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To the editor:
As we near Election Day and prepare to exercise our precious freedom and responsibility to vote, it might be wise to consider what two great Americans from our past had to say about it.

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty -- as well as the privilege with interest -- of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." (John Jay, appointed by President George Washington, first chief justice of the Supreme Court, a founding father, member and president of the first and second Continental Congress, instrumental in getting the Constitution ratified by writing, along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the Federalists papers.)

"In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect of denomination of the candidate ... look to his character ... It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness ... when a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country." (Noah Webster, statesman, educator, soldier in the Revolutionary War, author of Webster's Dictionary, known as the schoolmaster of the nation.)

Respectfully yours,

John R. Anderson