Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-02-19
VOICEFROM THEDEAD
WHAT GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

A Letter Which Is Very Significant at the
Present Crisis-Did Not Wish America
to Interfere In squabbles With Europe
"If RightfuIly 1t Can Be Done"
In the manuscript department of the
British museum, London, there are
slowed away hundreds of autographs
le.ers of men famous in modern and
ancient history. While in London last
summer Mr.. o. o. Steady, the Washing
ton correspondent of the Louisville Cou-
rier- Journal found among these old let
tiers an autograph one from George
Washington, written from Philadelphia
April %, 1893, to Lord Earl of Buchan.
A part of the letter refers to foreign
complications and furnishes an interest
| ing chapter at this time. With the letter
was the following note written by the
Earl of Buchan, brother of Lord Erskine:
ION the 18th of January, 1898,
wrote to Mr.. Washington on the happy
prospects America might entertain If by
any means it could abstain from min
CLING in European politics. I laid before
him the vanity and folly Of preferring
the indulgence of national pride. vanity
and resentment to the slow but certain
benefits to be permanently obtained by
peace and internal prosperity. Iventur-
ed also to recommend as the great OBJ
jects to the executive of America peace
and union with the red natives and at
tention to national education.
To these sentiments the president an
swered in the following letter. The first
part of the letter relates to private af-
fairs and indicates that General Wash
ington and Lord Buohan were old and
intimate friends. Then the letter pro-
ceeds to the subject matter as follows:
1.-THE favorable wishes which your
lordship has expressed for the prosperity
of this young and rising country cannot
but be gratefully received by all it's citi-
zens and every lover of it, one means to
the contribution Of which and its happi
ness is very judiciously portrayed in the
following words Of your letter: TO be
little heard of in the great world of pol
itics. These words, can assure your
lordship, are expressive of my sentiments
ON this head, and believe it is the sim
cere wish of united America to have
nothing to do with the political intrigues
or the squabbles of European nations !;
but, on the contrary, to exchange COM
modities and live in peace and unity
with all the inhabitants Of the earth,
and this I am persuaded they will do If
rightfully it can be done-to administer
justice to and receive it from every pow
er with whom they are connected will,
l hope, be always found the most prom
inent feature In the administration Of
this country, and l flatter myself that
nothing short of imperious necessity can
occasion breach with any of them.
Under such a system, if we are allowed
to pursue 1t, the agricultural and me-
chanical arts, the wealth and population
of these states, will increase with that
degree of rapidity as to BATTLE all calcu-
lations and must surpass any idea your
lordship can hitherto have entertained
on the occasion.
ITO evince that our views, whether
realized or not, are expanded take the
liberty of sending you the plan of new
/
! Union of these states, which is designed
for the permanent seat of the govern
ment, and we are at this moment deep
ly engaged and far advanced in extend
ing the inland navigation of the river
(Potomac) on which it stands and the
branches thereof through tract of as
rich country for hundreds Of miles as
any in the world Nor is this solitary
instance of attempts of the kind, al
though it is the only one which is near
completion and in partial use. Several
other important ones are commenced,
and little doubt is entertained that in
ten years, if left undisturbed, we shall
open communication by water with all
the lakes northward and westward Of
us with which we have territorial con-
nections and an inland navigation in a
few years more from Rhode Island to
Georgia, inclusive, partly by outs be-
tween the great bays and sounds and
partly between the islands and sand
banks and the main from Albemarle
sound to the river ST. Mary's. To these
may also be added the erection Of
| DiAdSoS ONoI OOnniuCluDAO iifOio anu VIZ
commencement Of turnpike roads as fur
Their indication Of the improvements in
hand. With great esteem and respect, l
have the honor to be your lordship's
most obed't, h BILE servant,
| 80. WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Steady took copy of the letter,
and it Is not believed that it has ever
been printed in this country.
Hanged, but Not Dead.