The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-23
Duties of President.

what he called the "grasping spirit OF
the times
Duties of President.
Judge Parker said, IN part:
Washington has left us three greae
papers-his letter 10 the governors. his
address to his officers and his Farewell
Address. The last OF these-W ashington' :
political testament approach with diff
dence. In a breath Re gives Us the true
conception Of the scope Of the once OF a
president Of q republic.
May We never forget that a Presiden-
tiaI election is, in his words. the election
OF a citizen 10 administer the executive
government Of the United States Il has
lately been the practice 10 excuse de-
parture from the safe guide CT past ex-
perience. Modern progress 70 the minds
Of some has so greatly varied attendant
conditions that the wisdom OF those who
preceded IS considered but folly to-day.
Washington found in that strength
which comes from union. which is our
ability 10 avoid the major peril 20 al
free governments. a great military es-
adjustment. Inauspicious 10 liberty. he
called it. likewise hostile 10 republican
form Of government and the nations
ability 10 avoid standing armies or great
navies was deemed By Washington 70
be one Of the great factors in making
for our liberty.
Where DespOtism Begins.
Seeing the dangers which lay within
the grasping Of powers which belong 10
one Of the three great divisions Of our
government by another. whence in the
end freedom snail be lost and despotism
shall reign. he demanded that any modi-
dcation Of the distribution OF the consti-
tutional powers should be obtained by
constitutional methods.
Let there be no winking at usurpation.
for though this in one instance may be
an instrument for temporary good. it IS
the customary weapon by which free
governments are destroyed The precs-
dent must always greatly outbalance in
permanent evil any partial or transient
benefit which the use can al any time
yield.
1t would not do on this occasion TO
deal in controversy: but here arises the
contrast Of cur treatment Of Cuba and
our treatment OF the Philippine islanders
Il seems rs though forgetting these
words OF counsel and advice We have
been swayed. not By these high precepts
which he besOught US 10 be governed BY.
but by self-interest. producing in the two
cases the dissinilsr results. II 50. be as
sUred that there VIII come for Us q day
Of reckoning
Avoid Foreign Alliance.
The Farewell Address deals also with a
subject OF eveT-recUrring moment 10 this
country which has been wont 10 com
press into the phrase-the avoidance OF
entsngling foreign alliances. The diplO-
matte history OF the United States shows.
until. perhaps. these last few years. q
close adherence 10 this maxim. and
through and under that adherence. one
might almost say by reason Of il, have We
pr0spered-
we have heard latterly that We are a
world power, and must assume our posi-
ton as such" continued the speaker.
that We cannot neglect the alleged duty
which is said 10 be thrust upon Us By
OUF acquired prominence among the IA
tons. The argument IS specious. Il ends
Is destruction. Il makes. IN the last
analysis. merely for the aggrandizement
Of the few. 10 the intimate misery OF
the many L was foreseen and AGAINST
II he has warned Us"
Judge Parker paid a high tribute 70
Wsshington's character and said sin
cerity was its dominating note.