Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-01
PROSPE CTUS
..wAsHINGT II Ms SENTINEL.

| MEL.
In doing so, ii is proper | should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
I 1t will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples the Democratic party Of the United States.
il does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government except in so far as an in
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express its
| views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself TO the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal of the
sentiments which common TO the genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
ton of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. IL will seek to
be land il will endeavor TO deserve the ttlc) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
| States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth Of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
stitution compact by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 it,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with an explicit reservation of all
others to the States, or to their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an usnrpation Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent OF
| their own creation.
| The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon fhe basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the efectually strengthen
| and perpctuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
| Federal Government, the SENTINEL will take
the principles of its action that Congress shall ex
ercise no power which has not been delegated by
the Constitution, according TO strict and fair in
depreciation of its language and spirit; and that il
shall not seek to attain indirectly object through
the exercise of constitutional poaoer, for the direct
attainment Of which it has no delegation Of poacsr
In other words, all powers exercised must be
! clearly granted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose except such us is clearly in
tended by the Constitution.
| In respect to the internal administration Of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
] policy of the Democratic party. II will labor to
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy:-that this Government will best
| promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic concerms-while il con-
| tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
| of the country TO the promotion Of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing it.
! The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself to the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
| cided; but should temper frmpess with iberality
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
| principles Of justice. The real interests Of the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention,
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
bpursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlessness of others, a COM
/ mon motive to colonial extension has developed
/ self.
| Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid il in the affairs of other
i A
/ peace should be threatened, our security endan-
! gered, or our interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
or colonial policy which infringes upon our rights,
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, il need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive
but TO be properly defems,pe, Il must sometimes be
| apparently aggressive Our administration should
| be vigilant watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full of important movements, commercial and
POLITICAL deeply concerning American trade and
| American power. II is time we had American
foreign policy. We must have it, We cannot
avoid il if we would. We have larger interests, and
a greater stake in the world and its destiny than
] every other people. We occupy the best portion
of continent with no neighbors but a colony, and
| a WORKOUT, anarchcal despotism. We are the
! olny people whose own land without colonial de-
| tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans OF
! the world. Our agricultural productions more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and to
human progrcss-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those of any other people living under
| government continent to great extent, I'M
explored and exhaustless In its yet hidden wealth
il at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, must
| be made through our own limits. Europe Asia,
| Africa, and the isles OF the sea- lying all around
US, look 10 us as the rising power, through the
! agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ings OF liberty, civilization and religion are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions OF the world And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called?
mission so full of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnesf foreign policy, such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il under
the flag ofihe country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and TO be great
in the eyes OF the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit TO nothing that is
wrong II must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
us own interests, rights, and honOrIt cannot then
be false TO those Of other nations.
Such, then, is the chart by which we shall be
guided. Independent and free, we shall endeavor
to be honest and truthful. The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and On all proper occasions de-
nounce
To our future brethren Of the press we extend
the hand OF friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival Of no press Of its own party--the personal
enemy of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for It's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor
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