Thursday, November 26, 2020

John Jay's Address to the People of the State of New York, Part 4

From a 1788 address by John Jay, delivering a message that Americans of the 21st century need to hear:

“Such other foreign nations, if any such there be, who, jealous of our growing importance, and fearful that our commerce and navigation should impair their own—who behold our rapid population with regret, and apprehend that the enterprising spirit of our people, when seconded by power and probability of success, may be directed to objects not consistent with their policy or interests, cannot fail to wish that we may continue a weak and a divided people. …”

“…Are we sure that our distresses, dissentions and weakness will neither invite hostility nor insult?  If they should, how ill prepared shall we be for defence! without Union, without Government, without money, and without credit! …”

“…We must in the business of Government as well as in all other business, have some degree of confidence, as well as a great degree of caution.  Who on a sick bed would refuse medicines from a physician, merely because it is as much in his power to administer deadly poisons, as salutary remedies? …”

“Consider then, how weighty and how many considerations advise and persuade the people of America to remain in the safe and easy path of Union; to continue to move and act as they hitherto have done, as a band of brothers; to have confidence in themselves and in one another; and since all cannot see with the same eyes, at least to give the proposed Constitution a fair trial, and to mend it as time, occasion and experience may dictate.  It would little become us to verify the predictions of those who ventured to prophecy, that peace: instead of blessing us with happiness and tranquility, would serve only as the signal for factions, discords and civil contentions to rage in our land, and overwhelm it with misery and distress.”

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