchmen have beslavered us during their revolutionary phrenzy, why they are worth just as much as so many acres of cloud. Never was there a nation, and I undertake to say, never will there be a nation, which, in its policy towards another has been, or will hereafter be, governed by any other friendship but interest. France, while we were struggling for our rights, found it was her interest to join us in humbling her old enemy; accordingly, we had her friendship in our revolution. At the close of it, she thought her interest advised that all the western countries the fisheries, and the acknowledgement of our independence by England, ought to be withheld from us lest we should not be sufficiently dependent on herself; of course, her friendship put in motion every engine of intrigue to prevent each and all of these events; it is owing to nothing else but the firmness, and indefatigable vigilance of Adams and Jay, (negotiators of the treaty) that we now possess them.

Again, at the commencement of her late democratic career, France thought her interest would be profited by drilling us into the service of her quarrels; and consequently, no music but the notes of "sweet sensibility"* was lisped by her miscreants throughout the continent; till at length, finding their meretricious embraces were not sought for with the eagerness she expected, her ladyship took it in high dudgeon, and instantly, both her Interest and her Friendship turned freebooters upon our commerce, to the very solemn dirge of twenty millions of dollars!

As for the English, their gracious acts are neither better nor worse than those of other nations. They, indeed, have not the art of prating nonsense quite so ready at their finger ends, and of course are not so dangerous to fools, as their neighbors the French; but self interest self aggrandisement is precisely the same governing principle with both, as it is with every community under heaven.

There is nothing so pitiful as this miserable cant, and yet, it would seem we were doomed once more to become its dupes. The renegade Irishman, who conducts the Aurora, with a horde of subalterns at his heels, are endeavoring again to wake the ghost of French friendship; and ten to one but their endeavors prove fatally successful. No man however, who possesses discernment, and who cares a cent about the honor of his country, but will hold these attempts at disgracing it, and their authors, as the most abominable pests of society. The editor of the National Aegis, a democrat, but an American, has, indignantly entered his protest against them; and the whole kennel, as was to be expected, are in full cry to destroy him.

The reader will find under our head of intelligence, that new orders have lately been issued by the British council of state, whereby the commerce of neutrals is to be treated with more respect than heretofore. This decree, no doubt, has reference, particularly to this country: as the advantages we shall derive from it are far greater than any other neutral power. But, whoever would thence infer that we are peculiarly the favorites of England, or thinks this a proof of anything like friendship, other than that sort which treats us well because our present amity is essential to its welfare—he who thus pretends may possibly not deserve execration for his treachery, but will assuredly be pitied for his ignorance.

To conclude, I again assert, that of all absurd and wretched things, there is scarce one more wretched, or which, for its consequences, ought to be more severely reprobated by every man, than this same doctrine about national friendship.

* See Citizen Adet's love epistle to congress on presenting the tricolored flag of his nation to that body.