The Penn's Grove record., 1923-10-05
THE LIFE
OF
WASHINGTON
By REV. MASON L. WEEMS
Formerly Rector of Mt. Vernon
Parish
wAsHINGToN's LAST WORDS
To The People of The United States
September, 1896


81 have already intimated to you the
danger of the parties in the state, Win
particular reference to the founding OF
them ON geographical determinations.
Let me now take more comprehen-
sive view, and warn you in the most
solemn manner against the banetul
effects of the spirit of party, gener-
ally.
"This spirit, unfortunately, IS In
separable from our nature, having It's
roots in the strongest passion OF the
human mind. 1t exists under different
shapes in all governments, more OF
less stifed, controlled, or repressed;
but in those of the popular form, 1t IS
seen in its greatest rankness, and is
truly their worst enemy.
"The alternate dominion of one fac
ton over another, sharpened by the
spirit of revenge natural to party dis
sention. which, in different ages and
countries, has perpetrated the most
horrid enomities, is itself fr1ghttul
depotism. But this leads at length to
a formal and permanent despotlsm.
The disorders and miseries which re-
suits, gradually incline the minds of
men to seek security and repose in the
absolute power of an individual; and
sooner or later, the chief of some pre-
vailing faction, more able OF more
fortunate than his competitors, turns
this disposition to the purposes of his
own elevation, on the ruins of public
liberty.
without looking forward to an ex-
tremity of this kind (Which neverthe..
less ought not to be entirely out of
sight) the common and continual mis-
chiefs of the spirit of party are sutfl-
cient to make it the interest and duty
of a wise people to discourage and re-
strain it.
at serves always to distract the
public councils, and enfeeble the pub
lie administration. 1t agitates the
community with i'll founded jealousies
and false alarms; kindles the animos-
ity of one part against another; To-
ments occasionally riot an insurrec-
ton; and opens the door to foreign IN
fuence and corruption, which find a
facilitated access to the government
itself through the channels of party
passions. Thus the policy and will of
one country are subjected to the policy
and will of another.
"There is an opinion that parties in
free countries are useful checks upon
the administration of the government,
and serve to keep alive the spirit of
liberty. This, within certain limits, is
probably true; and, in governments of
a monarchical cast, patriotism may
look with indulgence, if not with favor,
upon the spirit of party. But in those
of the popular character, in govern
to be encouraged. From their natural
tendency it is certain that there will
always be enough of the spirit for
every sanitary purpose. And there
being constant danger of excess, the
effort ought to be, by force of public
opinion, to mitigate and assuage it.
A fire not to be quenched, it demands
a uniform vigilance to prevent its
bursting into flame, lest, instead of
warming, it should consume.
at is important, likewise, that the
habits of thinking in a free country
should inspire caution, in those en-
trusted with its administration, to con-
fine themselves within their respective
constitutional spheres, avoiding in the
exercise of the powers of one depart
ment to encroach upon another. The
spirit of encroachment tends to con-
solidate the powers of all the depart
ments in one, and thus to create, what
ever the form of government, a reaI
despotism. A just estimate of the
love of power, and proneness to abuse
it, which predominates in the human
heart, is sufficient to satisfy US OF
the truth of this position. The neces
sity of reciprocal checks in the eXer
else Of political power, by dividing
and distributing it into different de
positorieS, and constituting each the
guardian of public veal against in
vasions of the others, has been evincet
by experiments ancient and modern
some of them in our country, and un
der our own eyes. To preserve then
must be as necessary as to institute
them. If in the opinion of the people
the distribution of modification OF the
constitutional powers be in any par
ticular wrong, let it be corrected b,
an amendment in the way in whicl
the constitution desinates.-But le
let there be no change by usurpation
for though this, i'm one instance, ma.
be the instrument Of good, it is tn,
customary weapon by which free gov
ernments are destroyed.-Ihe prece
dent must always greatly overbalanc
i'm permanent evil anv partial or tran
sieut 'aaeft which the use can at an
time weld
COZ an The dispositions and habit
which lead to political prosperity re
liuiar arid morality aIe irdi =pensah.