The Portland daily press., 1865-12-30
washington,s Farewell Address.

The last short days of 81 were gloomy days
in our nations history. The Army of the Po-
tomac, victorious by the Susquehannah and
James, had then scarcely crept from its native
stream; hoping still, in spite ofthe disastrous
check at Bull Run and Balls Bluff, to put
down rebellion. The Western Army, on the
fertile prairies of Missouri lived as on desert
seeing before them the mirage, the smoke of
burning grain. Two raids had been made by
our invincible navy, but the troops they had
landed were inactive.
Not long after the new year began, the dark
ness OF the winter solstice disappeared. Mill
Spring, Fort Henry, Elizabeth City, Roanoke
Island, Blooming Gap, Fort Donelson, Clarks-
vile, were names that filed the people of the
loyal States with the widest joy.
President Lincoln desiring a more solemn,
than the usual demonstrations of victory, or
dered that the. 22d day ofFebruary, the birth
day of the father of his country should be OBJ
served as day of rejoicing aud thanksgiving
for our many victories over the enemies ofthe
nation and Ofmankind. 81 tafodt -1y5-
Who has not heard of Washington's Fare
well Address? Yet many a one did not read
it until told that it would be read on that day,
in church. Many were contented to hear it
from the pulpit of a country church or the ros-
trum Of some city hall, yet many who reyered
the very name of Washington, had not
thought at such an occasion to read that more
than classic work, that almost prophetic warn
ing. ss. .aa-s.ss soa ess.8 sdE -seE
The Declaration of Independence has been
read on the 4th of July, till it is as familiar as
the maxims of Poor Richard; but when WASH
ington's birthday is to be kept, those who
have, and those who have not read his part
ing address, turn to the lives ofWashington by
Sparks, Veins, Headly, Irving, Prescott, and
histories written from the last of the last cen
tury to the middle OF the present, and books
original and compiled that have been unread
for years, to read and re-read what has been
so long neglected. ~ r.., $500 ~
Though the Declaration of Independence
is read in public every year, it is not as impor-
tant to the present generation as the Farewell
Address of Washington. Its great idea that
all men are born free and equal, is soon to be
embodied in the Constitution of the u. S.
The last paragraph is fixed fact in history
The clauses between are a list of wrongs done
us by the government Of Great Britain.
The Farewell Address has little in it that re-
lates to our present period. His advice is to ev-
cry generation, while the nation exists and
that it may not end, his parting advice was
given. "Interwoven is the love of liberty" he
says, "with every ligament of your hearts, no
recommendation of mine is necessary to folti-
fy or confirm it. The union of government,
which constitutes you as one people, is also
now dear to you. 1t is justly so; for it is a
main pillar in the edifce of yoar real hdepen-
dence, the support ofyour tranquility at home
your peace abroad; of your safety, of your
prosperity,-of that very liberty that you so
highly prize" CO.. -...-..--....
He tells how to preserve liberty and our
union, and every legislator, every orator, yes
every youth old enough to understand it
should read it. Ifitis not within the reach Of
all, it should be SO. Had it been thus read
and needed, for the last thirty years, a de-
structive civil war, its shame and misery had
been unknown. 4al - "f fa'
"Promote then, as on object Of primary im-
portance, institutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge. In proportion as the structure
of government gives force to public opinion,
it is essential that publ opinion should be en-
lightened." So 500 -as 1.fsafn a3 r,rs
A boy ought not to enter college who has not
studied the Constitution of the United States.
There are speeches made every week more i'm
portant to Americans than the Phinippics,
or the the orations against Cataline. Military
drill is more important then Algebra, Tactics
than Tacitus, Webster's Spelling than the
Westminster Catechism. .-. &
Yet the schools are not our only institutions
for the diffusion of knowledge. Our republic
is as great in area and population as the Ro-
man empire; yet speech that is made
in the capital, is known, word for word, at the