[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      OUR FOUNDING FATHER'S ADVICE

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                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 1997

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, a free society has to maintain a balance 
between healthy partisan disagreements and a destructive spirit of 
faction. Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald shared with her 
colleagues this last weekend a letter quoting George Washington's 
Farewell Address. I believe Members, staff and interested citizens will 
find her letter and our Founding Father's advice helpful as this 105th 
Congress develops. I submit the letter into the Record.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, March 6, 1997.
       Dear Colleague: I am writing to share with you portions of 
     George Washington's Farewell Address. I have recently 
     revisited this timeless document and was stuck anew by the 
     utter timeless of our first American President's insights 
     into the well-being and health of our great Union--even 
     though President Washington penned these words over 200 years 
     ago! As Members of the 105th Congress, we may do well to 
     consider President Washington's, admonitions to ensure 
     productive government, sound legislation, and a strong Union:
       ``I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in 
     the State. . . . Let me now take a more comprehensive view, 
     and warm 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 the worst enemy. . . .
       ``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 of against another; foments 
     occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to 
     foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated 
     access to the government itself through the channels of party 
     passion. Thus the policy and the will of one county are 
     subjected to the policy and will of another.
       ``There is an opinion that parties in free countries are 
     useful checks upon the administration of the government and 
     serve to keep the spirit of liberty. This within certain 
     limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical 
     cast patriotism may look with indulgence, if not favor, upon 
     the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, 
     in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be 
     encouraged. From their natural tendency it is certain there 
     will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary 
     purpose; and there being constant danger of excess, the 
     effort ought to be force of public opinion to mitigate and 
     assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform 
     vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead 
     of warming, it should consume.''
       These words of one of our Nation's founders reiterate the 
     historical mandate for Members of Congress to approach our 
     representative roles in a collegial and bi-partisan manner 
     for the benefit of our country. If you would like a copy of 
     President Washington's complete Farewell Address, please call 
     my Chief of Staff Andrea D. Martin at 5-7924.
           Warm regards,
                                       Juanita Millender-McDonald,
     Member of Congress.

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