American Minute with Bill Federer SEPT. 19 - 'Ambitious...men will...subvert the Power of the People and...usurp...the reins of Government'

American Minute with Bill Federer SEPT. 19 - 'Ambitious...men will...subvert the Power of the People and...usurp...the reins of Government'-Washington's Farewell, 1796 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolken described man's insatiable lust for "the ring of power." Throughout history, kings killed to get power and kings killed to keep power. In a real sense, George Washington had the power...and gave it up...twice. The first time was when he resigned his commission as General of the Continental Army in 1783. When the American-born painter Benjamin West was in England painting the portrait of King George III, the King asked what General Washington planned to do now that he had won the war. West replied: "They say he will return to his farm." King George exclaimed: "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." Later, after serving two terms as President, Washington decided to return to his Mt. Vernon farm. This was similar to Roman leader Cincinnatus, who twice led the Roman Republic to victory in battle then returned to his farm, resisting the temptation to be dictator. The world watched in unbelief as President George Washington delivered his Farewell Address, SEPTEMBER 19, 1796, stating: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars..." Get the book, Prayers and Presidents - Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past Washington continued: "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion... Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle... Morality is a necessary spring of popular government...Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation?" Washington warned further: "And of fatal tendency...to put, in the place of the delegated will of the Nation, the will of a party; - often a small but artful and enterprising minority... They are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People and to usurp for the themselves the reins of Government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion..." American Minute-Notable Events of American Significance Remembered on the Date They Occurred Washington added: "This leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism... Disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual... (who) turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty... The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism..." Washington concluded: "Let there be no change by usurpation...It is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed." Watch Faith in History  Read American Minute Archives Read Bill Federer's article on The 2nd Amendment-the Right of THE PEOPLE'   http://www.wnd.com/2008/03/60160/ News from AmericanMinute.com Schedule interview or speaking - contact Bill Federer 314-487-4395 wjfederer@gmail.com Be inspired and support great films, see GRACE UNPLUGGED at theaters Oct. 4. View trailer at www.graceunplugged.com    Get the book, Miracles in American History-32 Amazing Stories of Answered Prayer     Teach English overseas! a month or a year - and be paid! - Find out MORE here  Visit the American Minute archive   Click here to shop AMERICAN MINUTE store Read the Daily Reading at:     http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/old-new-testament/2013/09/15 Receive the daily American Minute on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, or RSS reader.    Get a great book and help a great cause: James Nyondo's Absolute Integrity:   The Bridge to Your Destiny   Please support the American Minute.  Click here to make a donation. Thank you! Use the Send to a Colleague link below to tell others about the American Minute or click Join Our Mailing List to sign up.  American Minute is a registered trademark. Permission is granted to forward. reprint or duplicate with acknowledgement to vwww.AmericanMinute.com   Visit our website to download an MP3 version of the American Minute suitable as a radio PSA.

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