Evening star., 1896-09-19

stances and mutual opinion will permit,
but temporary, and liable to be from time
to time abandoned or varied, experience
and circumstances shall dictate, constantly
keeping in view that ii is folly in one ma
tion to look for disinterested favors from
another; that il must pay with a portion
OF its independence for whatever it may
accept under that character; that by ssIch
acceptance it may place Itself i'll the condi-
tton. OF having given equivalents for nomi-
nal favors, and yet of being reproached
with ingratitude for not giving more. There
can be no greater error than to expect Or
calculate upon real favors from nation 10
nation. 1t is illusion which experience
must cure, which just pride ought to dis
card.
In offering to you, my countrymcn these
counsels OF an old and affectionate friend.
i dare not hope they will make the strong
and lasting impression l could wish-that
they will control the usual current of the
passions or prevent our nation from nun
ming the course which has hitherto marked
the destiny of nations But if | may even
iatter myself that they may he productive
of some partial benefit, some occasional
good-that they may now and then recur
Q to- moderate the fury of party spirit to
warn against the mischiefs of foreign in
tflSue, TO guard against the impoStu ures of
pretended patriotism-this hope Will be a
full recompense for the solicitude for Your
welfare by which they have been dictated
How far in the discharge of my Official
duties L have been guided by the PRINCIPLES
which have been deIineated the public rec
ordss and other evidences of my conduct
must witness to you and to the world. To
myself, the assurance of my conscience is
that have at least believed myself to be
guided by them. .
In relation to the still subsisting war in
Europe my proclamation of the I'D of
April, !EI3. Is the index to my plan. Sane
toned by your approving voice, and by that
OF your representatives in both houses of
Congress. the spirit of that measure has
continually governed me. uninf1uenced by
any attempts to deter or divert me from it.
! After deliberate examination, with the
aid OF the best lights l could obtain, l was
wei satisfied that our country, under all
tne circumstances of the case, had "A right
10 take and was bound in duty and inter-
est 10 take. a neutral position. Having
taken 1t. l-determined as far as should de-
pend upon me to maintain it with modera-
tlon, perseverance and firmness.
Inc considerations which resnect the
right to hold this conduct it is not neces-
sary on this occasion to detail. l will only
observe that according to my understand
ing OF the matter that right, so far from
being denied by any of the belligerent bow
ers. has been virtually admitted by all
The duty of holding a neutral conduct
may be inferred, without anything more
from the obligation which justice and hu-
man1ty impose on every nation. in cases in
which 1t is free to act, to maintain inyio-
late the relations of peace and amity to-
ward other nations.
The Inducements of interest for observing
own reflections and experience With me
predominant motive has been to .sndeayor
TO gain time to our country to settle ard
mature its yet recent Institutions and to
progress without interruption to that de-
gree OF strength and consistency which is
necessary to give it, humanity speaking, the
command of its own fortunes.
Though in reviewing the incidents of my
administration l am unconscious of inrea-
ional error. am nevertheless too sensible
OF my defects not to think ii probable tha t
l may have committed many errors. What
lever they may be, i fervently beseecn the
Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to
which they may tend. l shall also carry
with me the hope that my country will
never cease to view them with Indulgence,
and that, after forty-five years of my life
| dedicated to its service with an upri yht
| ZEAL the faults of Incompetent abilities
| will be consigned to oblivion, as myself
must soon be to the mansions of rest
Relying on its kindness in this as in other
things. and actuated by that fervent love
| toward it which is so natural to man
| who views in 1t the native soil of himself
and his progenitors for several generations,
| anticipate with pleasing expectation that
| retreat in which l promise myself to real
| ize without alloy the sweet enjoyment of
| partaking in the midst of my fellow-citi-
| zens the benign influence of good laws un-
| der free government-the ever-fayorite
| object of my heart, and the happy reward
| as trust, of our mutual cares. labors and
dangers. GO. WASHINGTON
| United States. 10th September 1796.