The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-15
WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON
ON "A LEAGUE OF NATIONS
[By H. r. spencer.l

United States senate, 1t is interest
ing to note the attitude toward al
liances with European countries, ol
two Of the early presidents of the
United States-George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson, whose theory
OF government in many respects was
the prototype of the two prevailing
political parties Of today.
While George Washington ant
Thomas Jefferson differed on many
points of governmental policy, they en-
tertained the same views on the sub
tries.
In his farewell address to the people
of the United States, President Wash
ington said:
Against the insidious wiles OF
foreign influence, the jealousy of
a free people ought to be con-
stantly awake, since history and
experience prove that foreign in
fluence is one of the most bane-
full foes OF republican government.
The great rule of conduct for us
in regard to foreign nations is, In
extending our commercial rela-
lions to have with them as little
political connection as possible.
Europe has a set Of primary in
terests which to us have none, or
very remote, relation. There
fore, it must be unwise In us to
fmp1icate ourselves by articifial
ties in the ordinary vicissitudes OF
her politics, or the ordinary COM
binations and collisions of her
friendships or enemities.
Why forego the advantage OF SO
peculiar a situation AS ours)?
Why quit our own to stand upon
foreign grounds? Why, by inter-
weaving our destiny with that OF
any part Of Europe, entangle our
peace and prosperity In the tolls
of European ambition, rivalry, In
terest or caprice?
1t is our true policy to steer
clear Of permanent alliances with
any portion Of the foreign world.
The attitude which the United
States should take toward European
countries was more forcibly, and more
expressed by Thomas JEFF
Person. In letter to Elbridge Gerry
he says:
am for free commerce with all
nations, political connections with
none. / am not for linking our
selves by new treaties with the
quarrels Of Europe, or entering
that field Of slaughter to preserve
their balance, or joining In their
confederacy of kings to war
against the principles of liberty.
In letter to E. Darlington, he says:
1t is a maxim with US, and
think it wise one, not to en-
tangle ourselves with the affairs
of Europe.
In letter to T. Lomax, under date
If March, 1898, Jefferson writes:
! sincerely join you in adjuring
all political connection with every
foreign power, and though | cor
daily wish we'll to the progress of
liberty in all nations, and would
forever give it the weight Of our
countenancs, yet they are not to
be touched without contamination
from their other bad principles.
In a letter to Edward Rutledge, in
1877, Jefferson writes:
AS to everything except COM
merce, we ought to divorce our
oil oil
This system will require time,
temper, and occasional sacrifice of
interest, and how far all of these
will be ours, our children may see,
but we shall not.
In a letter to John Taylor, in 1898,
lie says:
Better keep together as we are,
hands off from Europe, as soon as
we can, and from all attachments
to any portion Of it.
In letter to George Logan under
late of March, 1901, Jefferson writes:
To take part in European con-
flicts would be to divert our ener-
gies from creation to destruction.
it ought to be the very first object
of our pursuit to have nothing to
do with European interests and
politics. Let them be free, or
slaves at will; navigators or agri-
culturists; swallowed into one
government, or divided into a
thousand, we have nothing to fear
from them in any form.
In a letter to Philip Mazei, writ
en- in July, 1904. Jefferson says:
1t is against our system to EN-.
barrass ourselves with treaties or
to entangle ourselves at all with
the affairs OF Europe.
We believe that with nations.
as with individuals, dealings may
be carried on as advantageously,
perhaps more so, while their con-
tinuance depends on voluntary
good treatment as if fixed by a
contract which, when it becomes
injurious to either, is made by
forced constructions to mean what
suits them and becomes a cause
of war instead Of bond of peace,
In his first inaugural address, Presi-
ent Jefferson said: