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

pledge of sobriety in Hamlet" honored in the
breach than in the observance
However, since this is Washngton's birthday and it
Is old custom and very good to recall the wisdom
of elder statesmen and particularly of mmortas,
it is timely to recount the counsel of first president
The major precepts of Washington are simply told.
He found occasions to address the people, but
nearly all such he made reference to two
and ONLY TWO fundamental policies which could be
relied upon keep this country peace and to keep it
Free
WASHINGTON thought it was very important that
w the United States should be at peace, and he pas
sonatey wanted it to be free.
So he always saying to the point of being con-
sidered monotonous in quarters that the way to
keep out of to be prepared for and that the
way to remain free to avoid foreign alliances and
commitments to other countries
ITO be prepared for war" he said in a speech to
joint session of Congress JAM 1890 sis of the
most efectual means of preserving peace
In his farewell address, Washington said:
at 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 rule of conduct for regard to foreign
nations is in extending commercial relations to have
with them little political connection possible"
DUT we have had many since Washingtons time,
- and since engaged in all of them without sufficient
preparation for them the precept of preparedness
OF keeping out OF has certainly been honored
more in the breach than observance.
At this very moment, the verge of
for which not sufficiently prepared.
OF course we have always wars, and
confidently think always will But perhaps should
not brashly risk peace and pay the price
which victory exacs, when permanently peaceful
condition might be purchased cheapy Washington
suggested.
AS to the admonition against foreign alliances that
sound precept of Washington is matter of dmming
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.
OUR modern American statesmen have not been paying
~ very much attention TO the precepts of George
Washington
They have not prepared us sufficiently to keep us
out of war
They have not prepared adequately for war.
They have made stand on foreign ground and quit
our own to do
They think the views of Washington are not appi-
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 was able to times and conditions and
problems more clearly than they 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 foreign through unwise and unsound
entanglements in foreign politics. and will conrive 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 u.s.
Some day, therefore, will have permanent peace
in America Why not have it in time? Why not have
it NOW?
BAERlNG DOWN ON THE NEWS: