Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

How to be a true American and no Tory.

Let a man, the moment he gets into power, adopt a system of policy directly opposite to that pursued by Washington, but in unison with that embraced by the tyrant Bonaparte; let him destroy commerce, dry up the revenue and bestow the public money upon a British traitor; in addition to this, let him recommend war for the protection of British renegadoes, and he will be a true American and no Tory. If this is not sufficient, let him involve the country in an unjust and unnecessary war with the most powerful nation in the world without providing either defence or protection against the assaults of a force able at any moment to lay our seaports in ashes and desolate the whole coast, and he will be hailed by those who boast of patriotism as a true American and no Tory. If mere overt acts are wanting to sink the tory, raise a standing army of 50,000 men, officer it almost exclusively with grannies, swaggerers and ignoramuses, invade a neighboring territory without system or plan, and after reaping an abundant harvest of defeat, disaster and disgrace, be compelled to abandon a feeble province; after this refuse an armistice, when it is known the pretended cause for declaring war has been removed and thereby the door opened for the restoration of peace and prosperity, and he will be proclaimed as a true American and no Tory. If more of such Americanism is wanted, let him involve the country in an enormous public debt, by giving an extravagant interest for Loans; burden the people with oppressive taxes on lands, houses and stores together with a licence tax, stamp tax and many others of an obnoxious and vexatious nature; let the millions procured in this manner be expended in hunting for free trade on the Lakes and sailor's rights in the wilds of Canada, and every Madisonian war-hawk will swear he is a true American of the democratic stamp; otherwise, he is an "old tory" or federalist of the "Boston stamp."

The policy of Bonaparte and Madison being perfection, any deviation from it must be downright Toryism; and to speak or publish any thing in opposition to it is considered by their toad-eaters to be seditious, and an abuse of the liberty and independence for which our fathers fought and bled. You may enjoy liberty in its greatest extent, provided you will exercise it in applauding Bonaparte, Madison and the war; but it cannot be exercised any other way under the pain and penalty of being branded as a Tory—think as much as you please, but be sure to think favorably of them.