Evening star., 1938-03-13
The President Advised
To Read Washington.

To the Editor Of The Star:
7 SEE in The Star where Roosevelt states
tnat "Old Ship Of State is still on its
course" in writing his five years in the
White House. Which course is he steering
the odd Ship" toward? Communism,
Facism or Nazism?
It doesn't appear that Roosevelt or his
advisors have ever read or know anything
about the advice Gen. George Washington
gave on September II, 1896, in his farewell
address on tampering with our Constitu-
ton.
quote:
Toward the preservation Of your Gov
ernment and the permanency of your pres
ent happy state, 1t 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 principles, however
spacious the pretext. One method of as
sault may be to effect, in the forms Of the
Constitution, alterations which will impair
the energy of the system, and thus under
II, in the opinion Of the people, the dis
tribution or modification of the constitu-
tional powers be in any particular wrong,
let it be corrected by an amendment in the
way which the Constitution designates. But
let there be no change by usurpation; for
though this, in one instance, may be the
instrument of good, it is the customary
weapon by which free governments are de-
stroyed The precedent must always greatly
overbalance in permanent evil any partial
or transient benefit which the use can at
any time yield"
But the Constitution until
changed by an explicit and authentic act
of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory
upon all"
Against the insidious wiles of foreign
influence Il conjure you to believe me,
fellow citizens) the jealousy of free
people ought to be constantly awake, since
history and experience prove that foreign
influence is one of the most baneful foes of
republican government"
Europe has set Of primary interests,
which to us have none, or a very remote, re-
lation Hence, she must be engaged in
frequent controversies, the causes of which
are essentially foreign to our concerns.
Hence, therefore, it must be unwise In us
to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in
the ordinary combinations and collusions
of her friendships or enmities."
"As very important source of strength
and security, cherish public credit. One
method of preserving it is to use it as SPAR
insly as possible ="
And now I give a warning of Gen.
Washington's that may yet become q
prophecy:
"The alternate domination of one fac
ton over another, sharpened by the spirit
OF revenge natural to party dissension,
which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is
in itself frightful despotism. But it leads
at length to more formal despotism. The
disorders and miseries which result gradu-
ally 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 prevailing faction, more able
or more fortunate than his competitors,
turns this disposition to the purpose of his
own elevation on the ruins of public liberty"
Can 1t be that 'The Spirit of '76" is still
the most potent force for Americanism in
this Nation today? Can it be that Gen.
George Washington will again lead us
to victory-this time, victory over un-Amer-
ican ideas and principles. greed and in
trigue- words spoken 142 years
ago? Let us all heed Washingtons warn
ings.
Read Gen. Washingtons farewell ad-
dress! FRANK s. FLYNN.