Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-19
MANIFEST DESTINY.

=
The age in which we live is prolific in origi-
mating new ideas, and new names for express
ing old ones. To these names is attached
great variety Of meanings, depending upon the
fancy or the prejudice of the interpreting oracle.
One class always on the qui rire for some
thing horrid in degenerate era, turns with
gloomy foreboding from the party, whose
youth inspires an enthusiasm, which readily
dispels the horrors which the prejudices of the
former suggest. There are those "who are
afraid of that which is high, and fears are in
their way and the grashopper is burden !"
while there are others, whose joyous youth
or whose experienced age, with never-failing
vigor, and their youth renewed like the eagles
love to see the world advancing-and chang.
ing in its advance, though in its journey, it
may inAict some slight inconvenience upon the
peevish victims of the govt, or the shaking
limbs Of the paralytic, " superAuous veterans
tagging on the stage" We hate to see them
jolted but the world cannot stand still for the
benefit and comfort of those who dread change,
lest it should disturb the cobwebs hanging in
splendid festoons about the decaying habita,
tons Of an era which is passing away forever.
We must live in the present not to bemoan
that which is in the past-but to prepare for,
and make the future better and more glorious
than all.
Among the most horrible ideas to the ultra
conservatism las it delights to style itself) Of
of this period in our history, is that which is in
volved, as is supposed, in the ominous words
selected for our editorial comment. 1t is the
scarecrow--the bug-bear with which many
good and honest people endeaver to brighten
themselves and the pubhc-and, indeed, if a
man should present himself to coterie Of
these, who suppose themselves to be the recep-
tacles Of all the wisdom of the present and the
experience Of the past, and proclaim his advo-
cacy of the doctrine, as it is termed, Of mani
fest destiny he would be regarded BY these
illustrious worthless with horror akin to that
which nervous gentleman would find himself
in close proximity to rattlesnake. !.
By many it is regarded as the embodiment
of radicalism-tbe progression in evil-the ad-
vance of wrong upon the confines of right-oi
the spirit of universal propagandism-of con.
slant and indiscriminate Intervention in the
private concerns of other nations and Of the
idea of territorial expansion, which will seek
to attain its purpose by the prostration of every
principle of national law, and at the sacrifice OF
every notion of common honesty.
We do not deny that there are those who,
under the cover Of these words, hold many
wild, heretical and monstrous views, And yet
as the words express, according to our under
standing of them, high and noble idea which
should inspire the American mind, We pro
pose to yindcate them from misconstruction
which, on the one hand, might dangerously ex
tend its meaning, and the other, might, by &
narrow bigotry, deny it place altogether in Tho
lexicon of American politics.
The meaning of these English words is no
difficult to ascertain in this connection. Ii
the reference they have to the mass Of yet flu
ture events, which will inevitable result from
known and manifest causes, they convey ar
idea truly and simply harmless.
Out VIC w NV uShy iuA bci oAN O hSA
Specification. These future events thus ap
parently or manifestly to result from present
causes in operation, are and should be the
subjects Of an anxious consideration and OBJ
jects eagerly sought after in the direction Of
our present energies.
One qualification, naturally inferable from
the terms themselves, we would place upon the
general significance Of the phrase. 1t is that
no results are manifest in our destiny which
are evil, or uni ust to others-and which spring
from causes illegitmate and improper Nc
destiny is manifest which does not accord will
the eternal principles of justice and honor
A destiny may result from known and evi
causes now existing-but none can be said t.
be manifest consequence Of the present rela
tons Of things which conflicts with the un
changeable precepts of morality and right
We must seek, then, to know our destiny
to consider our capability for good to the hu
man race-how far our powers and our posi-
ton imposes the contamination of this or tina
policy as duty, either to ourselves or 10 9th
ers. No man liveth to himself. No natior
can pursue alone its destiny. Its duties are tc
the world, as well as to itself. Its obligation
10 others it cannot deny or avoid; for it is il
nnquestionable duty SO to use the bounteou
gifts Of the Creator, and to improve the oppor
tunities afforded to it, as to effect the hiphes
possible good which they are adequate to a,
tain.
In the eternal order Of things it so happen
that cur duties to ourselves and to others be
come inseparably interviewer. The error con
sists in keeping them separate and dis,nc,
They will, we believe, never be found really il
conflict. A deviation from course of right
even to pursue an apparent good, is Away
followed, sooner or later, by evil consequence,
We may not then, in the pursuit Of our man