George Washington's Farewell Address | 2008

President George Washington's Farewell Address (1796) revised using contemporary language.

Todd M. Fay
www.toddmfay.com
(c) 2008 Todd M. Fay

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To my friends and fellow Americans:

The time to elect a new President of the United States of America approaches. It’s time to think about who deserves your vote for the most important office in the country (if not the world). As such, it seems appropriate for me to tell you that I will not seek another term as President. Knowing this may help you in choosing a candidate to support.

When I first took office, I shared my thoughts and feelings about taking on the extremely difficult responsibility of the Presidency. Now as I prepare to leave office I can say I did the best I could, with good intentions, for an imperfect person. I was aware from the beginning I lacked the qualifications to take on such an important role. From my perspective (and perhaps even more so in the eyes of others) my experiences reinforce the reasons why I lacked confidence in my ability to be President.

Each passing day reminds me more and more that I both want and need to retire. As I believe there are no pressing matters requiring my personal attention at this time, I am at peace with my decision to retire from politics and I do so with my sense of duty as a patriot intact.

I could stop here, but I have serious concerns for our country and for each and every one of you. These concerns are so grave you must keep it alive even after I’m gone. My fears urge me, right now, to ask you to think deeply and seriously about what I have to say. I ask you to frequently consider the ideas, questions and concerns I’m about to put forth. I’ve thought about them a lot, from the vantage point of the Presidency, and they seem to be all important to your lasting happiness…

You love freedom and independence so much. I don’t need to say anything to convince you how important they are to you.

In addition to freedom and independence, you also value our national government which brings together each and every individual citizen as Americans. This is good. Government is a main support in the structure of your independence, supporting your peace at home and abroad, safety, prosperity and your freedom which is so important to you. But, as it is easy to foresee, great effort will be made and many methods will be used, from different causes and places, to convince you otherwise. Government is the point in your political foundation that our enemies, at home and abroad, will constantly and actively (though often secretly and insidiously) attack. Because of this you should always:

• Remember how valuable your national unity is to your well-being as a country and as an individual;
• Hold dear a friendly, habitual and immovable devotion to it;
• Think and speak of it as the safeguard of your security and prosperity as citizens;
• Look to preserve it with watchful eyes;
• Disapprove of even the slightest suggestion it can, in any event, be abandoned;
• Look down upon every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to weaken the invaluable ties which now link our various states and regions together.

No matter how you look at it, you have every incentive to see to this. All Americans, native and immigrant alike, are called to be patriots. We must always put the name “American,” which belongs to us through our nationality, before our identification with our respective states and localities. With slight shades of difference, we have similar values, manners, habits, and political principles. We fought for a common cause and won together. The independence and liberty we possess are the result of working together. Our teamwork is motivated by shared dangers, sufferings, and successes.

National Union Benefits Us All

Not only does national unity make sense, but more importantly, it has a practical impact on each of us. Because of this, we’re motivated to guard and preserve our union. Allow me to demonstrate…

• The North, in its free and open relationship with the South (protected by the equal laws of a common national government) finds great additional resources for its maritime and commercial enterprise and precious materials for its manufacturing industry.
• The South sees its agriculture industry grow and its economy expand.
• As the naval adventurers of the North explore southern channels, the South expands its knowledge of its surrounding lands; and while it contributes in different ways to sustain and grow the general knowledge of the national navigation, it benefits from the protection of a naval strength of the North.
• The East, in its relationship with the West, finds a valuable market for domestic goods and imports which will expand with the improvement of the national infrastructure.
• From the East, the West gets supplies it needs to grow and improve the quality of life of its people.
• Perhaps more importantly the West depends on the size, influence and future power of our shipping industry in the Atlantic for access to important overseas markets for its own products, lead by shared interest as one nation. This is yet another aspect of our collective interest as a country. Any other means by which the West can conduct essential foreign trade, either by its own power or through a connection with a foreign power (which flies in the face of the West’s commitment to our common cause), must be inherently unstable.

Through our united abilities and efforts, each state and its people finds:

• Greater strength;
• Greater resources;
• Proportionally greater security from external dangers;
• Fewer acts of aggression by foreign nations;

Most importantly is the absence of war between our states, which frequently afflicts neighboring countries. Rivalry alone is enough to bring about war between neighboring countries. Opposing alliances with foreign governments further provoke problems between neighbors. In unity, our states avoid the need for overgrown militaries which, under any form of government, hurt liberty. Overgrown military establishments are especially harmful to our form of government as a republic and the liberty it provides. Because of this national unity is crucial for liberty. Preserving our national unity preserves our liberty.

Perhaps there are some who are not convinced national union provides liberty. I understand. Truthfully, we’ll have to find out for ourselves. Guessing about it won’t do us much good. That being said, it’s worth giving an honest effort. Just remember, even though it makes sense to be united some will seek to divide us. It’s up to us to challenge their commitment to our common good.

Some Seek to Divide Us

I’ve had time to consider things that could destroy our unity. One serious example is the characterizing of parties based on their geographical location. Think northerners versus southerners, east versus west… coastal states areas versus inland areas. The power hungry will try to convince you that there is a real difference of local interests and views when it comes to the good of the nation. This is one of the quickest ways for political groups to gain power in one area – by misrepresenting the opinions and goals of other areas. You can never do enough to protect yourselves against negative feelings for your fellow Americans that result from this kind of manipulation. In fact, manipulation like this makes strangers, suspects and apparent threats out of those who are, in actuality, your brothers and your sisters – your friends and countrymen.

In order for our union to last and be effective we must have a government that represents all parts. Alliances between the parts, no matter how strict, will never be an adequate substitute for national unity. These inferior alliances must inevitably experience breakdowns which all alliances throughout time have experienced. Understanding the reality of this situation, we improved on our first attempt at government by adopting the Constitution of the United States of America which does a better job of supporting a solid union and effectively addressing the concerns we share as a nation.

Our constitutional government is independent of and uninfluenced by foreign powers. It is free in its principles. Its powers are equally distributed and balanced. It provides for both security and liberty.

Preserve the Balance of Powers

Our government has a built in process for making changes (through amendments). And it is our choice after having fully considering and debated over all other options. It deserves your support and your belief in it. Respect for and compliance with its authority, laws and judgments are fundamental duties of a truly free and self-governed society. At the foundation of our political system is our right to create and change the makeup of the government. Until such a time it is authentically and explicitly changed by the people, we have an obligation to observe the rules in place. The very idea that people have the power and the right to govern themselves assumes the duty of every individual to follow the law.

To preserve our government and create permanent good we must not only block flawed attempts to challenge it’s authority, but we must also resist the temptation to change it (for the sake of changing it), no matter how deceptively attractive the excuse to do so. One particularly dangerous scenario would be attempts to unbalance the powers between the three branches of government in order to undermine one or two branches which cannot be eliminated outright. No matter what changes (to the Constitution) are proposed, remember:

• Time and experience are necessary to prove and disprove elements of the government, just as in other things in life;
• Experience is the best teacher when it comes to testing a country’s existing structure of government;
• If we change the Constitution based strictly on opinions and guesswork we’re headed down a slippery slope of even more change as there will never be a shortage of opinions or guesses;
• For a country, especially one as large as ours, to effectively meet its common goals we require an active government, yet we must always put liberty first.

Our constitutional government, with powers evenly balanced and distributed, will guard liberty. “Government” becomes nothing more than a word when it is too weak to:

• Withstand the scheming of opposing political parties;
• Uphold the rule of law;
• Protect an individual’s right to their life, liberty and property.

The Negative Effects of Party Spirit

I’ve warned you of the dangers of national party politics, especially those which rely heavily on setting different areas of the country against one another. Now allow me to warn you further, and more seriously, of the negative effects of party loyalty in general.

Unfortunately, the tendency to align ourselves with a group is natural, powerful and deeply rooted in all of us. It exists in different forms in all governments and is controlled in greater or lesser degrees; when this tendency appears in popular culture though, that is where it is most ugly, and becomes our worst enemy.

Our tendency to align ourselves with a group distracts us from discussing our most important issues. It weakens our ability to effectively govern. It feeds insecurity and suspicion within our nation. It fuels animosity between us. At its lowest point it can even lead to violence, open rebellion and the breakdown of society. It creates an opening for outsiders to influence and corrupt us, which can go so far as to infiltrate our government through deals with political parties. At that point, we’re no longer in control of our lives; rather we’re subjected to the will and policy of others.

Some believe political parties within free societies keep the administration of the government in check and preserve liberty. This is probably true to some extent. And in the case of dictatorships, party loyalists may even indulge in and value their party affiliation. But in governments by the people and for the people, party loyalty should take a back seat to national patriotism. There will never be a shortage of enthusiasm for party loyalty it for wholesome purposes. If anything there is an ever present danger of too much of it. Therefore we should work to discourage party loyalty by default. Our passion for parties will never go away. We must constantly watch it to keep it from growing too strong. Otherwise, instead of helping us in the ways it can, it may destroy us.

Elected Officials Must Respect the Constitutional Boundaries of Each Branch of Government

Elected officials must respect the constitutional boundaries of their respective branch of government, be it Executive, Legislative or Judicial. Disrespect for this constitutional balance tends to consolidate the powers of all three departments into one, resulting in a dictatorship. If it turns out the balance of powers in the Constitution do not work, then it should be repaired though an amendment. The balance should never shift because someone or some group takes power into their own hands; even though it may be done with the best intentions, this is how freedom is destroyed. We must always uphold the proper constitutional balance of powers, even if there may seem to be some partial or temporary gain. Otherwise the harm done to our free and liberty loving society would be permanent.

Principles of Respect and Responsibility Support Our Government

Our respective faiths, beliefs and instinctive sense of right and wrong support the success of our government. It would be pointless for someone to stand up for the cause of liberty while turning their back on doing what is right for their fellow man. Our politicians must stand on principles, just like the best of our citizens do. Principles and our conscience have a direct connection with our wellbeing. Think about it: how can we secure our property, reputation and life in our justice system if we abandon our belief in time tested principles? One cannot maintain the common good without acting on principle. No matter how things change over the course of time, reason and experience teach us to expect that doing the right thing as a nation can only happen by conducting ourselves in line with principles.

Doing right – respect, dignity, compassion, etc. – by our fellow man is a requirement for government by the people to work. This is true for all forms of free government. No one who truly appreciates the inherent responsibility of self-government can dispute this. I encourage you to make a priority out of promoting institutions that instruct others on the responsibility of self-government – on how to do right by their fellow man. The more power the people have over their government, the more important it is for them to appreciate this point.

Protect the National Credit & Debt

Protect and value the nation’s financial credit. It is an important source of strength and security. Use it sparingly, by developing peace. Save through preparation; spending money in preparation for danger can prevent greater costs necessary to deal with crises. Likewise, prevent building debt by avoiding opportunities to spend. Work hard in times of peace to eliminate debts created by unavoidable wars. Don’t create a burden for future generations to bear.

Be Good and Fair to All Nations

Be good and fair to all nations. Develop and promote peace with all nations. Not only is this the right thing to do, its good foreign policy as well. As a free, enlightened and soon to be, great nation, our gift to the world will be a rare and noble example of a people always guided by a lofty sense of justice and desire to do well unto others. Doesn’t it make sense, that over time, this plan will more than compensate us for the temporary losses incurred by following it? A nation’s prosperity is proportional to its good will. The good of human nature suggests this course of action as sensible. If this sounds like a lofty intention with little practical value, perhaps even impossible, then consider the following sentiment.

In order to make this plan work, it’s essential to exclude deep-rooted animosity against particular nations and strong attachments to others. We must replace such aversions and attachments with friendly and fair feelings for all nations. If we indulge in habitual hatred or habitual love for particular nations we are, in a certain way, enslaved to such feelings. We would become a slave to hatred or affection, either of which is enough to blind us from us responsibilities and our own best interest.

Animosity between nations leads more readily to insult and injury. It amplifies resentment over minor offences, and leads nations to be arrogant and stubborn when accidental or frivolous occasions of dispute occur.

Likewise, strong attachment to another nation creates other problems. Sympathy for favored nations has us believe we share some imaginary common interest with them when we don’t. It makes their enemies ours and our enemies theirs leading nations into wars without just cause or good reason. These kinds of alliances also lead one nation to grant privileges to their allies which are denied to others. This causes two problems. First we end up giving away, unnecessarily, what we should keep. Second, we create jealousy and ill will toward us and tend to make those denied such privileges retaliate in kind. Such alliances and treaties make it easy for ambitious, corrupt and deluded citizens (who favor our “ally”) to sell out the interests of our country without resistance (and sometimes even with praise and support). The efforts of these misguided citizens are cloaked as good, well-intentioned ideas, following public opinion, or as a veracious passion for the public good, making what is in fact foolish compliance with ambition, corruption or inflation seem like great ideas.

My fellow Americans, please believe me. As free people we must always look out for treacherous attempts to trap us, since history proves foreign influences are one of the most destructive, poisonous and deadly enemies of a republic. But in order for our vigilance to be effective, it must be impartial, or else it will be used against us by the very influences we wish to avoid instead of as a defense against them. Excessive attachment for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause us to see danger coming only from the side we hate while hiding (and even supporting) the dangerous influence of the side we favor.

Neutrality

The first principle of foreign policy is: have as little political involvement with foreign nations when trading with them. Let’s complete, in good faith, the agreements we’ve already made, but let’s end our political involvement in foreign nations here and now.

The rest of the world’s nations’ priorities have little to nothing to do with us. As such, the other nations of the world will have their own problems, the causes for which are irrelevant to our concerns here at home. It’s a bad idea for us to get involved, through artificial alliances, in the constantly shifting global political climate or the relationships with friends and adversaries.

In neutrality we’re able to walk our own path. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, it may not be much time before:

• we’re unable to sustain injury from external annoyances;
• others come to respect our neutrality as being right and principled;
• hostile nations, realizing it impossible to beat us, will think twice before provoking us;
• we may choose, guided by justice, whether peace or war is in our best interest.

Why would we want to sacrifice these advantages of neutrality? Why would we want to leave our own country undefended while sacrificing to defend foreign lands? Why would we undermine our own peace and prosperity by getting involved in another country’s ambition, rivalry, interests, moods or other unpredictable changes?

Our best policy is to avoid permanent alliances with any other part of the world. I’m not suggesting we default on our existing obligations. We should observe our commitments in their real sense; honesty is always the best policy, for both private and public affairs. But, it’s both unnecessary and foolish to extend our commitments beyond their current scope.

We always want to make sure we have a strong national defense. This way we can safely choose to create temporary alliances during extraordinary emergencies.

Trade with Other Nations

Our sense of human decency, our national interest, and good foreign policy direct us toward peace and open exchange with all nations. But even our trade policies should take an even and impartial stand:

• neither asking for or granting exclusive favors or preferences;
• considering the ordinary course of business;
• growing sources of existing business and creating new industries patiently without forcing anything;
• With powers to define trade conventions, which the best of current circumstances and mutual opinion permit, but temporary and able to be changed or abandoned from time to time as experience and circumstances recommend, and with the following features:

o give trade a stable course;
o define the rights of our merchants;
o enable the government to support them;
o provide conventional rules of information exchange.

• always remembering it is foolish for one nation to seek favors from another nation without expecting to pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it receives. There is no such thing as a free lunch. By accepting favors from other nation, we may return the favor equally, but still be viewed with ingratitude for not giving more. The biggest mistake we can make is to expect or depend upon favors from other nations. It is a lesson experience will teach us and a delusion which a just and proud people must abandon.

Closing

Looking back at my presidency I can’t find any evidence of intentional errors I committed. That being said, I’m aware of my shortcomings and think it’s likely I made many mistakes. I beg God to prevent or lessen the consequences of those errors, whatever they may have been. I also hope you will always consider the mistakes I did make with tolerance, and that, after 45 years of public service (with upright enthusiasm), the faults of my limitations will be forgotten, as I must soon retire.

Relying on my country’s goodwill and driven by the patriotism, for themselves and their family, I expect to enjoy my retirement and the benefits of living under the good laws of a free government which is the eternal object of my heart and the great reward of our shared interest, love and sacrifice.

Original Source: J.D. Richardson, ed., Compilation of Messages and Papers of the Presidents, vol.1 (1907), 213.