FFQF: George Washington on the Spirit of Party
Beginning with this month, I have decided to stop issuing monthly themes for the Founding Fathers’ Quote Friday meme. My reason for this is simply, it will make it easier for bloggers to participate, and encourage other bloggers to become participants (hopefully). There is the possibility that inspiration will strike me and I will issue a certain theme accordingly; however, I don’t plan on regularly issuing themes.
Today, I would like to quote from one of my most favorite Founders — George Washington. I think that he is, without dispute, the greatest of them all. The other Founders had their fine qualities, and I think that most all of them were men of worthy character, but they all knew that Washington surpassed them in virtue. Too bad our countrymen do not judge public personages by the same measure anymore.
One of Washington’s amazing qualities, which shone through especially during his turbulent presidency, was his astounding ability to stay aloof of party disputes. He was not “undecided,” so to speak; in principle, he was a staunch Federalist. However, he did not allow himself as a personal individual to be defined by political parties and factions. And because he won the respect and admiration of all, most everyone (save the handful of rascals who could not have cared less about principle) respected that in Washington.
So when Washington prepared to exit the Presidency, and public life forever, he prepared an address to encourage and warn his countrymen. He prepared this chiefly with the help of Alexander Hamilton, who had been Washington’s right-hand-man since the War for Independence. Hamilton, although the virtual founder of the Federalist Party and its outspoken leader, has been considered to be an unwavering partisan; but his record shows that he agreed Washington that political battles should be defined by core principles, not party lines.
Here are the words of Washington to our nation:
Let me now … 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, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, 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, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), 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.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
(emphasis added)
Does this sound familiar to anybody?
People, when we stop putting our trust in God, we automatically put our trust in man. In a nation such as ours, with a “popular government,” where the people get involved in their political system, if there is not a general trust in God, and a living conviction that God’s principles ought to be followed, then trust will be put in a political figure. Since not all people agree in everything, the people will be divided into their respective factions, and trust in the leader of their faction to “save” them.
I don’t care if that leader says he’s a Christian, a conservative, or pro-life. Even if he is all those things in principle, we ought not to put our trust in him. That is what we did with George W. Bush, and with several presidents before him. Of course, it turned out that he was neither of those things, and our liberties were wrecked in the process. He was a prime example of a person who wears the name-brands of all the good things, but was just a partisan, and not guided by principle.
We can’t afford to make that mistake again.
6 Responses to “FFQF: George Washington on the Spirit of Party”
March 6th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Wow, Herky. What an incredibly timely post! This ties in with my thoughts on people being created to be followers: i.e., sheep.
If we don’t follow God as we’re created to do, then we’re going to follow someone else.
I’m snagging this one for my book, my friend.
March 6th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Outstanding as usual!
Bbrraavvoooo! Bbrraavvoo! Bravo!
I love the way you manage to align Scripture with the Founder’s.
jps
PS I love the bit on ‘theme.’
March 6th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Thank you all for reading and leaving your comments.
Jean, that’s neat! And I’m glad I could give you information for your book. I’m more than happy to contribute.
JP — Thank you for your kind words. As for managing to align Scripture with the words of the Founders, for the most part, it isn’t that difficult actually, but it does take a lot of study and a reasonable amount of reflection.
I’m glad you like the “bit” on the theme.
March 6th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Good one!! Why oh why did our nation ever choose to go astray?
I hope to have my Friday’s post up today… by midnight, I hope.
March 6th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Hi Herc!
First, I’d like to thank you for creating such an informative and awesome blog. I stumbled upon it online a little while ago, and as soon as I read the “Funny Founders” sections, I was hooked. Keep up the good work!
Also, great choice of topic this week! Washington definitely was the greatest founder, even though they were all pretty amazing. His advice against political parties was very wise. American politics would be so different if we did not divide into parties. He is also right, though, about how it probably was “unavoidable.” It’s hard to imagine things any other way.
Nice call on where society’s trust lies today, too. People are not perfect and cannot be trusted completely with the good of others, especially people in politics. Maybe James Madison said it best: “The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.”
Again, great post!
March 7th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Hello Cato and Historylover2. Thanks for reading and leaving your comments.
Cato — I don’t think I can adequately answer your first question (not that you were directing it at me, I know); I am equally puzzled. I guess the reason why liberty has been such a rare and short-lived thing in the world is because man in his fallen state is not capable of it.
Historylover2 — Welcome to my blog! I’m so glad that you enjoy reading it. And I am honored by your kind words. Thank you.
Thank you also for your thoughtful comment. I love the quote by Madison — it’s so true.
Happy FFQF!
Leave a Comment