To the Editor:

As we watch the political wrangling that will ultimately decide our destiny, we should revisit the wise words of our first president as he left office and cautioned the fledgling nation about the threat that political parties posed to its existence. His words should provide us guidance and perspective today.

Our nation started as a very disparate group of colonies. Although each was politically dominated by a certain class of people, these colonies incorporated a wide range of racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Upon independence, the states were united in their distaste for British rule, but very divided in their views on what should come next. Over the years, the decision had to be made on whether to remain loosely associated and prone to many internal and external threats, or to truly become a “united states.” Washington’s and others’ views were instrumental in bringing about the latter, with the adoption of our United States Constitution.

Our very first political parties were born of that debate over adopting the Constitution. While the parties have changed and evolved through the generations, the two major party structure has remained. Smaller parties have come and gone as major issues came to be embraced by the two major parties.

Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796 (not spoken, but written and released) communicated his great love of country (and all the states and people in it) and his fear that the young union was in danger of dissolving. An examination of the domestic and geopolitical affairs of the time reveals parallels to our current situation. Foreign nations were trying to influence our elections, people were accused of having foreign allegiances and favoring immigration for political purposes, powerful groups were claiming the government did not represent them, and domestic extremists were putting their own liberty over that of others.

In this address, Washington reminds Americans that “unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence.” And that “from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many articles employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth.... Let me now...warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.... The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.”

History can tell us many things. It’s not that it repeats itself, but rather that human nature never really changes. The US is exceptional in that it is founded upon reason. Reason should tell you that national unity is more important than party unity. If you are a party faithful and you believe that you will unite the nation after your party dominates and subverts the other, remember that unity through intimidation and coercion does not bring a strong nation, just a house of cards.

Randi Allen Kiely

70 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown March 4, 2020