Evening star., 1922-02-19
Washington's Address Cited,
Bearing on Today's Problems

proposes is only that we take a
hand in affairs in which We al
ready are involved and from
which nothing but an act Of God
can rescue US.
1t is peculiarly interesting just
now to recall the conditions un-
der which Washington wrote his
creed against parties and his
warning against foreign alliances.
conditions. but the average Amer
lean forgets his history readily.
And 1t must be admitted that
even the wisest and best of men
are affected by their experiences.
This is as it should be-. Ex-
periences would be idle IL they
did not leave lasting impressions
urally. we revert to the years
Immediately preceding the writ
ing of the farewell address and
ascertain what Washington had
just experienced.
Through John Jay he had ne
gotiated treaty with Great
Britain and the document had at
party politics We think modern
politics pretty raw. but no storm
of disapproval ever exceeded the
one which arose over this treaty.
1t had a complication. too, in the
fact that the Continental Con-
gress has created an alliance. Of
fensive and defensive, with the
French government.
Washington disavowed himself
as a member of any party. He
looked upon the foreign relations
of the country as being entirely
removed from the domain Of
domestic politics. He believed
that they were left in their in
itiative with him and in their
referendum to the United States
Senate. Sworn to uphold the
it. but insisted on the exercise Of
the power which in his opinion
it gave him. And after final rati-
fication of the treaty he refused
to permit the House Of Represent
atives to interfere when 1T called
for the documents in the case.
Is it any wonder that Washing
ton viewed with alarm the in
sidious influences of party politics
in American life? And must not
his address be read in the light Of
the circumstances and conditions
moral obligation toward the French
people. arising out Of the alliance
entered into by the Continental
Congress, how much the Jay
treaty and the trouble in procur-
ing Its ratification, and how much
his own announcement of his doc
trine of neutrality may have had
to do with his views on entangiing
alliances, who can say?
1t is worth while to recall that
much OF the controversy over the
Jay treaty arose over one article,
which had to do with direct trade
with the British West Indies. The
expectation in American vessels Of
moiasses. sugar, coffee. cocoa or
cotton to foreign ports was pro-
hibited. Cotton was just beginning
to be matter of moment to the
south. In ratifying the treaty the
Senate made reservation to this
article.
It is NOT important whether
washington said that he would or
The historical incident that he did
accept 1t is valuable. He returned
the treaty to the King Of Great
BRIAN. who acquiesced in the res
ervatfon: Washington did not
notify the Senate that he would
accept the reservation, but he
recognised the right of the Senate
conduct acknowledged that it was
his duty to return the treaty with
the reservation.
What might have happened If
the Senate had adopted this course
OF conduct in connection with the
Versailles treaty no one can say.
but am inclined to believe that.
fhASA X h
stty~for the arms conference il
tbat lolicy had been followed.
4 \ X
Always as the anniversary of his
birth approaches. 1 find myself
wondering what would Washing
ton do II he came back to Amer.
lea. Observing the trade and COM
merce OF his country in every port
OF the world and his country's
nag floating over Hawaii, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, 1000
miles away. would he believe that
America should occupy an isolated
position in the world? Would he
declare that all We ask is to be
let alone? Would he put up a
sign: No trespassing or moonshin-
ing on these premises"?
It is easier to believe that he
would say: EFF you are not in
clined to be a hermit nation-and IL
you have neither regret nor apology
for the part you have taken in
world affairs. stay in and help
solve the greatest problems which
have arisen in democracy since it
became a moving force among
men. Your record SO far seems to
be one OF disinterested helpfulness
rather than OF national greed You
have had experience Of the bale
full influence Of party politics in
the foreign relations Of your coun-
try. In spite OF personal resent
ment and political grievances, do
what you may to promote the
peace of the world, guarding zeal
ously always your own integrity"
copyright, 1922, BY Thomas r. Marshall.)