Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-22
Washington $ Policies
For Peace and Freedom

However since this is Washington's birthday and it
Is an old CUSTOM good one to recall the wisdom
of elder statesmen and particularly of our immortals
is timely to recount the counsel of first president
The major precepts of Washington simply told.
He found many occasions to address the people, but
nearly all such occasions he made reference to two,
and ONLY TWO fundamental policies which could be
relied upon to keep this country at peace and to keep
free.
WASHINGTON thought it very important that
w the United States should be at peace and he pas
sionately wanted it to be free.
So he always saying, to the point of being
sdered monotonous in quarters that the way to
keep of be prepared for and that the
way to remain free to avoid foreign alliances and
commitments to other countries.
'To be prepared for war;" he said in speech to a
Joint session of Congress JAM s. 1890 us of the
most effectuai means of preserving peace"
In his farewell address, Washington said
sit is true policy to steer clear of permanent
alliances with any portion Of the foreign world"
why quit own to stand on foreign ground?" he
asked.
The great conduct for u.s. in regard to foreign
nations Is in extending relations to have
with them little political connection as possible"
DUT we have had many since Washington's time,
ID and since engaged in all of them without sufficient
preparation for them. the precept of preparedness
means of keeping out of has certainly been honored
more in the breach than observance.
At this very moment, are the verge of a war
for which we are not sufficiently prepared.
OF course have always wars and
confidently think always will. But perhaps should
net brashy risk peace and pay the price
which even victory exacts when permanently peaceful
condition might be purchased cheaply as Washington
suggested.
AS to the admonition against foreign alliances that
sound precept of Washington is matter of dimming
memory.
We made binding and costly alliances with foreign
nations in the first World War;
We have them now, and they are leading almost
certainly into another war;
NUR modern American statesmen have not been paying
~ very much attention to the precepts of George
Washington.
They have not prepared us sufficiently to keep
out of war.
They have not prepared us adequately for war.
They have made us stand on foreign ground, and quit
own to do so.
They think the views of Washington are not appli-
cable to day. because many of years have
passed and times have brought conditions which
he could not foresee.
But have they proved very much wiser than
Washington?
Have they preserved peace better and longer than his
methods might have done?
Have they shown foreign alliances and entanglements
to be to our advantage?
COME day American statesmen will discover that Wash
- ington able to times and conditions and
problems clearly than they now suppose.
Some day his simple precepts of preparedness and
attention to American affairs will be recognized
the true and safe and permanent policies of land
Some day the American people will become weary of
embodiment in foreign through unwse and unsound
entangements in foreign politics, and will contrve to
have statesmen power and office who have faith in the
wisdom of Washington, and will demand of them observ
and not the breach of the rules of national conduct
and policy which he devised for us.
Some day. therefore, will have permanent peace
In America Why not have it in time? Why not have
It NOW?
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