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,th