Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

One hundred and one years ago, Nash-
ington's farewell address was read by
the uublic for the first time. The Father
of his Country having led his people sue
cessfully in q gleat war against one Of
the foremost powers Of the earth. and
having given eight other years Of his
life TO the establishment Of the Fede-
raj Government. gladly retired TO Mount
Vernon.
That beautiful home Of his he dearly
loved. and though he absented himself
from il for years in the conduct OF our
military operations, there was scarcely
a day that ne did not long to return to
It, So, too, when he was President 1t
was a principality in itself, with its 5000
acres OF land, its fields. woods, and
fisheries; its grist-mills, workshops, and
looms; its boats, teams and ferries, ana
its population of overseers and slaves.
1t was a home fit for Washington, and
the ordering and governing OF 1t afforded
him that employment of body ana mind
without which he would have been very
unhappy, so active and industrious had
his life ever been. From his teens to
the day OF his death Washington had
been used to active employment. whether
at home or upon the field oHerms. and
when he sighed to return to Mount Yer
non. II was not that he might loll under
the shade Of its noble trees or feast in
its halls. but that he might dig and
plant and build and conduct those ex-
periments in agriculture in which he de-
lighted. He wanted to be out of the
hustle of the capital at Philadelphia;
out OF sight and hearing of intriguing
politicians and disappointed office-seekers.
All these things he had borne with i'll
concealed impatience for eight years
borne at the sacrifice of his comfort ana
fortune, TO aid Ia establishing gov
eminent which would harvest the fruit
of the victories that our soldiers had
won.
In such a mood Washington prepared
his farewell address, paper which will
outlive all else that came from his hands
and which is repository OF wisdom
and guide to good government, which
excites greater and greater admiration
the more IT Is studied.
It is the custom of the United States
Senate to celebrate Wasbingtous Birth
day by assembling and listening TO the
reading by one OF their number OF this
address. This ceremony VIII be observed
as usual tomorrow, and the Senate
has requested the Hon. John w. Daniel
TO act as the reader OF the occasion-a
position for which his presence. voice.
and Evolutionary skill well fit him. Be
sides. he Is a great admirer Of Washing
toms, and is one of his best remembered
eulogists.
Whatever assistance Washington may
have had In the phrasing OF his fare
well address, the substance and senti>
ments are all his He was a man of
robust intellect. and rarely failed to i'm
press his views upon Others. And
though. in the drafting. elaboration.
criticism and revision OF the address he
had first and last, the help OF Madison.
Hamilton, jay, Pickering. Wolcott, and
McHenry, the paper never ceased TO be
tie embodiment OF the sentiments and
judgment OF Washington. Finally
Washington reVtSeo Hle Wnoie ana IL
was then made public" MY wish. "
said he, "is that the whole may appear
In a plain style. and be handed to the
public in an honest, unaffected simple
part"
The address was dated United States,
September 10. 1885," and was addressed.
Friends and Fellow~Ci tizens," and in the
nfst paragraph be apprises the people
OF the resolution II have formed to de-
cline being considered among the num-
Der of those out Of whom a choice (of
Pres.denD is 10 be made" A large por-
ton of the address Is taken up with a
plea for the maintenance OF the Union,
then threatened. not by the slavery ques-
ton, but by other issues. Even at that
day party passion had risen so high
and the discussions Of public matters had
become so rancorous. Washington warned
Ria countrymen. in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects OF
TIE spirit OF party generally"
The address further dealt with recipro-
cal checks upon the exercise OF polIti-
cal power; religion and morality as the
Dfmest props Of national happiness: pub
lie credit. a. a sources Of strength and