The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-22
George Washington Speaks to His
C0untrymen To-day.

FRIENDS n Fellow Citizens. the
first President spoke TO Americans as
individuals. He sought TO impress
upon all Of those to whose eyes his
words should come the prime necessity
OF personal virtue and moderation in
their own political lives. In a number
OF passages he emphasized this effort
by the use OF such phrases as fellow
citizens" and my countrymen." He
wrote to no temporary machine Of gov
eminent, no particular class Of So
clety. no power less mighty than the
possessors Of the supreme sovereignty
of the nation to whose erection his own
contribution had been 20 great.
This fact and the peculiar situa-
ton in which the United States is
placed to-day combine to render the
one hundred and eighty-third ami.
vcrsary of WksHfNGroN's birth an
occa sion on which this product of
wisdom. experience and common sense
that amounted 10 genius should be
read with particular interest and re-
spect. The advice is offered to us of
the twentieth century by one in whose
debt each of us stands. and the pas
sage of four generations has not I'm
paired its message or robbed it of It's
appropriateness. Thus in the present
juncture Of events what more intelli-
gent counsel could he given than Is
contained in these sentences?
observe good faith and justice to-
ward all nations. Cultivate peace and
harmony with all.
Religion and morality entoin this
conduct. And can It he that good policy
does not equally enjoln Il?
In the execution OF such a plan
nothing is more essential thar that per
maneni. inveterate a~ntlpathies against
particular nations and passionate at
tachments for others should he excluded.
and that in place of them Just and
amlcable feelings toward all should be
cultivated.
"Antipathy In one nation against
another disposes each more readily to
offer insult and injury. to lay hold OF
slight causes OF umbrage and TO be
naughty and intractable when accidental
or trining occasions of dispute occur.
Hence frequent collisions, obstinate.
envenomed, and bloody contests.
The nation prompted by i'll will and
resentment sometimes impels TO war the
Government contrary to the best calcu-
lations OF policy.
THE Government sometimes partici-
pates in the national propensity. and
adopts through passion what reason
would reject.
AT other times it makes the animosity
IF the nation subservient TO projects %
hostility instlgated by pride, ambition
ana other sinister and pernicious motives.
The peace often. sometimes perhaps
the liberty. Of nations has been the
victim
From this passage. admirable and
timely as 1t is, we shall quote no
more. What we have transcribed
should he sufficient 10 induce the
reader To study once more the whole
Address. which in every paragraph
is worthy of the cause that inspired
us utterahce aI4h 'he man "h"Se name
1t bears, Another Sublect ne treated
and to the words on this OF II who
loved peace md knew war we invite
renewed attention:
.r.Lt, cara ,iu,vs N keen ourselve.
-. a,u,ohra establishments on a resp.ct-
a.,o ao,,ns,ya ,o.tura ve NAV safelv
,rus, m ,emporarv alliances for ex-
traordinary emergencies
In this form WNsrINGIoN east for
bis +, revalI Address, the opiulon
nrcyiouslv EXPRESSED in his first an
nuol address to his "rellow Citizens
~ the sonote and House Of Repre-
s.ntntives, ar l,r.nter length.
.
..u. .nIm bonn a.,or,,,, ,no, ~
.nout,,n, Cor ~. co,r,,on defiance will
merit nartic,,ar regard
bo prenored for war is one OF the
mos, errectual means Of preserving peace
"a free people ought not only to be
armed, but disciplined to which end q
uniform and well digested plan Is re-
require that h should promote sueh