华盛顿《告别词》.docx

华盛顿《告别词》.docx

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华盛顿《告别词》

TheFarewellAddress〔华盛顿《告别词》，1796.9.19〕

TheperiodforanewelectionofaCitizen,toAdministertheExecutivegovernmentoftheUnitedStates,beingnotfardistant,andthetimeactuallyarrived,whenyourthoughtsmustbeemployedindesignatingtheperson,whoistobecloathedwiththatimportanttrust,itappearstomeproper,especiallyasitmayconducetoamoredistinctexpressionofthepublicvoice,thatIshouldnowappriseyouoftheresolutionIhaveformed,todeclinebeingconsideredamongthenumberofthose,outofwhomachoiceistobemade.        

Ibegyou,atthesametime,todomethejusticetobeassured,thatthisresolutionhasnotbeentaken,withoutastrictregardtoalltheconsiderationsappertainingtotherelation,whichbindsadutifulCitizentohiscountry--andthat,inwithdrawingthetenderofservicewhichsilenceinmySituationmightimply,Iaminfluencedbynodiminutionofzealforyourfutureinterest,nodeficiencyofgratefulrespectforyourpastkindness;butamsupportedbyafullconvictionthatthestepiscompatiblewithboth.        

    Theacceptanceof,&continuancehithertoin,theOfficetowhichyourSuffrageshavetwicecalledme,havebeenauniformsacrificeofinclinationtotheopinionofduty,andtoadeferenceforwhatappearedtobeyourdesire.Iconstantlyhoped,thatitwouldhavebeenmuchearlierinmypower,consistentlywithmotives,whichIwasnotatlibertytodisregard,toreturntothatretirement,fromwhichIhadbeenreluctantlydrawn.Thestrengthofmyinclinationtodothis,previoustothelastElection,hadevenledtothepreparationofanaddresstodeclareittoyou;butmaturereflectiononthethenperplexed&criticalpostureofourAffairswithforeignnations,andtheunanimousadviceofpersonsentitledtomyconfidence,impelledmetoabandontheidea.        

    Irejoice,thatthestateofyourconcerns,externalaswellasinternal,nolongerrendersthepursuitofinclinationincompatiblewiththesentimentofduty,orpropriety;&ersuadedwhateverpartialitymayberetainedformyservices,thatinthepresentcircumstancesofourcountry,youwillnotdisapprovemydeterminationtoretire.        

    Theimpressions,withwhich,Ifirstundertookthearduoustrust,wereexplainedontheproperoccasion.Inthedischargeofthistrust,Iwillonlysay,thatIhave,withgoodintentions,contributedtowardstheOrganizationandAdministrationofthegovernment,thebestexertionsofwhichaveryfalliblejudgmentwascapable.Notunconscious,intheoutset,oftheinferiorityofmyqualifications,experienceinmyowneyes,perhapsstillmoreintheeyesofothers,hasstrengthnedthemotivestodiffidenceofmyself;andeverydaytheencreasingweightofyearsadmonishesmemoreandmore,thattheshadeofretirementisasnecessarytomeasitwillbewelcome.Satisfiedthatifanycircumstanceshavegivenpeculiarvaluetomyservices,theyweretemporary,Ihavetheconsolationtobelieve,thatwhilechoiceandprudenceinvitemetoquitthepoliticalscene,patriotizmdoesnotforbidit.        

    Inlookingforwardtothemoment,whichisintendedtoterminatethecareerofmypubliclife,myfeelingsdonotpermitmetosuspendthedeepacknowledgmentofthatdebtofgratitudewchIowetomybelovedcountry,forthemanyhonorsithasconferreduponme;stillmoreforthestedfastconfidencewithwhichithassupportedme;andfortheopportunitiesIhavethenceenjoyedofmanifestingmyinviolableattachment,byservicesfaithful&persevering,thoughinusefulnessunequaltomyzeal.Ifbenefitshaveresultedtoourcountryfromtheseservices,letitalwaysberememberedtoyourpraise,andasaninstructiveexampleinourannals,that,undercircumstancesinwhichthePassionsagitatedineverydirectionwereliabletomislead,amidstappearancessometimesdubious,viscissitudesoffortuneoftendiscouraging,insituationsinwhichnotunfrequentlywantofSuccesshascountenancedthespiritofcriticism,theconstancyofyoursupportwastheessentialpropoftheefforts,andaguaranteeoftheplansbywhichtheywereeffected.Profoundlypenetratedwiththisidea,Ishallcarryitwithmetomygrave,asastrongincitementtounceasingvowsthatHeavenmaycontinuetoyouthechoicesttokensofitsbeneficence--thatyourUnion&brotherlyaffectionmaybeperpetual--thatthefreeconstitution,whichistheworkofyourhands,maybesacredlymaintained--thatitsAdministrationineverydepartmentmaybestampedwithwisdomandVirtue--that,infine,thehappinessofthepeopleoftheseStates,undertheauspicesofliberty,maybemadecomplete,bysocarefulapreservationandsoprudentauseofthisblessingaswillacquiretothemthegloryofrecommendingittotheapplause,theaffection--andadoptionofeverynationwhichisyetastrangertoit.        

    Here,perhaps,Ioughttostop.Butasolicitudeforyourwelfare,whichcannotendbutwithmylife,andtheapprehensionofdanger,naturaltothatsolicitude,urgemeonanoccasionlikethepresent,tooffertoyoursolemncontemplation,andtorecommendtoyourfrequentreview,somesentiments;whicharetheresultofmuchreflection,ofnoinconsiderableobservation,andwhichappeartomeallimportanttothepermanencyofyourfelicityasaPeople.Thesewillbeofferedtoyouwiththemorefreedomasyoucanonlyseeinthemthedisinterestedwarningsofapartingfriend,whocanpossiblyhavenopersonalmotivetobiasshiscounsel.NorcanIforget,asanencouragementtoit,yourendulgentreceptionofmysentimentsonaformerandnotdissimilaroccasion.        

    Interwovenasistheloveoflibertywitheveryligamentofyourhearts,norecommendationofmineisnecessarytofortifyorconfirmtheAttachment.        

    TheUnityofGovernmentwhichconstitutesyouonepeopleisalsonowdeartoyou.Itisjustlyso;foritisamainPillarintheEdificeofyourrealindependence,thesupportofyourtranquilityathome;yourpeaceabroad;ofyoursafety;ofyourprosperity;ofthatveryLibertywhichyousohighlyprize.Butasitiseasytoforesee,thatfromdifferentcauses&fromdifferentquarters,muchpainswillbetaken,manyartificesemployed,toweakeninyourmindstheconvictionofthistruth;asthisisthepointinyourpoliticalfortressagainstwhichthebatteriesofinternal&externalenemieswillbemostconstantlyandactively（thoughoftencovertly&insidiously）directed,itisofinfinitemoment,thatyoushouldproperlyestimatetheimmensevalueofyournationalUniontoyourcollective&individualhappiness;thatyoushouldcherishacordial,habitual&immoveableattachmenttoit;accustomingyourselvestothinkandspeakofitasofthePalladiumofyourpoliticalsafetyandprosperity;watchingforitspreservationwithjealousanxiety;discountenancingwhatevermaysuggestevenasuspicionthatitcaninanyeventbeabandoned,andindignantlyfrowninguponthefirstdawningofeveryattempttoalienateanyportionofourCountryfromtherest,ortoenfeeblethesacredtieswhichnowlinktogetherthevariousparts.        

    Forthisyouhaveeveryinducementofsympathyandinterest.Citizensbybirthorchoice,ofacommoncountry,thatcountryhasarighttoconcentrateyouraffections.ThenameofAmerican,whichbelongstoyou,inyournationalcapacity,mustalwaysexaltthejustprideofPatriotism,morethananyappellationderivedfromlocaldiscriminations.Withslightshadesofdifference,youhavethesameReligeon,Manners,Habits&politicalPrinciples.Youhaveinacommoncausefought&triumphedtogether--Theindependence&libertyyoupossessaretheworkofjointcouncils,andjointefforts--ofcommondangers,sufferingsandsuccesses.        

    Buttheseconsiderations,howeverpowerfullytheyaddressthemselvestoyoursensibilityaregreatlyoutweighedbythosewhichapplymoreimmediatelytoyourInterest.Hereeveryportionofourcountryfindsthemostcommandingmotivesforcarefullyguarding&preservingtheUnionofthewhole.        

    TheNorth,inanunrestrainedintercoursewiththeSouth,protectedbytheequalLawsofacommongovernment,findsintheproductionsofthelatter,greatadditionalresourcesofMaratime&commercialenterpriseand--preciousmaterialsofmanufacturingindustry.TheSouthinthesameIntercourse,benefittingbytheAgencyoftheNorth,seesitsagriculturegrow&itscommerceexpand.TurningpartlyintoitsownchannelstheseamenoftheNorth,itfindsitsparticularnavigationenvigorated;andwhileitcontributes,indifferentways,tonourish&increasethegeneralmassoftheNationalnavigation,itlooksforwardtotheprotectionofaMaratimestrength,towhichitselfisunequallyadapted.TheEast,inalikeintercoursewiththeWest,alreadyfinds,andintheprogressiveimprovementofinteriorcommunications,byland&water,willmore&morefindavaluableventforthecommoditieswhichitbringsfromabroad,ormanufacturesathome.TheWestderivesfromtheEastsuppliesrequisitetoitsgrowth&comfort--andwhatisperhapsofstillgreaterconsequence,itmustofnecessityowetheSecureenjoymentofindispensableoutletsforitsownproductionstotheweight,influence,andthefuturemaritimestrengthoftheAtlanticsideoftheUnion,directedbyanindissolublecommunityofInterestasoneNation.AnyothertenurebywhichtheWestcanholdthisessentialadvantage,whetherderivedfromitsownseperatestrength,orfromanapostate&unnaturalconnectionwithanyforeignPower,mustbeintrinsicallyprecarious.        

    Whiletheneverypartofourcountrythusfeelsanimmediate&particularInterestinUnion,allthepartscombinedcannotfailto