Evening star., 1896-02-22
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The Centennial Of Washington's
Farewell Address.
HlS ADVICE TO HB COUNrRYMEN
The Most Famous Document From
the Pen of the Foremost Patriot.
A PLEA FOR ION

This year occurs the centennial Of Wash
ingtcn's farewell address. September IL.
1I08. fs popularity supposed to be the date
OF this great composition. which. next to
the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution itself, has had more to do in
shaping the policy Of the government and
defining the aims Of the American people
as nation than any document ever writ
ten. But 1t IL stated on the highest au-
thority that the address was really given
the date of September 10 by it's great au-
thor, and 1t is asserted that this date is to
be seen on the original manuscript. which
Is now in the Lenox Library. New York.
However this may be, 1895 is the centen-
nial of the immortal work
Washington was midway between sixty
four and sixty-five years of age when.
through the medium of this paper. he an
nounced to the people Of the country his
determination to decline to be again a can
didate for the high and difficult Office to
which he had been twice chosen, and to re-
tire permanently to private life upon the
close of his second term, which was then
near its end. All personal ambition he
may have had had been gratified when he
wrote this paper. In 1t he gave to his
countrymen the d:sinterested advice Of one
who, having finished his work, sought re-
tirement ard rest from public duties. and
who was solicitous only for the welfare of
his country. Satisfied" he says i'm the
address. that If any circumstances have
given peculiar value to my services. they
We're temporary, l have the consolation to
bel eve that. while choice and prudence in
vite me to quit the political scene patriot
ism does not forbid IL.
After thanking the people for the aid
rendered to him in discharging with sue
cess the difficult duties of his office, he
offers, as he says "sOme sentiments which
are the result of much reflection, of no in
considerable observation, and which ap-
pear to me all-important to the perna-
| nency of your felicity as people"
THE unity Of government" wrote Gen.
Washington, which constitutes you one
people, Is also now dear to you. 1t is justly
SO. for it is a main pillar in the edifice of
tranquility at home. your peace abroad, of
your safety, Of your prosperity, of that very
liberty which you SO highly prize, but, as 1T
is easy to foresee that. from different causes
and from different quarters, much pains will
be taken. many artifices employed, to weak
en- in your minds the conviction of this
truth; this Is the point in your political
fortress against which the batteries of in
ternal and external enemies will be most
constantly and actively (though often
covertly and insidously) directed-it is of
infinite moment that you should properly
estimate the Immense value Of your ma
tfonai union to your collective and individual
happiness; that you should cherish a cor
DIAL nabitual and fmmovable attachment to
1t, accustoming yourselves to think and
speak of it as of the palladium of your
political safety and prosperity, watching for
its preservation with jealous anxiety, dis
countenancing whatever may suggest even
suspicion that it can. in any event, be
abandoned, ard Indignantly frowning upon
the first dawning of every attempt to alien
ate any portion of our country from the
rest. or to enfeeble the sacred ties which
now link together the various parts.
I'm contemplating the causes which may
of serious concern, that any grounds should
nave been furnished for characterizing par
ties py geographical discriminat tions-north-
ern and southern. Atlantic and western
whence designing men may endeavor to ex-
cite belief that there is real difference of
local interests and views. To the efficacy and
permanency Of your union q government
for the whole in Indispensable No alliance
however strict between the parts can be
an adequate substitute: they must iney,t-
ably experience the infractions and inter-
have experienced. Toward the preservation
OF your government and the permanency
OF your present happy state IL is REQUISITE.
not only that you steadily discountenance
irregular oppoSitionS to its acknowledged
authority. but also that you resist with
care the spirit Of innovation upon its prin-
cipies' however specious the pretexts''
an the dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity, religion and
morality are Indispensable supports. In
VAIN would mat man claim the tribute Cf
patrlotism who should labor to subvert
these great pillars of human harpinass
these Armest props of the duties of men and
citizens. The mere politician. equally with
the pious man, ought to respect and to
cherish them. 1t Is substantially true that
virtue or morality Is necessary spring of
popular government Promote then rs an
object of primary Importance institutions
for the general diffusion of knowledge In
proportion as the structure of govern
ment gives force to public opinion. ii is
essential that public opinion should be en-
lightened.
Observe good faith and Justice toward
all nations; cultivate peace and harmony
with all; religion and morality erjoin this
conduct, and can it be that good policy is
not equally enjoining? In the execution of
such plan nothing is more essential than
that permanent inveterate antipatlies
against particular nations, and passionate
attachments for others should be eXclud-
ed, and that in place of them lust and
amicable feelings toward all should be Gull
tivated. The nation which INDUCES toward
another an habitual hatred or an habitual
fondneSs is in some degree a slave. 1t is
a slave to its animosity or to its affections,
either Of which is sufficient to lead it
astray from its duty and interests. An
tipathy in one nation against another dis
poses more readily to offer Insult and in
jury, to lay hold of slight causes of UNI
bragg, and to be naughty and intrac.ab1e
when accidental or trifiing occasions &C.
cur. The peace often sometimes perhaps the
liberty Of nations, has been the victim"
Against the insidious wiles of foreign
influence the Jealousy Of a free people
ought to be constantly awaXed, since his
tory and experience prove that foreign
influence is one of the most baneful foes
of republican government. The great lule
of conduct for us. in regard to foreign ma
tions, is, in extending our commercial re-
iations, to have with them as little politi-
cal connection as possible Europe has a
set Of primary interests which to us have
none or "a very remote relation. Hence
she must be engaged in frequent controver-
sizes. the causes of which are essentially
foreign to Our concern. Our detached and
distant situation invites ard enables us
to pursue a different course. Why forego
the advantages Of SO peculiar a situation?
Why quit our own to stand upon foreign
ground? 1t is our true policy 10 steer clear
Of permanent alliances with any portion of
the foreign world. so far, I mean, as we
are now at liberty to do It: for let me
not be understood as capable of patronfz-
ing fnfidelty to existing engagements I
hold the maxim no less applicable 10 rub-
lie than to private affairs that honesty is
always the best policy.
Taking care always to keep ourselves by
suitable establishments on a respectable
defensive posture, We may safely trust tenn
cies."
A Greater Need.
From the Boston Gazette.