Dear Editor:
The Liberal media would have us believe there is no God – no need for religion in our national dialogue. George Washington, our first president, felt differently. On Sept. 19, 1796, he notified the people of the United States he would not run for a third term as president with a letter published in all the nation’s newspapers.
In his letter, the president reminded his fellow citizens that our national strength rests on the pillars of private morality, especially religion. The word he used to describe those pillars of American democracy is not “optional” or “desirable” or “helpful;” it is “indispensable.” His language is of another time, but the thought is still timely.
“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 to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
’Tis substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it (free government) can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”
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I just read Evelyn Pyburn’s guest editorial in your Sept. 21, 2018, issue. Wow, it is extremely well written, and says what needs to be said with authority. Mrs. Pyburn has an excellent command of our language — give her a raise.
Again, WOW!!
Stuart Deans
Lockwood
Editors Note: Stu, thank you for the feedback, you are the third person to say anything about Evelyn’s Guest editorial from last week. I’ll see what I can do about the raise part!
JDM
