Speculative reasoners, during that age, raised many objections to the planting of those remote Colonies; and foretold, that, after draining their mother-country of inhabitants, they would soon shake off her yoke, and erect an independent government in America. DAVID IIUME, Hist. of Eng., JAMES I.; a. d. 1603-1625. PREFACE TO NEW EDITION. MANY years since, while this century was in its second quarter only, the publishers of this choice collection of the "Maxims of Washington" brought it to the attention of the American people. It was hailed by educators and others among our ablest and wisest thinkers as a fitting text-book for American youth in schools and colleges. It seems called for again, after years of prosperity and adversity, by which the nation has been developed in a manner which excites the wonder of the world. If, as some suppose, there has grown up a generation somewhat unmindful of the great principles on which our Constitution was founded, perhaps this little manual, wholly derived from the writings of "The Father of his Country," may revive in all American hearts the devotion to these principles which he commended to perpetual remembrance in his Farewell Address. June, 1894. |