Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-24
OUR E1RsT ANNryERsARY.

OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
This is our birthday, and we hail it with
proud feelings of exultationl The rude vicis-
STUDIES of our first year have been overcome,
and as we tremblingly look back upon the fear
full vista through which we have passed, our
hearts are filed with thankfulness for our
safety. The stern lessons we have learned,
are, we hope, not without profit to rs; and the
experience which we have acquired will, We
trust be lamp to our future pathway to
honor and wisdom. We have the conscious
ness of clear record under every exposure
and encompassed by every temptation. We
have not reaped where we have not strewn.
We have not fattered where censure was
wholesome, or rebuked where praise was due
We have bowed to no idolatry patient knee,
"nor coined our cheek to smiles, nor cried
aloud in Worship Of an echo"
This day twelve months ago, by our own in
diyidual energy, the hopes of previous months,
after many disappointments, were realized,
and with proud but anxious hearts we gave
our bark to the troubled waters of Political
tempest She sailed under no pirates flag
her name, her nation, and her mission, were
blazoned upon her waving folds. She went
forth under the discouraging and fearful appre-
tensions of her best friends, and insulted by
the diabolical predictions of her worst enc
mics. Throughout her perilous voyage, where
help was hoped, disfavor came; where foes
were expected, friends appeared. SO, she
struggled on, with naught in her darkest hours
70 give her speed, save the contemplation Of
her high mission, and the hopes, though often
remote, that its principles would at last be win.
dicated, and their triumph fully achieved. 1t
is Of this mission we mean TO speak, and, in
doing 50, we feel that our generous patrons
viii not complain il, in justice to ourselves and
to them, we give our space to-day TO brief re-
view Of the course Of the Sentinel.
The position Of the Washington Sentinel,
here and before the country, is anomalous and
il is to give a proper explanation Of its posi-
ton that We have proposed to ourselves this
reluctant task. We say reluctant task, because
we feel it TO be our duty to deal plainly and
openly, and in so doing, we may not, perhaps,
speak as favorably as we should desire Of some
with whom II has always panied us TO disagree.
Others there are, who have no right to our
favor, or TO our leniency, and who shall receive
at our hands, without stint their just deserts
The Prospectus Of the Washington Sentinel
has gone out with every issue Of our paper
il was the chart Of our principles by which, in
the beginning, we pledged ourselves to be
guided. In our Judgment, they were the true
principles Of The veritable STATE Rights Party
to which we claim 10 belong. They were re-
cognized as such, in All the editorial courtesies
which hailed our advent There was not, If our
memory serve us, one single exception to break
this rare unanimity Of sentiment We chal-
lenge then the strctest scrutiny into our course,
with entire confidence that we win not be found
TO have been recreant TO one, The least Of these
principles. Isitnot curious fact that in all the
violence which the Sentinel has encountered by
the partizan and subsidized presses throughout
the country, not one has been found 10 attack
us upon any s1ch, as we hold, legitimate
ground-that from the Consistent and ORTHODOX
Washington Union the faithful echo Of the ad.
ministration, TO the lowest and most groyeling
Of the corps, there has been no attempt 10
charge rs with any departure from the &C.
knovledged principles Of our party.
Principles, we contend, should form parties;
not parties, principles. By this rule, our re:
cord is without blot. II, then, even the envy,
hatred, and malice, of the slavish and unprin-
cipled presses in the country have failed TO
find anything which could be distorted into
violation Of principle by us, Why, our readers
may well ask, are we stin under the mighty
displeasure Of the Administration And vbv
does the Washington Union continue to bask
in the sunshine Of Executive favor? We pro
pose, briefly, 10 examine into the history and
causes Of this anomalous state Of things, and
we apprehend that the contrast Of the records
Of the Union and Sentinel, which we shall
make, will strike those who see Il with some
surprise
The present Administration came into power
committed 70 certain long established princi-
pies Of government principles npon which the
Democratic party had been formed for more
than half century-and but for the steady