229 Years Ago, This Morning: Our Nation Saw A First Inaugural Address To Congress, By George Washington

He was, by his own estimation, a flawed man -- and his remarks that morning opened by profusely expressing his (self-perceived) limits, and short-comings (as we all likely should more freely admit, of ourselves).

I think it would particularly behoove our 45^th president, to spend some time reflecting on a proper measure of humility, given his own glaringly obvious lack of character -- especially in comparison to the great man's private life (even considering that in his day, Washington owned other human beings).

Washington's genuine humility echoes (despite standing 6'3" -- literally a giant among the average men of his day, in physical proportions -- as well as all others) in almost every announcement he made prior -- or post, this historic moment. [Almost all of our present day inaugural traditions have traversed these nearly 230 years, completely unaltered, so great was the solemnity with which this man took his oath of office.]

And so, speaking to both chambers -- the House and the Senate, as one -- he had this to say:

. . . .The circumstances under which I now meet you, will acquit me from entering into that subject, farther than to refer to the Great Constitutional Charter under which you are assembled; and which, in defining your powers, designates the objects to which your attention is to be given. It will be more consistent with those circumstances, and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me, to substitute, in place of a recommendation of particular measures, the tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them. [Ed. Note: he is deferring to Congress, here -- to faithfully execute the will of the people -- saying it is not for him to try to artificially impose it.]

In these honorable qualifications, I behold the surest pledges, that as on one side, no local prejudices, or attachments; no separate views, nor party animosities, will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests: so, on another, that the foundations of our National policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; and the pre-eminence of a free Government, be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its Citizens, and command the respect of the world. . . .

Now that was a man who knew how to "let go" -- and accept that others might be wiser than he -- when conditions so suggested.

[I write this in no small part, in reference to the caravan now camped on our southern border, at San Diego -- being told by 45's deputies that "we are full, at the moment" -- despite the fact that they are seeking asylum from political persecution, in an obvious show of good faith. And laws passed by the prior Congresses, and signed by former Presidents, plainly then grant them a right to be heard, in the federal courts of our land -- as to their need for protections, at a minimum. Yet they wait, in the cool but luminous dawn air, outside the fence, this morning.]

So it is. . . that I sorely wish 45 would do even one per cent as much, with relatively speaking. . . so little, for the private morality of his life -- and the nation's -- before the entire world, now watching. Onward.

नमस्ते