Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-22
George Washington to Has
COuntrQmen

On September lo, 1896. George Washington,
declining Is serve for third time as president
of the United States, although having been
elected to that Office, delivered his memorable
Farewell Address" to his countrymen. Some
portions of this address are here reprinted
To the efficacy and permanency of your
Union, a government for the whole is indis-
pensable. No alliances, however strict, between
the parts can be an adequate substitute; they
must inevitably experience the lntractions and
Interruptions which all alliances, in all times,
have experienced. Sensible of this monientous
truth, you have improved upon your hrst essay,
by the adoption of constitution OF government,
better calculated than your former, tor an IN
innate union, and for the effcacous manage
ment of your common concerns. lhls govern
ment, the offspring of our own choice. unin-
1uenced and unawed adopted upon tull investl-
cation and mature deliberaton, completely tree
in its principles, in the distribution of its pow
ers, uniting security with energy, and contain
ing within itself provision for its own amend,
ment, has a just claim to your confidence and
your support Respect for its authority, COM
pliance with its laws, acquiescence in its meas.
ures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental
naxiins OF true liberty The basis OF our po-
ltical systems is the right of the people to make
and to alter their constitutions of government
But the constitution which at any time exists,
until changed by an explicit and authentic act
OF the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon
all. The very idea of power, and the right of
the people to establish government, presuppose
the duty of every individual to obey the estab-
HShed government.
All distractions to the execution of the laws,
all combinations and associations under what
ever plausible character, with the real design to
direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular
deliberations and action of the constituted au-
principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to
organize faction, to give it an artificial and ex-
traordinary force, to put in the place of the
delegated will of the nation the will of party,
often small but artful and enterprising minor
ity of the community; and, according to, the al
ternate triumphs of different parties to make
the public administration the mirror of the i'll
concerned and lncongruous projects of faction,
rather than the organ of consistent and whole
some plans digested by common councils and
modified by mutual interests
Towards the preservation of your govern
ment and the permanency of your present happy
state it is requisite, not only that you steadily
discountenance irregular opposition to its
acknowledged authority, but also that you resist
with care the spirit of innovation upon its prin
ciples, however specious the pretext One
method of assault may be to effect in the forms
of the constitution, alterations which will impair
the energy of the system land thus to under
mine what cannot be directly overthrown. In
u,
remember that time and habit are at least as
necessary to fix the true character of govern
ments as of other human nstitutions-that ex-
perlence is the surest standard by which to test
the real tendency of the existing constitution OF
country-that facility in changes, upon the
credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes
to perpetual change from the endless variety of
hypothesis and opinion; and remember, espe-
cially that for the efficient management of your
common interests in country so extensive
nftrc ant Nf -.
sstent with the perfect security of liberty is
indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such
government, with powers properly distributed
and adjusted its surest guardian. 1t is, indeed,
little else than a name, where the government
is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of
faction, to conhne each member of the society
within the limits prescribed by the laws, and
to maintain all in the secure and tranquil en-
joyment of the rights of person and property.
AS very important source of strength and
security cherish public credit. One method of
preserving it is to use it as sparingy as posi-
BILE, avoiding occasions of expense by cultivat-
ing peace, but remembering, also, that timely
disbursements, to prepare for danger, frequently
prevent much greater disbursements to repel it;
avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt not
only by stunning occasions for expense, but by
vigorous exertions in time of peace to dis
charge the debts which unavoidable wars may
have occasloned, not ungenerously throwing
upon posterity the burden which we ourselves
ought to bear. The execution of these maxms
belongs to your representatives, but it is neces-
sary. that public opinion should cooperate. To
facilitate to them the performance of their duty,
it is essential that you should practically bear
in mind, that towards the payment of debts
there must be revenue: that to have revenue
there must be taxes; that no taxes can be de-
vlsed which are not more or less inconvenient
and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrass-
ment inseparabe from the selection of the
proper object (Which is always choice of diff
fculties), ought to be decisive motive for
candid construction of the conduct of the gov
ernment in making it, and for spirit of
aquiescence in the measures for obtaining rev.
enue, which the public exgencies may at any
time dictate
Observe good faith and justice towards all
nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all
Religion and morality enjoin this conduct, and
can it be that good policy does not equally en-
join it? 1t will be worthy of free, enlightened
and, at no distant period, great nation, to give
to mankind the magnanimous and too novel
example of people always guided by an ex-
alted justice and benevolence Who can doubt
but, in the course of time and things, the fruits
of such plan would richly repay any tempor-
ary advantages which might be lost by steady
adherence to it: can it be that Providence has
not connected the permanent felicity of ma
ton with its virtue? The experiment, at least,
is recommended by every sentiment which en-
mobiles human nature. Alas! is it rendered i'm
possible by its vices?
Europe has set of primary interests, which
to us have none, or very remote relation
Hence, she must be engaged in frequent con-
troversies, the causes of which are essentially
foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it