Who Said This?

• He warned that there is a tendency for government to grow, to expand, to encroach on individual freedom.
• A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position, he said.
• Respect the Constitution's limit on federal governmental power, he urged. The Constitution gives certain powers to the national government _ but prohibits exercise of all other powers, reserving them to the states or the people.
• Watch out for the striving of "parties' and special interests, he cautioned.
• And don't forget, he said, that the people need to restrain their own passions.
• Encourage religion and morality as "indispensable supports' for political success, he reminded.

Who said all of these things? Was it conservative Bob Dole, seeking smaller government and running against big-government advocate President Bill Clinton?

Was it someone speaking for the Christian Coalition?

Was it some "right-wing extremist'?

It was "none of the above.

These words of wisdom were issued 200 years ago today by "the father of our country,' the one who was "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Got it? Yes, these warnings came from none other than President George Washington -- 2 centuries ago today.

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