The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., June 01, 1926, Page 8, Image 8

Page Eight
June 1926
THE UNITED AMERICAN
The Making of American Citizens
A Comprehensive Review of America’s History and Political Institutions, of Particular Interest and Help to Those
Who are Studying for Naturalization and to Those Who Have Become American Citizens and Are Anxious to
Learn How They May Become Better Qualified to Protect and Defend the Country of Their Adoption.
By A. C. Strange, Oregon State Director of Americanization Schools
VI
ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS ought to be familiar
■^with the Declaration of Independence and the Con­
stitution. Even those who know little about either
document admit that. It is my belief that our citi­
zens should also know two other writings, the first,
Washington’s Farewell Address, which is a charge of
civic obligations to e ^ery citizen, the second, Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address, which presents in a short para­
graph the underlying, basal idea of our system of
government. I fully believe that every citizen would
be a better citizen if he would learn the Gettysburg
Address by heart and would try to appreciate to the
fullest the sentiments contained therein.
In this letter I wish to write of Washington’s
Farewell Address. You will remember that the Con­
stitution was adopted in 1787 and that it was nearly
two years before the necessary three-fourths of the
states had ratified it. Hence, the government pro­
vided for by the Constitution could not be organized
until 1789. Naturally, General George Washington
was chosen first president. He was the greatest man
in the country; he had taken a leading part in the
making of the Constitution; he had done most to
gain America’s independence. Upon no one else could
the responsibility of organizing the new government
be placed.
Washington had hoped that he might he able dur­
ing the rest of his life to enjoy the comforts of his
home. For many years he had spent little time at
Mt. Vernon; yet when the call came, despite the fact
that he was growing old and that his health was not
vigorous, he enlisted again in the service of his
country. This time he gave eight years to public
service and during this period showed that he was
not only great as a military leader but that he was
great as a statesman, “first in war” and “first in
peace,” he became “first in the hearts of his country­
men,” a place which he still holds.
It became his task to organize the new govern­
ment. This he did by surrounding himself with the
greatest men of the country. He did not insist that
they think as he did; with some, Jefferson for in­
stance, he differed as to political policies. All he
asked was that their patriotic love for the country
which he knew was just as deep as his should be
used in its service. With the help of these able men,
he put the national credit on a firm basis; he es­
tablished a judicial system worthy of the respect of
all; he wisely administered the public lands; he kept
up the strength of army and navy; he maintained
the nation’s neutrality in all foreign affairs even
when many of his oldest and best friends were severely
criticising him for such policy; he placed America’s
relations with other countries on a fair and firm
basis. Can it be wondered that we Americans con­
sider Washington a preeminently great man?
The end of his second term found him worn out
in physical strength and anxious to get back to his
home. It found him weary of dissension and strife.
And yet there was no hatred in his heart. He had
only words of kindness for those who had fought
h’m so bitterly. Hence, it was with a very deep love
for his country and for all of her citizens that he
wrote his last and greatest message to his people.
In this Address, Washington admonishes the
American people as to what they must do to main­
tain and strengthen the new nation. He pointed
out to them certain of their civic duties just as your
civic duties are being explained to you who are study­
ing for citizenship and examination for naturalization,
or as they were explained to you when you were
given your “second papers,” just as the responsibili­
ties of American citizens ought to be very fully taught
to every young man and woman before they reach
the age of twenty-one.
And what did he say? He first admonished his
people to preserve the Constitution. There had been
much difference of opinion about this document and
about the government so formed. Many people had
vigorously and bitterly fought its adoption, and had
it not been for the powerful influence of Washing­
ton, it probably would never have been ratified by
enough states to permit the forming of the new
government. There had been eight years of dissen­
sion and yet the government was getting firmly on its
feet. Hence, Washington felt that the fundamental
law should be upheld. He had studied it in use for
eight years and he felt that a strong nation could
be built upon it as a foundation. With this thought
in mind, he urged the people to defend it and preserve
it. The same admonishment holds today. We have
lived under this Constitution for one hundred and
thirty-seven years during which time our country
has become a very great country. Is not our obli­
gation of defense just as strong as was the obligation
of the American people in 1797?
He next charged his people to maintain the
unity of the government. The differences in the in­
dustries and interests of the various parts of the na­
tion were even greater then than they are now. Hence,
one part wanted one kind of laws, another some other
kind. This led to the weakening of the government.
Washington seemed to foresee the breaking apart
which occured sixty-three years later and feared its
consequences. This caused him to urge upon his
people a respect for the authority of the government,
obedience to its laws, regard for majority rule, loyalty
to the whole country rather than to a section. He
emphasized the fact that the people could alter the
government if they wished but that such change
should come on'y by the wish of the whole people.
He warned against the danger of factionalism.
It was not that he feared political parties. Washing­
ton himself was a party man. On the contrary he
feared intolerance and radicalism and the narrow-
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