George Washington’s Farewell Address, September19, 1796
American Minute with Bill Federer
“The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolken described man’s insatiable lust for “the ring of power.”
Throughout history, kings killed to get power and kings killed to keep power. In a real sense, George Washington had the power…and gave it up…twice.
The first time was when he resigned his commission as General of the Continental Army in 1783.
When the American-born painter Benjamin West was in England painting the portrait of King George III, the King asked what General Washington planned to do now that he had won the war.
West replied:
“They say he will return to his farm.”
King George exclaimed:
“If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”
Later, after serving two terms as President, Washington decided to return to his Mt. Vernon farm.
This was similar to Roman leader Cincinnatus, who twice led the Roman Republic to victory in battle then returned to his farm, resisting the temptation to be dictator.
The world watched in unbelief as President George Washington delivered his Farewell Address, SEPTEMBER 19, 1796, stating:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars…”
Washington continued:
“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion…
Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle…
Morality is a necessary spring of popular government…Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation?”
Washington warned further:
“And of fatal tendency…to put, in the place of the delegated will of the Nation, the will of a party; – often a small but artful and enterprising minority…
They are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People and to usurp for the themselves the reins of Government;
destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion…”
Washington added:
“This leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism…
Disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual…
(who) turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty…
The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism…”
Washington concluded:
“Let there be no change by usurpation… It is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”, stating:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars…”
The Moral Liberal contributing editor, William J. Federer, is the bestselling author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion,” and numerous other books. A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet. Check out all of Bill’s books here.
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