The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-03-04
|NG1|


pendence, the Constitution. washington's Farewell
Address and the Monroe Doctrine.
The Farewell Address was used at a test every
where by everybody. Both sides used it. Those
who opposed the treaty made use of 1t as a solemn
warning against "entangling foreign alliances
the present-day equivalent of Washngton's phrase
permanent alliances with any portion of the for
eign world" Those favoring the treaty argued
that Washlngton's political wisdom was of his day
only and that his teachings are out of date
that while Washington was good and noble he was
unlearned In the science Of government and I'M
trained in the arts of statecraft.
Those who adhered to the policy of the Farewell
Address also upheld the Monroe Doctrine holding
the latter to be the development and outgrowth of
the former
The events leading up TO the Farewell Address
are briefly as follows The constitutional con-
vention met In May in Philadelphia. After four
months of secret deliberations the Constitution
completed and offered to the individual states
for adoption Nine states necessary; New
Hampshire made the ninth. The Constitution
went into effect June 81, 17SS. George Washing
ton was elected the first president of the United
States and served two terms. 17S9-1796. He de-
clined third term and established the precedent
for but one reelection
If Washington accepted the presidency with re-
1uctance 1t with pronounced distaste that he
yielded to what he thought was his duty and took
the Office for a second term. And IL proved to be
stormy term. In 1893 France declared war on
England and Louis XVI beheaded in France
by the revolutionists. "Ctizen" Genet. represent
ing the French revolutionlsts, arrived here and
stirred the American people TO frenzy OF
sympathy with France. Washington issued neu-
trallty proclamation which aroused a storm of
popular protest Genets activities resulted I'm his
recall In the meantime Great Britain was post
poning the surrender of British posts In the North
west, taking American sailors from American
ships under the pretext that they were Britons
and acting generally that large part of the
American people clamored for war against the
british. Washington finally succeeded In ne
gotiating a treaty with Great Britain. which In
part corrected these evils. Thus he succeeded
both in maintaining neutrality and averting war.
In spite Of discord In his cabinet and division OF
sentiment In the nation. And II was with full
heart that he wrote that part Of his Farewell Ad-
dress to the American people, September II. 1796.
as his retirement from the presidency approached.
That his heart was full Is shown by these words
from the address:
"In offering TO you, my countrymen. these coun-
cells OF an old and afrectionate friend. dare not
hope they will make the strong and lasting i'm
pression that could wsh--that they will control
the usual current Of the passions or prevent our
nation from running the course which has hitherto
marked the destiny of nations But II may even
hatter myself that they may be productive Of
some partial benefit some occasional good-that
they may and then recur TO moderate the
fury OF party spirit TO warn against the mischiefs
of foreign intrigue to guard against the i'm
postures of pretended patriotism-this hope viii
be a full recompense for the solIctude for your
welfare by which they have been dictated"
The part of the Farewell Address most used. OF
course, was thosa paragraphs toward its close
which bear on foreign relations of the United
States These paragraphs were read into the
Congressional Record follows on several oc-
casions
Against the insldicus wiles Of foreign influence
Il conjure you to believe me- fellow citiEens) the
Jealousy OF a free people ought to be constantly
awake since history and experience prove that
foreign influence is OF the most baneful foes
e< republican government