What Was George Washington’s Warning for America?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is George Washington, the man who oversaw the Constitutional Convention and brought legitimacy for the new Constitution. Washington was in a unique position among politicians because the people trusted him completely. He had proven beyond doubt that he was more interested in freedom and liberty than exalting himself to the position of all-powerful leader.

As you may remember, Washington led the military during the eight-year-long Revolutionary War. His soldiers loved him and supported him completely. He could have taken over the newly liberated nation by a military coup, but he did not. He voluntarily appeared before Congress to hand over his military power to civilian leaders and then attempted to return to civilian life.

Washington reluctantly agreed to attend the Constitutional Conventional, but he was quickly put in the position of leader – because the people trusted him. After the Constitution was written, signed, amended, and ratified, Washington was elected to be the first President of the United States unanimously – the only POTUS to receive every vote.  

Everyone wanted Washington to be the first POTUS because they knew that they could trust him to do the right thing for the country. After two terms as POTUS, he voluntarily stepped down and set the precedent of Presidents serving for two terms. As he was leaving office, Washington gave his famous “Farewell Address,” which he called “the disinterested warnings of a parting friend.” 

Verlan Lewis discussed Washington’s address in his article in the Deseret News because he believes the address holds an important message for Americans today. According to Lewis, Washington’s address was a plea for national unity. Remember, Washington had spent eight years during the Revolutionary War fighting for liberty, numerous months at the Constitutional Convention spiritually creating the United States of America, and another eight years as POTUS making the United States of America into reality. He was very mindful with each decision and action that he was setting precedents for future presidents. 

Lewis wrote, Washington was “worried that unfounded partisan animosities would unnecessarily divide Americans against each other, tempt them to overturn the Constitution and lead to demagoguery.” Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that we live in a nation where Washington’s worst nightmare has become reality.

We live in a time of rising partisan hostility, increasing anger among those who identify with a political party and a frightening willingness among partisans to use violence to get their way – or secede from the Union. How can Washington’s words help us in this day and age of partisan animosity?

First of all, we should remember Washington’s point that, as Americans, we have far more in common than the leaders of our political parties would like us to believe. Washington warned his fellow citizens against “designing men” who “endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.” …

The truth is that most Democrats and Republicans want the same things: Washington referred to these desires as “tranquility at home,” “peace abroad,” “safety,” “prosperity,” and “that very liberty which you so highly prize.” We should follow Washington’s counsel and turn off the hate-mongers on cable news and social media that misrepresent the views of those in the other party. Instead of insulting each other on Twitter or in the comments sections of online newspapers, we should have face-to-face conversations with people who identify with a different party and recognize their humanity.

Second, we should remember Washington’s exhortation to follow the political principles of the United States Constitution and the political outcomes produced by its mechanisms. Washington wrote that the Constitution “has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty.”

These constitutional principles of freedom include popular sovereignty, federalism, the separation of powers, individual rights and the rule of law….

Third, and finally, we should remember Washington’s insight that, while parties are inevitable, the kind of malicious partisanship described above is not. Washington encouraged Americans to restrain the harmful aspects of partisanship that, if left unchecked, can lead to populism, demagoguery, authoritarianism and tyranny.

Lewis’s article continues and has many other ideas. His bottom line is that our nation today is the exact case that Washington warned us to avoid. Our nation is “closely divided between two major parties,” who “transfer control of government back and forth.” The problem comes when politicians and individuals on each side seek to destroy their opponents rather than improve the nation with better government. The problem is not the two-party system, but the negative way that we treat each other.