Republics at Panama], was that whether the measure might not
have a tendency to change the policy, hitherto invariably
pursued by the United States, of avoiding all entangling
alliances and all unnecessary political connections.

"Mindful of the advice given by the Father of our Country in
his Farewell Address, that the great rule of conduct for us
in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial
relations, to have with them as little political connection
as possible, and faithfully adhering to the spirit of that
admonition, I can not overlook the reflection that the
counsel of Washington in that instance, like all counsels of
wisdom, was founded upon the circumstances in which our
country and the world around us were situated at the time
when it was given that the reasons assigned by him for his
advice were that Europe had a set of primary interests which
to us had none or a very remote relation, that hence she
must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of
which were essentially foreign to our concerns, that our
detached and distant situation invited and enabled us to
pursue a different course, that by our union and rapid
growth, with an efficient Government, the period was not far
distant when we might defy material injury from external
annoyance, when we might take such an attitude as would
cause our neutrality to be respected, and, with reference to
belligerent nations, might choose peace or war, as our
interests, guided by justice, should counsel."

Compare our situation and the circumstances of that time
with those of the present day and what, from the very words