A Republic, Not an Empire: Reclaiming America's Destiny

by Patrick J. Buchanan

Pointing to our country’s great and safe distance from Europe, he implored: Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European Ambition, Rivalship, Interest, Humour, or Caprice? ’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world. So far... as we are now at liberty to do it.16 The “great rule” was the wisest counsel left his countrymen by the greatest American. It was counsel bred of half a century as a soldier, a planter dependent on British trade, a commander of American forces, and a president who had seen his countrymen at each other’s throats over a war in Europe. Washington knew his nation had the potential to be the greatest on earth, but he also knew America needed generations of peace to grow to its natural size and power before it could take its place in the world.