The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1902-03-11
On washinaton's Farewell
Address.

The following is speech deliv
cred by w. G. Hamilton, of thu
Southern Normal School at Bowl
ing Green, Ky, February p. Mr.
Hamilton stands among the first as
an orator and student in this school
He is one of our Menifee county
boys who has forged to the front
and we are glad to give our people
some idea of his developments by
publishing this speech:
When Washington delivered bis
farewell address a great work had
been completed. The basis of this
structure was laid in the founding
of our government. 1t has borne
its part through the progress of this
century. 1t is inspiring in its
teaching. We have not been dis
appointed by its advice. We hold
it as memorial of the past, a
guide for the present and for all
succeeding ages. 1t was left for a
purpose, and that purpose reveals
its character. 1t teaches patriot
ism and independence, civil liberty
and christianity, cementing our
national union, elevating and bring
ing into action our moral qualities
and call to our minds afresh the
noble blood that was shed for our
independence.
1t was spoken by the tongue Of
man: now it speaks to us through
the hearts of our countrymen, con-
trary to the spirit which leads TO
ignorance, strife and corruption,
whose predominating influence has
become imbeded in different sec
tions of our Union. The spirit
which has woven itself into our
practice by the feeling of retalia
tion originated from the discordant
parties, each struggling for su-
premacy. Separately each of these
views has great force in prompting
men to action, but when seeking
the self-sam object, they have the
most violent and turbulent effect.
These are the efforts put forth for
pre- eminence, through the heat of
contention, the infinite abuse of
parties tearing down the best of
characters. Listen to the wise
mani The sage Of Mt. Vernon as
be tells us that party spirit dis
tracts the public councils,
eDfeebles the public admins
tration, agitates the community
with ill-founded jealousies and
kindles the animositiy Of one part
against another and formulates &C
casional riots and insurrections. 1t
is not the wise and moderate, the
lovers Of peace and good order, the
men fittest for the trust, but the
bold, the.violent, the men Of strong
passions and a selfish disregard for
the safety and honor of our Union.
They thrust themselves into our
government and seek the place as
our rulers, men to whom liberty
and patriotism are but a secondary
consideration. They exempt them
selves from bonds of council, which
is so deeply indented with the
sense of religious duty, which feels
in all it's energy the need of that
tender tie which unites the hearts
of all patriotic men, who hold the
connection with our country which
might have been severed, had we
not been under the protection of a
kind government, strengthened by
that feeling of religious worship,
from which we have obtained so
many comforts and enjoyments at
home. If we investigate the con-
dition of other nations we see that
instead Of pure religion, they may
be divided into transgressors and
advocaters of corruption, and are
more attentive to the ordinances of
man than oracles of truth.
The rulers of many nations have
SO pressed down the rights of private
Judgment and freedom of speech,
until they have driven from many
parts men who directed their course