1 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: On this episode of Newtsworld, I wanted to share with 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: you one of the most important documents in history United States, 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: because it sets the stage for our democracy to continue. 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: It was written by President George Washington as his farewell 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: address in seventeen ninety six. He never actually gave it 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: as a public speech, but it was published in Philadelphia's 7 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: American Daily Advertiser on September nineteenth, seventeen ninety six. Back then, 8 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: Philadelphia was the interim capital. As we've moved ultimately towards Washington, 9 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: d C. Washington had decided not to seek reelection. He'd 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: been elected twice. He frankly was tired, but he also 11 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: knew that it was very important to establish a limitation 12 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: on power, and by stepping down from power, he provided 13 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: a standard of two terms as a limit that would 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: literally go on all the way until Franklin Delano Roosevelt 15 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: in the nineteen forties and the country decided having presidents 16 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: elected more than two terms was such a bad idea 17 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: that we then passed the twenty second Amendment to the 18 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: Constitution to go back to Washington's president. So I thought, 19 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: as we celebrate President's Day, which is in fact Washington's birthday. 20 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: I wanted to both honor his legacy but also learn 21 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: from his legacy because it was an amazingly smart farewell address. 22 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: He had first started working on it late in his 23 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: first term when he thought he would not run for reelection, 24 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: and James Madison helped him with an early draft, And 25 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: then he was talked into running for reelection by both 26 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, who were competitors, but who 27 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: both agreed that Washington was so central to the survival 28 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: of the country that he had to run. They talked 29 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: him into running for a second term, and late in 30 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: his second term, he turned to Alexander Hamilton and asked 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: Hamilton to help improve the original James Madison draft, And 32 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: in the end, Washington himself went through the whole thing. 33 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: And it really tells you a lot about kind of 34 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: the basic principles of a republican government, the principles of 35 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: freedom that Washington had learned over a very long time. Remember, 36 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: he was a legislator in the Virginia legislature. Before we 37 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: became a country. He had been a soldier and actually 38 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: had played a key role in starting the Seven Years War, 39 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: or what we called in America the French and Indian War. 40 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: He had been part of the original Continental Congress and 41 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: then had been selected to go to Boston because they 42 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: thought having a Virginian had up the New American arm 43 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: was essential to unify the country. He then was at 44 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: war for eight solid years, went on to go back home, 45 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: rested a little bit, but drawn back in because it 46 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: was clear that the articles of Confederation were too weak 47 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: and that the states were floundering. And so he became 48 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: the president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and after 49 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: that he was unanimously elected as president twice. So this 50 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,839 Speaker 1: document represents a lifetime of wisdom, a lifetime of experience, 51 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: a lifetime of thinking about government, thinking about war, and 52 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: thinking about national survival. And Washington encourages people to understand 53 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: that he was stepping down not because he wasn't concerned, 54 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: but because he really thought it was responsible to have 55 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: a limitation. This is, by the way, the same thing 56 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: he had done at the end of the war when 57 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: the British had finally granted us our independence. Washington goes 58 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: to the Continental Congress, which at that time was meeting 59 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: in Maryland and in Annapolis. You can actually see this 60 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: if you go to the state Capitol. There is a 61 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: room set aside where they have recreated with life size 62 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: statues Washington showing up to tender his sword and return 63 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: it and say, Okay, I did my job, we won 64 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: the war. I'm going home. It was the tradition which 65 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: that generation understood called Cincinnatus. There was a Roman farmer 66 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: named Cincinnatus who had to take up a sword, go 67 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: and fight, win a war, and then went back home, 68 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: and he was always seen as the symbol of Republican virtue. 69 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: The Americans had been very worried because in the hundred 70 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 1: years earlier, during the English Civil War, Cromwell created a 71 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: genuine dictatorship, and that dictatorship had imprinted itself on the 72 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: memory of people, and they were very frightened that Washington 73 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: might attempt to become a Cromwell, to become a dictator, 74 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: because he clearly was the most powerful and most popular 75 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: person in the colonies. So this act of deliberately returning 76 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: his sword to the Congress saying I've done my job, 77 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: I'm now going back home to Mount Vernon, because he 78 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: really loved Mount Vernon. He wanted to go back to 79 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: being a gentleman farmer. When he was told about it. 80 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: King George the Third said, if this is really true, 81 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: if he has given up this power, then he will 82 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: be the greatest man of the century, because this was 83 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: so unusual. And now he's called back out of retirement, 84 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: he goes back to public service, and now he's at 85 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: the end of that period, and he says that he 86 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: owed everything to the American people. And that, as he said, 87 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: in looking forward to the moment which has intended to 88 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: terminate the career of my political life, my feelings do 89 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgement of that 90 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country 91 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: for the many honors that has conferred upon me, still 92 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported me, 93 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: and for the opportunities I've thence enjoyed of manifesting my 94 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: inviolable attachment by services faithful and persevering, though in usefulness 95 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: unequal to my zeal. If benefits have resulted to our 96 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: country from these services, let it always be remembered to 97 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: your praise, And as instructive example in our animals, that 98 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: under circumstances in which the passions agitated in every direction, 99 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:36,239 Speaker 1: were liable to mislead amidst appearances, sometimes dubious vicisitudes of fortune, 100 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: often discouraging in situations in which not infrequently want of 101 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: success has countenanced the spirit of criticism. The constancy of 102 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: your support was the essential prop of the efforts and 103 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: a guarantee of the plans by which they were affected. 104 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry with me 105 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: to my grave as a strong incitement to unceasing vows 106 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of 107 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: its beneficence, that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual, 108 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: That the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, 109 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: may be sacredly maintained, that its administration in every department 110 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: may be stamped with wisdom and virtue. That in fine 111 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: the happiness of the people of these states under the 112 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful 113 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing 114 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: as will acquire to them. The glory of recommending it 115 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: to the applause the affection and adoption of every nation 116 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: which is yet a stranger to it. In other words, 117 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: Washington saying to us that in the end he was 118 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: sustained by popular support. In the end, they were able 119 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: to come together because it was a free constitution maintained 120 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: by free people. Now think about this. He spent eight 121 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: years at war. Valley Forge was terrible. He had opponents 122 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: in the Congress trying to get him fired. He had 123 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: a lack of support. It would have been easy to 124 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: have broken, and yet he persevered because he believed the 125 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: American people believed in the cause of freedom, and he 126 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: was therefore their instrument in pursuing this moral cause. Now 127 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: he goes on to say that he really has some significant, 128 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: deep ideas that he wants to share with them. As 129 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: he puts it, quote the disinterested warnings of a parting 130 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: friend who can possibly have no personal motive tobias as counsel. 131 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: So think about it. Here he is at the end 132 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: of his long career, saying, look, I want to share 133 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: with you what I really believe, because as my final 134 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: contribution to the country that I really want you to 135 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: understand what has made America unique and what we have 136 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: to do to continue America. He goes on to say, 137 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: quote interwoven as is the love of liberty with every 138 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: ligament of your hearts. No recommendation of mine is necessary 139 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: to fortify or confirm the attachment. Close quote. Now he's 140 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: really saying something profound here. What he believed made Americans 141 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: unique was that they loved liberty, not in a shallow way, 142 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: but with every ligament of their hearts, and that this 143 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: was the base of Washington's belief in America. It's the 144 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: base of Washington's belief in freedom. He goes on to say, 145 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: because remember, at the time, the concept of a United 146 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: States of America was a unique thing. The thirteen colonies, 147 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: having become thirteen states, had voluntarily, through referendums and through 148 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: state legislatures, agreed to join together in this new constitution. 149 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: And it was still a very fragile document that only 150 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: been in power for eight years. It could easily disappear. 151 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: So a real part of Washington's farewell message is to 152 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: remind people of keeping the United States united. He goes 153 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: on to say, quote, the unity of government, which constitutes 154 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: you one people, is also now dear to you. It 155 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 1: is justly so, for it is a main pillar in 156 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: the edifice of your real independence. The support of your 157 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: tranquility at home, your peace abroad of your safety, of 158 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: your prosperity, of that very liberty which you so highly 159 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: prize button as it is easy to foresee that from 160 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, 161 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction 162 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: of this truth, as this is the point in your 163 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: political fortress against which the batteries of internal and externalemies 164 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: will be most constantly an actively, though often covertly and 165 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: insidiously directed. It is of infinite moment that you should 166 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: properly estimate the immense value of your national union to 167 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: your collective and individual happiness. That you should cherish cordial, habitual, 168 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: and immovable attachment to it, accosting yourselves to think and 169 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: speak of it as of the palladium of your political 170 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:27,599 Speaker 1: safety and prosperity, watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety, 171 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 1: discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can, 172 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: an event be abandoned and indignantly frowning upon the first 173 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our 174 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties 175 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: which now link together the various parts close quote now 176 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: those sacred ties, and that paragraph, I think is about 177 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: as clear a repudiation of wokeism as you're ever going 178 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: to see. It's about as clear a repudiation of the 179 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 1: anti American courses on our college campuses. It's about as 180 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 1: clear a repudiation of those who would refuse to stand 181 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: for the national anthem, refuse to salute the flag, refuse 182 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: to recognize that patriotism matters. Washnon explains why this is important. 183 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: He says, quote for this, you have every inducement of 184 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: sympathy and interest citizens by birth or choice of a 185 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,479 Speaker 1: common country. That country has a right to concentrate your affections. 186 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: The name of American, which belongs to you in your 187 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism 188 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight 189 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, 190 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: and political principles you have in a common cause fought 191 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: and triumph together. The independence and liberty you possess are 192 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: the work of joint counsels and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, 193 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: and successes. Now think about what he's saying here. But 194 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:57,599 Speaker 1: first of all, I would point out to those of 195 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: our friends who don't understand the importance of legal immigration. 196 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: Washington talks about citizens by birth or choice of a 197 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: common country. He then says, what are we well, we're 198 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: all Americans. We're not hyphenated Americans, We're not partial Americans. 199 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: We're all Americans. And that's why he talks about the 200 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: name of American, which he says must always exalt the 201 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: just pride of patriotism. And again, I would suggest this 202 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: is a complete repudiation of wokeism in all of its forms. 203 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: He also says that there are powerful reasons for us 204 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: working together, and he goes to a section talking about 205 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 1: how the North relates to the south, the South relates 206 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: to the North, and east relates to the west. And 207 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: it's easy for us to forget, but in his generation 208 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: is communicating something really central to the future of America, 209 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: and that is that we are all bound together, we 210 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: are all stronger together, and that we have every interest 211 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: in being able to maintain the country as a country. 212 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: So I think that it's very important to recognize that 213 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: Washington is, in the best sense of the word, a nationalist, 214 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: that he believes that it's very important for us to 215 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: bring ourselves together to see each other as fellow Americans. 216 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: And he also argues that we have to be careful 217 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: because otherwise we're going to have foreign countries try to 218 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: manipulate us, to exploit us, maybe even to attack us. 219 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: And I think his point is that the union of 220 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: the United States is a strength against foreign involvement, and 221 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: it's a strength against those who would come and take 222 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: us over. Now, he talked about this being quote, a 223 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: persuasive language to every reflecting and virtuous mind to exhibit 224 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: the continuance of the Union as a primary object of 225 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: patriotic desire. Now think about this and consider all of 226 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: the various current anti American sniping and the cynicism, and 227 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: the efforts to destroy statues, to refuse to teach history. 228 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: He's saying, clearly, what you have to have is a 229 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: persuasive language that exhibits the continuance of the Union as 230 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: a primary object of patriotic desire. And in that context, 231 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: he says, quote, is there a doubt whether a common 232 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: government can embrace so large a sphere, Let experience solve it. 233 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: To listen to mere speculation in such a case were criminal. 234 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: I think that's how he would regard, by the way 235 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: most of wokeism, that it is an effect criminal, not 236 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: in the legalistic sense, but in the sense that it 237 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: is a fundamental assault on the very patriotism which binds 238 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: us together. He goes on to say, quote, we're authorized 239 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: to hope that a proper organization of the whole, with 240 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: the auxiliary agency of governments for the respective subdivisions, will 241 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: afford a happy issue to the experiment. Close quote. Remember 242 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: this really was an experiment. Washington goes on to call it, 243 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: quote it is well worth a fair and full experiment. 244 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: And what is he saying. Never has there been an 245 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: effort to have a continent wide free country. The occasional 246 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: examples of some limited level of freedom Iceland which had 247 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: a self governing model, Venice, which had a self governing model, 248 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: although it was an oligarchy, not a pure democracy Athens. 249 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: You'd have to go all the way back to Rome 250 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: to see any effort to create a republic on a scale. 251 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: And what he is suggesting is that this is our moment, 252 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: that this is truly an experiment, and it is up 253 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: to us who are prepared to deal with that. In fact, 254 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: he's very strong about people who undermine it. He says, quote, 255 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: there will always be reason to distrust the patriotism of 256 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: those who, in any quarter man'd ever to weaken its bands. Now, 257 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: can you imagine if we quoted Washington to people who 258 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: are awoke? Now, he's very concerned about breaking into the 259 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: kind of factions that will simply be hostile, and that 260 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: will simply decide that they would rather devour each other 261 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: than find a way to solve the country. He says, 262 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: quote to the efficacy and permanency of your union, A 263 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict 264 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: between the parts, can be an adequate substitute. They must 265 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: inevitably experience the infractions and interruptions which all alliances in 266 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous of truth, 267 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: you have improved upon your first essay by the adoption 268 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: of a constitution of government better calculated than your former, 269 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: for an intimate union and for the efficacious management of 270 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: your common concerns. Now, what does he say. Remember when 271 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: he says the first essay, he's really talking about the 272 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: Articles of Confederation, which were the articles adopted by the 273 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,479 Speaker 1: colonies in their rebellion against Great Britain, and they had 274 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: turned out to be too weak, to lack authority and 275 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: to be unable to solve problems. And so the Constitution's 276 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: actually the second grade experiment, the first one literally in 277 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 1: Washington's lifetime, had failed, and so he realized that the 278 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: Constitution could fail. Also in many ways. His farewell address 279 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: and part is designed to prop up, reinforce, and strengthen 280 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,479 Speaker 1: the Constitution and get people understand how important it is. 281 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: He goes on to say, quote, this government, the offspring 282 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 1: of our own choice, uninfluenced and on awed, adopted upon 283 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, 284 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, 285 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, 286 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: has a just claim to your confidence and your support, 287 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in 288 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: its measures, our duties, enjoined by the fundamental maxims of 289 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: true liberty. Now, what he's saying here is that we 290 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: now have a stable system. When he says that it 291 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: was adopted upon full investigation of mature deliberation, he is 292 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: in part saying that the Federalist papers, which were the 293 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: greatest political documents ever written as a brochure. Basically, it's 294 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: a thick brochure. And the federalist papers had laid out 295 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: the concept of the constitution, how it would work, why 296 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: it was the right structure, and that the country had 297 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: adopted the constitution freely. Now he goes on to say, 298 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in 299 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: its measures are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of 300 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: true liberty. In other words, you can say anything you 301 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: want prior to adopting a law, but then when the 302 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: laws best, you have an obligation to obey it. That's 303 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: what being a citizen is. And he goes on to say, 304 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: the basis of our political systems is the right of 305 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: the people to make and alter their constitutions of government. 306 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: But the constitution, which at any time exists till changed 307 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, 308 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the 309 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: power and the right of the people to establish government 310 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. That, 311 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: by the way, I think, comes at two different directions. 312 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: First of all, if you read that, you understand Lincoln 313 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: in his possession on secession. The fact is, as Washington said, 314 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 1: the Constitution, which at any time exists till changed by 315 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is 316 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: sacredly obligatory upon all. You read that, and you understand 317 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: almost everything about Lincoln's position that he had sworn an 318 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: oath to protect the constitution. And as he put it, 319 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: those who wanted to secede did not have such an oath, 320 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: but he did, and he would protect it. But in addition, 321 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 1: he's suggesting that once you've adopted the rules, then you 322 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: have to obey the rules until you change them. And 323 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: you're free to change them, but that's a process. This, 324 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: by the way, I think would have been his absolute 325 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: condemnation of the riots of the summer of twenty twenty 326 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: and his condemnation of the riot which occurred at the 327 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: Capitol in January sixth, because they were violations. Washington was 328 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: a man who believed in order. He had fought wars, 329 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 1: he fought the French and Indian War, he fought against 330 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: the British for eight years. But those who were orderly 331 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: structured processes, he've deeply opposed the mob. He deeply opposed 332 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: the kind of violence which is all too common, and 333 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: he would deeply have opposed the sceptance of criminality which 334 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: has become part of recent times. He goes on to say, 335 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: quote all obstructions to the execution of the laws. And 336 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: after all, let me say, what is a mob burning 337 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: down a town anything but an obstruction to the execution 338 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: the laws? For that matter, what is a group of 339 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: people trying to occupy the capital except an obstruction to 340 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: the execution of the laws. So let me go on, 341 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: Missus Washington, quote all obstructions to the execution the laws. 342 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: All combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the 343 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: real design to direct, control, counteract, or all the regular 344 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: deliberation and action of the constituted authorities are destructive to 345 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: this fundamental principle and of fatal tendency. They serve to 346 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force, 347 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: to put in the place of the delegated will of 348 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: the nation, the will of a party, often a small 349 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: but artful and enterprising minority of the community, and, according 350 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: to the old triumphs of different parties, to make the 351 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: public administration the mirror of the ill concerted and incongruous 352 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and 353 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual 354 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,640 Speaker 1: interest Now, let me take that apart for a second. 355 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: He's drawing a sharp distinction here between the mirror of 356 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: the ill concerted and incongruous projects of faction. Certainly what 357 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: he would have thought of in the riots of the 358 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: summer of twenty twenty, certainly what I would have thought 359 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: of on January the sixth. Instead, what did he call for? 360 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: He calls for what the true legislative process is, the 361 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:45,479 Speaker 1: organ of consistent and wholesome plans, digested by common counsels 362 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: and modified by mutual interests. This is the essence of 363 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: the legislative process at its very best. And he goes 364 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: on to repudiate the idea that there are times that 365 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: you should be allowed to riot because it's so important. 366 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: He says, comments or associations of the above description may 367 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: now and then answer popular ends. They are likely, in 368 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: the course of time and things, to become potent engines 369 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled 370 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: to subvert the power of the people. And to use 371 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: surf for themselves the reigns of government, destroying afterwards the 372 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion. Now 373 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: that is as good a paragraph describing what happened in 374 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: Russia with Lenin, describing what happened in China, with Mausidung, 375 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: describing what happened in Germany with Hitler, in Italy with Mussolini. 376 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: The fact is, once you've break down the rules, once 377 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: you allow the mob to dominate, once you allow force 378 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: to prevail over reason, then, as he put it, destroy 379 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion, 380 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: because then you no longer have a chance to have regular, 381 00:24:55,960 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: orderly government. He goes on to say, toward the preservation 382 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: of your government and the permanency of your present, happy state, 383 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 1: it is requisite not only the steadily discountenance of regular 384 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: oppositions to us acknowledge the authority, but also that you 385 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, 386 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: however specious the pretexts. Now, what he's saying here is 387 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: that the system was founded by being carefully thought through, 388 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: It has a clear structure, and that people who want 389 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: to innovate without going through the process of amendment are 390 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: in fact changed. It's essentially a preemptive exclusion of the 391 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: modern Supreme Court model, where, for a long stretch of 392 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,479 Speaker 1: at least sixty years, the Supreme Court members thought they 393 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 1: could rewrite the Constitution cheerfully as a miniature constitutional convention 394 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: in any five justices became a constitutional convention in Washington, 395 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: saying that's explicitly wrong, that in fact, what you have 396 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:23,439 Speaker 1: to do is ensure that the law is enforced and 397 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 1: that the structure is there. He goes on to say, 398 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: liberty itself will find in such a government with powers 399 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: properly distributed and adjusted. It's sure it's guardian. It is 400 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: indeed little else than a name where the government is 401 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine 402 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: each member of the society within the limits prescribed by 403 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: the law, and to maintain all the secure and tranquil 404 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:52,479 Speaker 1: enjoyments of the rights of person and property. So he 405 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: really wants a system where you don't have the teachers 406 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: union dominating, you don't have interest groups dominating, you don't 407 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 1: have lobbyists dominating, and you don't have mobs dominating. And 408 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: I think it's very important to saying that this was 409 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: the wisdom of somebody who had spent a lifetime studying 410 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: human nature, managing and leading people, and achieving things that 411 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: were truly historically remarkable. And he says, look, inevitably, they're 412 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: going to have these challenges. He goes to say, quote, 413 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: this spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its 414 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It 415 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, 416 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: or repressed. But in those the popular form it is 417 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy. 418 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: So it's this spirit of faction, the spirit of domination, 419 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,959 Speaker 1: this spirit of breaking the rule, which is truly the 420 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: worst enemy of freedom and liberty. He goes on to say, 421 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: quote the alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened 422 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: by the spirit of revenge, natural departing dissension, which in 423 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, 424 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length 425 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and 426 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to 427 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual, 428 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,880 Speaker 1: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, 429 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 1: more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this 430 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: dispossession to the purposes of his own elevation on the 431 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: ruins of public liberty. Now think about that. Here he has, 432 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: in a paragraph written concurrently with the French Revolutions, turned 433 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: into a despotic totalitarian system that was using the guillotine 434 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: to kill most of the aristocrats and many religious people. 435 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 1: Here he pulled together an analysis which will apply directly 436 00:28:56,760 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: to Russia, Germany, Italy, China, Spain under Franco, which today 437 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: would apply to Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, North Korea. It's an 438 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: astonishing example that Washington is timeless, that what he had 439 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: learned is true for all of history, and that his 440 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 1: wisdom is as important and relevant today as it would 441 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: have been in seventeen ninety six. He goes on to say, quote, 442 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party 443 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of 444 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves 445 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. 446 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: It agitates the community, where ill founded jealousies and false 447 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: alarms kindles the animosity of one part against another Foeman's 448 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to for 449 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: an influence and corruption which find a facilitated access to 450 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: the government itself through the channels of party passion. Thus, 451 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: the policy in the will of one country are subjected 452 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,479 Speaker 1: to the policy and will of another. Now, could you 453 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: find a more perfect same member this guy is writing 454 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: Washington's writing in seventeen ninety six. Would you like to 455 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: look at the Chinese donations to the University of Pennsylvania, 456 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: University of Delaware? Would you like to look at the 457 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: efforts by a variety of countries to penetrate the United States? 458 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: Would you like to look at the degree to which 459 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: riot and insurrection have been fomented? Washington could be writing 460 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: this today. That's how timelessness is quote. It is important, 461 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: likewise that the habits of thinking in a free country 462 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 1: should inspire caution in those entrusted with his administration to 463 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the 464 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. 465 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of 466 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,959 Speaker 1: all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever 467 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: the form of government, a real despotism. A just essment 468 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: of that love of power and proneness to abuse it 469 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy 470 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: us of the truth of this position. Close quote. What 471 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: Washington is saying is that the tendency towards acquiring power 472 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: what Lord Acton would describe when he said power tends 473 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 1: to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Notice that with absolute 474 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: power he drops tens and says it just corrupts absolutely. Well, 475 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: one hundred years earlier, Washington is writing the same thing, 476 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: and he's warning us, if you're not careful, people who 477 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:43,160 Speaker 1: love power manipulate the system, accumulate power inevitably drift towards 478 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: a situation that is enormously dangerous. And that is why 479 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: you always have to be careful about keeping the system 480 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: working within the constitutional limits. I think that it's very, 481 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: very important to recognize that Washington is constantly trying to 482 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: remind us in this document that at the heart of 483 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 1: freedom has to be self controlled. That self government requires 484 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 1: in a sense governing self. He says, quote, it is 485 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:17,280 Speaker 1: substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring 486 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: of popular government. The rule in need extends with more 487 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 1: or less force to every species of free government. Who 488 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: that is a sincere friend to it, can look with 489 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of fabric promote 490 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 1: that as an object of primary importance, institutions for the 491 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 1: general diffusion of knowledge in proportion as the structure of 492 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential 493 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: that public opinion should be enlightened. Now, he couldn't say 494 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: it better. The very collapse of our school system, the 495 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: unwillingness of the modern generation of college professors to teach 496 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 1: accurate history, the desire of the media to be anti 497 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: American and to mock America and undermine America. All those 498 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: are precisely what washington And was warning us about back 499 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: in seventeen ninety six. He goes on to say that 500 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,080 Speaker 1: you should be very careful. Remember, he had worked in 501 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 1: the government which had virtually no money, which was deeply 502 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: in debt, fought the entire Revolutionary War a shoestring, and 503 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: so he understood the importance of having a balanced budget. 504 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 1: The importance of being careful about public credit, and he 505 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: says quote as a very important source of strength and security. 506 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:29,239 Speaker 1: Cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to 507 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 1: use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense 508 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 1: by cultivating peace. But remember also the timely disbursements to 509 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it, 510 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 1: avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning 511 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of 512 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars of occasion 513 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 1: not ungenerously throwing upon prosperity. The burden which we ourselves 514 00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 1: ought to bear the execution of these maxims belongs to representatives. 515 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,959 Speaker 1: But it is necessary that public opinion should cooperate to 516 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:08,320 Speaker 1: facilitate them the performance of their duties. It is essential 517 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 1: that you should practically bear in mind that towards the 518 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 1: payment of debts there must be revenue. That to have revenue, 519 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: there must be taxes. That no taxes can be devised 520 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant. The 521 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 1: three intrinsic embarrassment and separable from the selection of the 522 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,800 Speaker 1: proper objects, which is always a choice of difficulties, ought 523 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of 524 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 1: the conduct of the government in making it, and for 525 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, 526 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,359 Speaker 1: which the public exigencies may at any time dictatew what's 527 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:41,800 Speaker 1: he saying saying? First of all, if you're going to 528 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: run up spending, you're gonna have to pay for it. 529 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: The way you pay for it is called taxes. Taxes 530 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: are really unpleasant. On the other hand, what you don't 531 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 1: want to do is run up huge amounts of debt. 532 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:56,320 Speaker 1: And Washington is very clear about this. He really believes 533 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 1: in getting to a balanced budget in part because he 534 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 1: seeing what happened in the United States. He's seen how 535 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 1: close we came to bankruptcy. He has seen what the 536 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 1: absence of money meant, and therefore he believes that a 537 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: country which has got a balanced budget, has paid down 538 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: its debt, has the capacity to do far greater things, 539 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 1: to be safer and freer than it would otherwise be. 540 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:23,280 Speaker 1: So I think that it's actually worthier reading the entire document. 541 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 1: I've only given you key segments of it. He is 542 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 1: a remarkable person who had lived a remarkable life, and 543 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,319 Speaker 1: who literally is the father of our country. He is 544 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,160 Speaker 1: the person upon whom all the rest of America stands, 545 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 1: and he is the person that I think we have 546 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 1: to look to to personify the spirit of a republic, 547 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: to personify the spirit of a self governing system. He is, truly, 548 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 1: I think, somebody worthy of study. And frankly, if our 549 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: schools taught more about Washington, unless of a junk, we 550 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,759 Speaker 1: would be a lot healthy your country, and we would 551 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: be in fact, dramatically better off. I think so. I 552 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 1: hope you will take some encouragement from the wisdom of 553 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:12,799 Speaker 1: George Washington, the recognition of how timeless his ideas were, 554 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 1: and the possibility that we as a country can in 555 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:19,320 Speaker 1: fact be worthy of his legacy. And I want to 556 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: encourage you. If you're planning a visit to the Washington, 557 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,320 Speaker 1: DC area, do plan a visit to Mount Vernon, George 558 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:28,719 Speaker 1: Washington's home. It's a wonderful place. You'll get a real 559 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: sense of what Washington was like as a man, a leader, 560 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: and a president. You can find out more about Mount 561 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 1: Vernon and Mount Vernon dot org. Thank you for listening. 562 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:43,399 Speaker 1: You can view Washington's farewell address on our show page 563 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:46,799 Speaker 1: at Newtsworld dot com. News World is produced by Gingwishtree 564 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 1: sixty and iHeartMedia. Our executive producer is Garnsey Sloan, our 565 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:55,280 Speaker 1: producer is Rebecca Hall, and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. 566 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 1: The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. 567 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 1: Special thanks the team at Gingwich Free sixty. If you've 568 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 1: been enjoying Newtsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple Podcast 569 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 1: and both rate us with five stars and give us 570 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 1: a review so others can learn what it's all about. 571 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: Right now, listeners of news World can sign up for 572 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: my three free weekly columns at Gingwich Free sixty dot 573 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:21,839 Speaker 1: com slash newsletter. I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld.