by Karen Bufka

President George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address has much wisdom to share with us.  He was truly prescient.  I encourage you to take a few minutes to look it up online and read it.  I read it on http://www.constitutioncenter.org, The National Constitution Center’s website. Here is their introduction, which I am sharing because I couldn’t give any better synopsis/introduction myself: “In 1796, President George Washington published his “Farewell Address” to the nation.  After two terms in office, Washington decided to retire from public life—clearing the way for the peaceful transfer of power from one President to another.

This was one of the crowning achievements of the early American republic and an important precedent for future Presidents.  In his powerful valedictory address, Washington called for national unity and focused on threats at home and abroad.  At home, Washington feared the rise of political factions.  Abroad, he warned of the dangers of foreign entanglements.  For Washington, both foreign influence and newly emerging political parties threatened liberty and undermined the promise of republican government.  For the American republic to survive, the American people and their elected leaders had to commit to lives of civic republican virtue—valuing reason over passion and the public good over private self-interest.”

Washington exhorts us to stay true to the vision of a unified America, resisting the urge to break up into different groups within our nation.  He says, “The unity of government which constitutes you one people is… a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.  But as it is easy to foresee that…much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness…”

He points to the potential impulse to “alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.’  He says, “The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.”  Then, “… designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.  One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts… shield yourselves…against the jealousies and heartburning which spring from these misrepresentations…”

He cautions further against political parties:  “Let me.. warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.  This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind.  It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.  The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension… is itself a frightful despotism.  But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.  The disorders and miseries which result gradually 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… turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”

“…the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.”

About foreign entanglements: “ Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence… a free people ought to be constantly awake… Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other.  Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurpe the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.”

There is much more wisdom to be found here.  It is a powerful tonic just to follow his words, to drink in the clarity of his thought and vision.  And his extraordinary foresight.  It behooves us to listen to him.