ThepolicyofAmericaowesitsrisetoWashington，andafterhimtoJefferson，whoestablishedthoseprincipleswhichitobservesatthepresentday。Washingtonsaidintheadmirableletterwhichheaddressedtohisfellow—citizens，andwhichmaybelookeduponashispoliticalbequesttothecountry:\"Thegreatruleofconductforusinregardtoforeignnationsis，inextendingourcommercialrelations，tohavewiththemaslittlepoliticalconnectionaspossible。Sofaraswehavealreadyformedengagements，letthembefulfilledwithperfectgoodfaith。Hereletusstop。Europehasasetofprimaryinterestswhichtoushavenone，oraveryremoterelation。Hence，shemustbeengagedinfrequentcontroversies，thecausesofwhichareessentiallyforeigntoourconcerns。Hence，therefore，itmustbeunwiseinustoimplicateourselves，byartificialties，intheordinaryvicissitudesofherpolitics，ortheordinarycombinationsandcollisionsofherfriendshipsorenmities。Ourdetachedanddistantsituationinvitesandenablesustopursueadifferentcourse。Ifweremainonepeople，underanefficientgovernment，theperiodisnotfaroffwhenwemaydefymaterialinjuryfromexternalannoyance;whenwemaytakesuchanattitudeaswillcausetheneutralitywemayatanytimeresolveupontobescrupulouslyrespected;whenbelligerentnations，undertheimpossibilityofmakingacquisitionsuponus，willnotlightlyhazardthegivingusprovocation;whenwemaychoosepeaceorwar，asourinterest，guidedbyjustice，shallcounsel。Whyforegotheadvantagesofsopeculiarasituation？Whyquitourowntostanduponforeignground？Why，byinterweavingourdestinywiththatofanypartofEurope，entangleourpeaceandprosperityinthetoilsofEuropeanambition，rivalship，interest，humor，orcaprice？Itisourtruepolicytosteerclearofpermanentallianceswithanyportionoftheforeignworld;sofar，Imean，aswearenowatlibertytodoit;forletmenotbeunderstoodascapableofpatronizinginfidelitytoexistingengagements。Iholdthemaximnolessapplicabletopublicthantoprivateaffairs，thathonestyisalwaysthebestpolicy。Irepeatit;therefore，letthoseengagementsbeobservedintheirgenuinesense;butinmyopinionitisunnecessary，andwouldbeunwise，toextendthem。Takingcarealwaystokeepourselves，bysuitableestablishments，inarespectabledefensiveposture，wemaysafelytrusttotemporaryalliancesforextraordinaryemergencies。\"InapreviouspartofthesameletterWashingtonmakesthefollowingadmirableandjustremark:\"Thenationwhichindulgestowardsanotheranhabitualhatredoranhabitualfondnessisinsomedegreeaslave。Itisaslavetoitsanimosityortoitsaffection，eitherofwhichissufficienttoleaditastrayfromitsdutyanditsinterest。\"
ThepoliticalconductofWashingtonwasalwaysguidedbythesemaxims。Hesucceededinmaintaininghiscountryinastateofpeacewhilstalltheothernationsoftheglobewereatwar;
andhelaiditdownasafundamentaldoctrine，thatthetrueinterestoftheAmericansconsistedinaperfectneutralitywithregardtotheinternaldissensionsoftheEuropeanPowers。
Jeffersonwentstillfurther，andheintroducedamaximintothepolicyoftheUnion，whichaffirmsthat\"theAmericansoughtnevertosolicitanyprivilegesfromforeignnations，inordernottobeobligedtograntsimilarprivilegesthemselves。\"
Thesetwoprinciples，whichweresoplainandsojustastobeadaptedtothecapacityofthepopulace，havegreatlysimplifiedtheforeignpolicyoftheUnitedStates。AstheUniontakesnopartintheaffairsofEurope，ithas，properlyspeaking，noforeignintereststodiscuss，sinceithasatpresentnopowerfulneighborsontheAmericancontinent。ThecountryisasmuchremovedfromthepassionsoftheOldWorldbyitspositionasbythelineofpolicywhichithaschosen，anditisneithercalledupontorepudiatenortoespousetheconflictinginterestsofEurope;whilstthedissensionsoftheNewWorldarestillconcealedwithinthebosomofthefuture。