302 | 
opportunities do they afford to 
tamper with domestic fattions, to 
practise the arts of seduction, to 
mislead public opinion, to influence 
or awe the public councils? Such 
an attachment of a small or weak, 
towards a great or powerful nation, 
dooms the' former to béva satellite 
of the latter. 
Against the tstdious wiles of 
foreign influence (1 conjure you to 
believe me, fellow citizens) the 
jealousy of a free people ought to 
be constuntly awake; since history 
and experience prove, that foreign 
influence is one of the most baneful 
foes of a republican government. 
But that jealousy to be useful must 
be impartial; else it becomes the 
instrument of the very influence to 
be avoided, instead of a defence 
against it, Excessive partiality 
for one foreign nation, and: exces= 
give dislike of another, cause those 
whom they a¢iuate to see danger 
only on one side, and serve to veil 
and even second the arts of influence 
on the other. Real patriots, who 
may resist the intrigues of the fa- 
vourites, are liable to become sus- 
pected.and odious ; while its tools 
and dupes usurp the applause and 
confidence of the peoples to surren- 
der their interests. 
The great rule of conduct for us, 
in regard to foreign nations, is in_ 
extending our Ghinmebeial, relations, — 
to have ‘with them as little politi- 
cal connexion as possible, So far 
‘as we have already formed engage- 
ments, let them be fulfilled with 
perfeét good faithh—Here let us 
stop. 
Europe has a set of primary in- 
terests, which to us have none, or 
a very remote relation. Hence 
she must be engaged in frequent 
eontroversies, the causes of which 
ANNUAL REGISTER; 
1790. 
are essentially foreign to out cor 
cerns. Hence, therefore, it mus 
be unwise in us to implicate. our 
selves by artificial ties in the or. 
dinary vicissitudes of her politics, 
or the ordinary combinations and 
collisions of her bmencabips or en 
mities. : 
tion invites aid onblieed sus’ 
pursue a different course. If we 
remain one people, under an, effi< 
cient government, the period “is 
not far off when we may defy ma.|® 
terial injury from externsh annoys} 
ance ; when we may take such an} 
attitude as will cause the neutrality, 
we may at any time resolve upon 
to be scrupulously respected ;, when}, 
belligerent: nations, under the im= 
possibi lity of making acquisitions 
upon us, will not lightly hazard | & 
the giving us provocation; whea} 
we may choose peace or war, as Oug 
interest, guided by justice, shalk 
counsel. 
Why forego. the advantages of 
so peculiar a situation? Why quit 
our own ie stand - upon foreign 
ground?) Why, by interweaving 
our destiny with that of any part 
of Europe, entangle our peace and 
prosperity in the toils of Exropean 
ambition, rivalship, interest, hu 
mour, or caprice ? : 
’’ fis our true policy to steet clear 
of permanent alliances, with any 
portion of the foreign world ; 
far, I mean, as we are now at lie | 
berty to do it; for let me be not 
understood. as capable of patro- 
nising infidelity to existing engage. 
ments. I hold the maxim no less 
applicable. ta public, than to pri- 
vate affairs, that honesty. is always 
the best policy. I repeat it, there. 
fore, let those engagements be ob- 
served, in their genuine sense. 
But 
