President George Washington forewarned challenges our republic would face:
“… a free Country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective Constitutional spheres; avoiding the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another.”
“… cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People, and to usurp for themselves the reins of Government … .”
“It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country, are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
“… facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in case where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and Wars of the latter, without adequate inducement of justification.”
“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government.”
Benjamin Franklin describing our government said, “a republic if you can keep it.”
Rowland Bostock
Jeannette