The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-24
Washington and Inperialism.

Editor Of The Times:
Sir-Washington farewell address,
ike the Paradise Lost Is very much
praised and very little read. The form
er has been relegated TO elocutionary dis
plays on high days and holidays. the lat
ter become the bugbear oil class-r0oms as
a puzzler in parsing.
Even the spirited contention. so long
waged by the friends and admirers Of
Madison and Hamilton. respectively, As
TO which OF them wrote the address, has
long since settled down TO n dead calm.
The feeling to-day Is one Of indifference
not only as TO its author or authors. the
general conclusion being that it Is an
antiquated document and a very small
matter whether or not It had ever been
written at all.
While the general tone of II is some
what paternal. rot to say patronizing, ana
most OF its teachings very obvious TO peo-
pie OF average intelligence. there are yet
some fundamental principles in 1t, tersely
put which il would be well for every
patriotic citizen TO read, mark and in
wardiy digest from time to time.
IL Is proposed TO marshal these before
the readers of The Times. i'm order that
they may see and know what the fathers
and makers Of the government thought;
and especially what they considered TO
be the chief perils to our happy and pros
porous career as a government OF. for.
and by the people No matter whether
Madison or Hamilton wrote II, or whether
one and the other wrote parts OF II tas
is now believed 70 be the facb. both OF
them are OF the fathers" And. as Mr.
Cleveland would say, it has been CON
secrated" TO the republic by the impEima-
tur OF Washington himself and reads like
a letter from the Father OF His Country
10 all Of bis children 10 remote genera
tions. MY son. forget not my Law. but
let thine heart keep my commandments.
tor length of days and long life and
peace. shall they add To thee; bind them
about thy neck; write them upon the Ia
BILE OF thine heart
Here they are-copied from the al
dress:
1-"Citizens by birth or choice Of
common country. that country has a
right to concentrate your affections. The
name OF American. which belongs TO you
in your national capacity, must always
exalt the just pride OF patriotism more
than any other appellatiOn derived from
local determinations. With slight shades
Of difference you have-the same religion,
manners. habits, and political princi-
pies"
How Will this read when We have taken
over the Philippines with their savage
and heather peoples?
2-"While. then. every part OF our coun-
try thus feels an immediate and particu-
lar interest In union. all the parts COM
blned cannot fail TO find I'm the united
mass OF means and efforts greater
strength. greater resource. proportion
ately greater security from external dan
ger or less frequent interruption of their
peace by foreign nations, and. what is
OF inestlmable value, they must derive
from union an exemption from those
| broils ami wars between themselves
which so frequently afflict nelgbboring
/ countries not tied together by the same
governments. which their own rivalship'
alone would be SUFFICIENT 10 produce. but
which opposite foreign alliances. attach
ments and intrigues would stimulate and
embitter. Hence. likewise. they will
avoid the necessity Of those ovsrgrevs