Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-19
AN IMPORTANT EVENT.
Address to His COuntrymen-A
warning That should BE
Burned Deep Into Every
American Mind.

George Washington formally and i'm.
pressively notified his countrymen that
under no circumstances would he accept
an election for third term as president
of the United States. At the suggestion
of Chauncey F. Black, president of the
National Association of Democratic
clubs, the farewell address of the immor-
tai Father of his Country, delivered on
that memorable occasion, will be read at
the meetings of the Bryan clubs through
out the country to-day. No more fitting
and suggestive document could be read
before these clubs at this time.
In that famous address, dated Septem-
Der II, 1896, in the most earnest and af-
fectionate manner, President Washington
called upon his countrymen to cherish an
immovable attachment to the national
Union, to watch for its preservation with
jealous anxiety, to discoontenance even
the suggestion that it could ever be
abandoned, and Indignantly frown upon
the first dawnings of an attempt to alien
ate any portion of our country from the
rest" Overgrowth of military establish
ments he represented as particularly hos
tile to republican liberty; while he recon-
mended the most implicit obedience to
the acts of the established government,
he wished also to guard against the spirit
Of innovation upon the principles of the
constitution; aware that the energy of
the system might be enfeebled by Rltera-
tions, he thought no change should be
made without an evident necessity; on
the other hand, he pointed out the dan
gers of real despotism, by breaking down
the partitions between the several de-
partments of government, by destroying
the reciprocal checks, and consolidating
the different powers.
Against the spirit of party, SO particu-
larly banefulin an elective government, he
uttered his solemn remonstrance, as we'll
as against inveterate antipathies, or pas
sionate attachments, in respect to for
eign nations.
The address is timely reminder to
Americans of their duty in deciding upon
any policy for the regulation of the af-
fairs of their own country. against the
insidious wiles of foreign influence" said
Washington, II conjure yon, fellow citi-
zens. The jealousy of free people ought
to be constantly awake; since history and
experience prove that foreign influence ia
one of the most baneful foes of republi.
can government" On this momentous
subject here are the exact words of the
great patriot and statesman who "wae
first in war, first in peace and first in the
hearts of his countrymen:"
Harmony, and liberal intercourse
with all nations, are recommended by pol
icy, humanity and interest. But ever
our commercial policy should hold an
equal and impartial hand; neither seek
ing nor granting exclusive favors or pref
erences, consulting the natural course Of
things; diffusing and diversifying b!
gentle means the streams of commerce
but forcing nothing; establishing will
powers so disposed-in order to Civ
trade stable course, to define the right'
of our merchants, and to enable the gov
eminent to support them conventions
entercourse, the best that present cir
cumstances and mutual opinion will per
nit, but temporary and liable to be from
time to time abandoned or varied as OK
perience and circumstances shall dictate
constantly keeping in view that it il
folly in one nation TO look for disinter
ested favors from another; that it mus
pay with portion of it's independence
for whatever it may accept under tina
character; that by such acceptance it ma,
place itself in the condition of having
given equivalents for nominal favore
and of being reproacbed with ingratitud
for not giving more. There can be NJ
greater error than to expect, or calculat,
upon real favors from nation to nation
It is an illusion which experience mus
cure, which just pride ought to discard.
1t is peculiarly fitting that this warning
utterance of the noblest, purest, wisas
and most self.sacrifcing of American
patriots should have the widest possible
circulation among the American people a
tlme, when great political party il
seriously contending that we as
nation, conceded to be the richest ant
most resourceful on earth, must avail
the action of other nations before ",
can enact monetary laws to correct ac
knowledged evils.