GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL
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INTRODUCTION. George Washington was the first president of the United States. He should serve as an example of a leader dedicated to serve the nation and preserve liberty for future generations.
TWO PERIODS OF AMERICAN GENIUS. The United States has experienced two periods of genius— periods when uncommon, extraordinary events and accomplishments transpired. I believe these periods might be designated more appropriately as “God's blessings,” rather than “America's genius.” These two periods, which each lasted only a few years, are:
First period of genius... Foundation of a new country— a constitutional republic: A small number of men (and it was men, as women did not participate in government at this time), often called “the Founding Fathers," assembled to determine whether the North American colonies (later: states) should sever their relationship with and dependency upon the British crown and establish an independent nation.
The Founding Fathers were uncommonly wise and learned men. For many years, they had pondered, debated, and written what government should be. Through their dedication and defiance of what they considered an immoral government, they crafted the best form of government ever devised. (We have lost their vision, and the present American government— occupied by the corrupt, self-serving, mental and moral dwarfs in Washington— only poorly resembles the original plan for a constitutional government.)
I was dismayed when the American media and government officials celebrated the Arab Spring, which began in December, 2010. They were nearly breathless, as they applauded “democracy” coming to Egypt, Libya, and other countries— “just like the democracy we have in America.” The United States has never had a democracy. America has a constitutional republic. The simplest democracy has been likened to two foxes and a chicken debating and voting about what to eat for the next meal. Chicken anyone? The Arab Spring mobs had/ have absolutely no understanding about formation of a government. They had/ have no leaders like Jefferson, Adams, and other Founding Fathers— men who understood what government should be and how to achieve the framework of a just government. Chaos in the Middle East predictably followed, and the security of Israel and the rest of the world are jeopardized because of the inept leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamofascists. An out-of-control “democracy,” as we are witnessing, may be far worse than the former dictatorships with which nations could work. These dictators were evil men, but they kept Christians safe and they could work with Israel and Werstern nations.
Because of the work of a relatively small number of men in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the United States of America was born. A remarkable covenant between the people and the government— the Constitution— was adopted. All of our laws should be based on this great document. America's constitutional law is being eroded by efforts to replace it with Islamic (Sharia) law and international (United Nations, World Court) law. The future Antichrist must be smiling from ear to ear, as he sees his dream of one-world government evolving.
| We no longer have men and women of the caliber of the Founding Fathers. We could not today re-create a nation comparable to the United States. Present-day Americans do not have the vision and character of this earlier generation. |
Second period of genius... Defeat of the Great Depression and the Axis Powers: During the 1930s and first half of the 1940s, two overwhelming dangers beset the United States and the rest of the world— the Great Depression and World War II.
The Great Depression was far, far more devastating than the recession we recently experienced (are still experiencing?). Grinding poverty gripped America and the rest of the world. America and her allies (Great Britain, USSR, and others) fought a world war against the Axis Powers— the Third Reich (Nazi Germany), led by Adolf Hitler; Fascist Italy, led by Benito Mussolini; and the Empire of Japan, led by Hirohito. The carnage experienced in that war was far greater than that which we have experienced in all wars since that time. Incidentally, World War II, which ended in 1945, is the last war America has won. In multiple wars over the following seventy years, America has not experienced victory!
Through the dedication and hard work of millions of Americans, America survived the Great Depression and defeated the Axis Powers. The generation alive at that time has appropriately been called the "Greatest Generation.” Surely this generation was the greatest of all American generations. I marvel at the accomplishments of this generation.
| We no longer have men and women of the caliber of the Greatest Generation. We could not now overcome the challenges faced by Americans in the 1930s and 1940s. Present-day Americans do not have the work ethic and character of this earlier generation. |
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE NATION — UNHEEDED! George Washington (1732-1799) accomplished the following,
among other things:
• He was a planter at his beloved Mount Vernon, Virginia.
• He served with valor, if not always victoriously, in early (pre-Revolutionary War) military campaigns.
• He was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress.
• He served as commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), in which his ragtag troops, often living under desperate conditions, defeated the mightiest army of
that time— the army of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
• He was elected (1789) as the first president of the United States, and served two four-year terms. He declined a third term, establishing the precedent that an American president should not
serve more than two terms (until Franklin Delano Roosevelt broke this tradition in the twentieth century). His presidency was marked by reforms and fairness, and he was greatly beloved by his countrymen.
He issued the Proclamation of Neutrality (1793), which served as the basis for avoidance of American entanglement in foreign conflicts. On the downside, in my opinion, he favored a strong central
government, implemented a tax system, and established a national bank. He has always been considered one of America's greatest presidents. His likeness is sculpted into
Mount Rushmore. The state of Washington is named after him, and he is the only American to have a state bear his name. Also, the nation's capitol— Washington DC— is named after him.
In 1796, George Washington was nearing completion of his second term as president. He was weary from many years of service devoted to the young United States of America, and he was feeling the effects of advancing age. He wrote a letter, called an “address,” although it was never delivered as a speech. The letter, addressed to the people of the United States— “friends and neighbors” — was first published on September 19, 1796 in the American Daily Advertiser. It was soon reprinted in other newspapers and pamphlets. Read the full text of his farewell address.
Washington's pleas: In this address, Washington made pleas in three basic areas of concern:
• America should stay neutral;
• Good government is based on religion and morals; and
• Political parties are dangerous.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, Version 4.0, has summarized Washington's address in a useful
blog (© 2011). Washington advised Americans of the following:
• Be vigilant: people will seek to use the government for selfish ends.
• Avoid overgrown military establishments; they are hostile to liberty.
• Prevent all obstructions to the execution of the laws.
• Control bureaucracies; make sure they all work together.
• Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government.
• Give allegiance to the Constitution; improve it as necessary.
• Do not alter the Constitution lightly, or based on hypothesis; apply the experience construed to the document when it was created.
• Be suspicious of administrators; they may serve themselves rather than the people.
• Watch for consolidation of power in any department of government.
• Preserve existing checks and balances, and add more where power needs to be checked.
• Religion and morality are essential to create the virtue necessary to preserve the union.
• Promote widespread education; democracy requires literate citizens that understand the system of governance and take responsibility for themselves.
• Avoid debt; and immediately discharge any debt created by war.
• Taxes are unpleasant; government spending should be candidly conducted.
• Cultivate peace and justice toward all nations.
• Avoid alliances and maintain neutrality among nations.
• Avoid dependency; a weak state that allies with a stronger state will become its servant.
• Real patriots will resist intrigues, while dupes will surrender to interests.
• In trade, give no nation a favored nation status.
• Be guided by principles, not interests.
Questions: Has the United States completely ignored the warnings of President George Washington? Would America be a far greater country, if we had heeded— and would still heed— Washington's warnings? Would Americans even allow themselves to live in the moral, fiscally responsible society envisioned by Washington?
