Evening star., 1941-02-22
Woshinqton's Warning

MOST generously puDIlClZeQ OF all
Americans, it reasonably might
be supposed that George Wash
tngton would be understood by
his countrymen. Yet it hap
pens that his personality and
character are but imperfectly COM
pretended even by such scholars
as have studied him with particular
care. Perhaps his profundity is the
explanation of the paradox. His
nature is SO deep, so mysterious in
It's elements, so complex, so intricate
that it never has been fathomed.
Similarly, the loftiness of his spirit,
the noble dignity of his bearing, the
vast serenity which he maintained
throughout his career and the mar
velouS patience and tolerance which
he manifested from first to last are
unmeasured.
Gradually, however, several incon-
trovertible facts regarding the prin-
cipal founder of the United States
are becoming clear. John c. Fitz-
patrick, a modern interpreter, de-
clares that Washington was ''domi-
mated by the single idea and pur-
pose of finding out, if possible, what
was of greatest benefit to the Ma
ton" With the necessary knowledge
gained, the same writer continues,
he devoted "all his energies toward
accomplishing" what he conceived to
be the proper objective. Considering
the grandeur of his achievement, the
heirs of his genius perforce must
agree that he was an opportunist
in the finest meaning of that word.
There is nothing quiXotic in him. He
is pragmatic in all the business Of
his life.
Certain seeming contradictions in
his writings are easily reconciled
under this theory of the practical
idealism of Washington's mind. 1t
cannot be denied that he warned the
American public against "the in
sidious wiles of foreign influence"
and against Interviewing our des-
tiny with that of any part of Eu-
rope" But he also cautioned. his
own and later generations to remem-
ber that I'VE may safely trust to
temporary alliances for extraor-
dinary emergencies" In the COM
pelIing crisis which currently prevails
throughout the world there is reason
to believe that he would rejoice to
acknowledge friends for the United
States wherever he could find them.
From the start of the American Revo-
luton in ITS the foreign policy of
the Colonies was frankly eXpedient
After the adoption of the Constitu-
ton in 1887 it remained so. Without
the help of France, Spain and the
Netherlands independence could not
have been won. The active co-opera-
ton of these powers was wanted
subsequently as well. Samuel Flagg
Ben1is notes that "the diStreSSes Of
Europe have contributed to the ad-
vantage of American diplomacy"
The realism of such an attitude has
a precedent in the record of the
Father of His Country. Each of his
successors, according to John B.
Henderson, jr., guarded (the) vital
principle of on-intervention" yet
made treaties with foreign govern
ments whenever such agreements
could be of the slightest use to
America. The list of conventions"
is endless. 1t ranges from Algiers to
Zanzibar and embraces every organ
lied society on the face of the earth.
Co-incidentally, the implications of
the Monroe Doctrine, the Freedom
of the Seas, the Open Door in China,
the preservation of democracy and
hemisphere defense are universal.
When Washington's Farewell Ad-
dress" is read on the two hundred
and ninth anniversary of his birth it
should be recalled that it contains
not merely an injunction against
permanent alliances with any por-
ton of the foreign world" but also
recommended "the inducements OF
interest" as a perpetual guide.