STATE PAPERS, 
an exalted justice and benevolence. 
Who can doubt that in the courfse 
of time and things the fruits of 
such a plan would richly repay any 
| temporary advantages which might 
be lost by a steady adherence to it? 
Can it be, that Providence has not 
connected the permanent felicity of 
a nation with its virtues? The ex. 
periment, at least, is recommended 
by every sentiment which ennobles 
human nature. Alas! is it rendered 
impossible by its vices ? 
In the execution of such a plan, 
nothing is more essential than that 
the permanent, inveterate antipa- 
thies against particular nations, and 
passionate attachments for others, 
should be excluded; and that in 
piace of them, just and amicable 
feelings towards all should be cul- 
tivated. The nation which in- 
dulges towards anoiher an habi- 
tual hatred, or an habitual fond- 
ness, is in some degree a slave. 
It is a slave to its animosity or to 
its affettion, either of which is suf- 
ficient to lead it astray from its 
duty and its interest, Antipathy 
in one nation against another dis- 
poses each more readily to offer in- 
sult and injury, to Jay hold of 
slight causes of umbrage, and to 
he haughty and intra@able, when 
accidental or trifling occasions of 
dispute occur. Hence frequent 
collisions, obstinate, envenomed, 
and bloody contests: The nation, 
prompted by ill.will and’ resent- 
Ment, sometimes impels to war the 
government, contrary to the best 
calculations of policy. The go- 
‘vernment sometimes participates in 
the national propensity, and adopts, 
through passion, what reason would 
reject; at other times it makes 
the animosity of the nation sub- 
[301 
servient to projeéts of hostility, 
instigated by pride, ambition, and 
other sinister and pernicious mo- 
tives. The peace often, sometimes, 
perhaps, the liberty of nations, has 
been the victim. 
. So, likewise, a passionate attach. 
ment of one nation for another 
produces a variety of evils. Sym-~ 
pathy for’ the favourite nation, 
facilitating the infusion of an ima- 
ginary common interest, in cases 
where no real common interest 
exists, and infusing into one the 
enmities of the other, betrays the 
former into a participation in the 
quarrels and wars of the latter, 
without adequate inducement or 
justification. It leads aiso to cons 
cessions to the favourite nation, of 
privileges denied to others, which 
is apt doubly to injure the nation 
making the concessions ; by unne- 
cessarily parting with what ought 
to have been retained; and by ex- 
citing jealousy, ill-will, and a dise 
position to retaliate, in the parties 
from whom egual privileges are 
withheld: and it gives to ambiti- 
ous, corrupted, or deluded citizens, 
(who devote themselves to the 
favourite nation) facility to betray, 
or sacrifice the interests of their 
own country, without odium, some. 
times even with popularity; gilds 
‘ing with the appearances of a 
virtuous sense of obligation, a coma 
mendable deterence for public opis 
nion, or a laudable zeal for public 
good, the base or foolish complian- 
ces of ambition, corruption, of 
infatuation, 
As the avenues to foreign influ. 
énce are in innumerable ways, such 
attachments are-particularly alarm. 
ing to the truly enlightened and 
independent patriot, How many 
oppeta 
