Founding Father

Commentary Magazine, August 1996, p.12

TO THE EDITOR:

In his review of Richard Brookhiser's Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington [Books in Review, May], Gary Rosen writes:

Though a firm advocate of freedom of conscience, Washington had difficulty describing an affirmative role for religion in America life¼. One often detects in him the cold instrumentalism of the Enlightenment, as in the following passage from the Farewell Address: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them."

Though Brookhiser finds room to praise the "novel ways" in which Washington invoked the Bible and religious belief, a more pointed judgment has been offered by the scholar Harry V. Jaffa: "[T]here is no trace of reverence in Washington's discussion of the need for reverence; the sacred is treated [by him] as a necessity of the profane."

Mr. Rosen has quoted accurately from my chapter on Lincoln's Lyceum speech in Crisis of the House Divided. That chapter was written more than 40 years ago. In the intervening time my appreciation of the role of religion, and of Washington, in the Founding, has deepened greatly.

The philosopher Leo Strauss has written that the Weimar republic was weak, because the principles of 1789 were seen to be in opposition to Bismarck, and to the highest German traditions. Hence the emancipation of the Jews was seen to be in opposition to the highest German principles. What Bismarck represented to the German political tradition, George Washington represented to the American. Early in his presidency Washington took the opportunity to write to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. In his letter, he addresses Jews [p.13] as equal fellow-citizens—equal by right and not by sufferance—for the first time in the history of Western civilization. In the letter Washington seals the American Founding against the tradition of inequality and intolerance that had dominated the history of the Christian West. This was a world-historical moment, not merely for Jews but for the cause of human freedom. For its political astuteness, for its philosophical depth, for its passion, and for its beauty, it should be read in full:

Commentary Magazine, August 1996, p.13

[August] 1790

Gentlemen:

While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have the wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own good time and way everlastingly happy.

G. WASHINGTON

The sacredness of the union of the principles of the Declaration of Independence and of the Bible are present here as they are in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural. Today I never read the Farewell Address without remembering that it was Washington's letter to the Newport synagogue that confirmed me as a full citizen of the United States.

HARRY V. JAFFA

Claremont Institute

Claremont, California

GARY ROSEN writes:

Harry V. Jaffa rightly draws our attention to the power and beauty of Washington's Newport letter. It is indeed a stirring endorsement of religious liberty, a cause to which Washington was deeply devoted (as I pointed out in my review). The reverence expressed in the letter, however, is for our natural rights and the government that secures them—worthy objects of reverence, to be sure, but not quite the same thing as our immortal [p.14] souls or our Creator and Lawgiver. I still side, respectfully, with Mr. Jaffa's earlier view.