Presidents Day

I have tried to keep my writing politically free, hoping to inspire my fellow countrymen by instilling a love for the very land our political system protects. In light of our present political climate and a day of Presidents approaching I feel the need to pontificate. Yet, I have neither the words nor the experience for such a sermon so, I figured I’d just rip off someone else with much more competence:

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and 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.

Every time I feel myself losing hope in my fellow countrymen, I reread this augury farewell address and realize that this great nation was founded by men on a level far beyond my simple comprehension. If you haven’t done so, I invite you to read the entire address.

I have spent many early mornings in Washington D.C. I have had the monuments to these great men selfishly, all to myself. You can feel their voices as you read their great words and realize very quickly that despite our differences, we are all, still, Americans.

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