by Tony Hudson, President, Save the American West, Stevensville
December 14 marked the anniversary of the death of General Washington, and it seems fitting to offer something rarely given to leaders once they are gone, not just praise for victory, but gratitude for restraint. I can truthfully say I am constantly humbled as I search through history to understand the meaning and context of the same. I could not imagine the burden of consequence and loneliness endured not only by General Washington, but by other great men who helped shape this infant nation based on their own understanding of history and the word of God. Interestingly enough, one of George Washington‘s last official acts while on his death bed was to ask for his will, so that he could make sure upon his death Mount Vernon slaves were free, setting the stage for another great man in American history, Abraham Lincoln.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
These great men understood what so many before and after did not, that the greatest danger to liberty is not a wicked man, but the righteous man who believes himself indispensable. Washington understood power, that he was but a mere mortal. In stepping away from power and his own glory, he taught a young nation that character matters more than charisma, humility more than arrogance. Men who knew that truth and integrity when applied to the Constitution was a recipe for a nation of free people with an opportunity for prosperity that could exist in perpetuity.
“The unity of government which constitutes you one people… is also now dear to you.” George Washington, Farewell Address
You have shown us that humility is not the absence of strength, but the discipline that keeps strength from becoming tyranny. For that lesson, and for the quiet courage it required, we remain in your debt. A debt that can only be repaid by honoring the spirit in which this great nation was founded.
May you forever rest in peace.
Helen Sabin says
Thank you Tony – keep writing to wake up the populus here in the valley. Hopefully your words will make them realize that Bitterrooters are allowing our Constitutional rights to be abused by the legislators we elect.
Was it Providence or simply a miracle of history that brought Washington and those remarkable minds together to frame the Constitution? Many of them were astonishingly young — men in their twenties — yet fluent in the language of liberty, and freedom. They often conversed with each other in Greek, used Latin for the laws, and spoke the English of their age with persuasive appeal and a powerful beauty we do not see today in many of our writers. They were educated, passionate, flawed as all humans are, and imperfect in their understanding of women and of enslaved people, as was tragically common in their time. But the belief that self-government and Republicanism must be guarded by the people, not surrendered to ambition or apathy or to the John Birch Society or the Freedom Caucus or to the ditates of the man who was elected head of the state GOP – Art Wittich who was FINED $68,000 for election law violations. The GOP is supposed to be the party of election integrity and the queen of election integrity op-eds – Manzella, hypocriticallly supported his election last June. This right-wing extremist thinks he should approve ALL the legislation that is presented in the legislative session in 2027 – and she is fine with that it seems. She and Kathy Love aparently voted for hiim. Ask them why don’t you?
Those men 250 years ago were not naïve. They knew power corrupts.
. The Founders expected us – generations later – to know our Constitution, to defend it, and to correct our government when it drifts. And it has drifted.
That is why Montanans must demand real action: term limits on Congress, fiscal restraint, and a Convention of States to restore balance to federal power and to the people at the same time. Our legislators should be leading that charge, not blocking it.
Yet here in Ravalli County we face representatives who seem more committed to ideology than to duty. Some like Love and Manzella speak of “getting rid of government” while cashing a “government” paycheck. THINK ABOUT THAT ONE WHY DON”T YOU?
Love even voted to defund the pubic schools and said NO to school choice!
If every state retreats into its own “sovereignty” – we don’t get liberty — we get chaos. Fifty competing governments, fifty sets of gun laws, fifty fractured education systems, and no United States at all. The Founders didn’t forge this nation so we could watch it splinter under the weight of ignorance and ego from our legislators.
Vote for public servants who read the Constitution instead of merely invoking it and who strengthen schools, not defund them. We need problem-solvers, not performers like Loove and Manzella..
This year, that means supporting David Bedey, Wayne Rusk, and Michele Binkley — people who will work for all Montanans, not just the loudest faction with the loudest voice. It means replacing those who sow division rather than progress.
We owe it to the Founders who pledged “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor” — and we owe it to our children who will inherit whatever we leave behind.
Let us stand together, united, resilient, and committed to the republic the Founders built — not for the Left or the Right, but for MONTANA1.
God bless Montana. God bless the Constitution. And God bless the United States of America as well as the men who gave us the right to say GOD BLESS!!