Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-07
PROSPE TU s.
..wAsHINGToN SENTINEL

der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL.
In doing SO, il is proper | should make known
the principles il win maintain, and the policy !,
will advocate.
i II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples Of 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
i views.
It will not be ambitious to commend itself TO the
people by a blind fattery of their rulers. II will
4 seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
4 sentiments which are common 10 the genuine
4 Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come II will seek TO
be land Il will cndeayor deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party of the United
States.
/ The SxNruxL will maintain, as fundamental
truth of great party, that the States formed the
!. Union between them by the ratification of the Con
stitution as compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO Il,
| as their common agent, the powers expressly
| specified in it, with 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, usurpatien OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent o.
| their own creation.
/ The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
| upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
| the Consttution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, it will the more eectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
| Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes Of its action, that Congress shall ex
| crcis no power which has not been delegated by
the C, nsttution according to strict and fair in
terpre, iion of its language and spirit; and that il
shall seek to attain indirecty an object through
the exei Use Of constitutional pos0er, for the direct
attainme Of which it has no delegation Of poi0er.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpOse, except such as Is clearly In
| tended by tn Constitution.
| In respect to the internal administration of the
Government The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party. il will labor to
| inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this Government will best
promote freedom and prosperity of the people
Of the States, by being less ambitious TO exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty; and
| by leaving to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eoncerms-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 as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with liberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the strietest
! principles of justice. The real interests OF the
| country, upon each occasion demanding attention
| will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
pursue.
| 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 tc repel interference
/ from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, mnLess by their foreign or colonial policy our
| 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 infrnges upon our rights.
| and places in the pathway OF our commerce
dangerous and unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, ~
war.
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensive, i must sometimes be
apparently aggressive Our administration should
be viglant, 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 an American
foreign policy. We must have it. We cannot
avoid il ii 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 neighbors but a colony, and
| o wern out, 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 are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life and To
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. A continent, to great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is at our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are at our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, ASIA,
Africa and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us, look to us the rising power, through the
agency of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ings Of liberty civilization, and religion, des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supcrsti,
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which it is called?
mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harblnger OF peace to
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
| destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foresgn policy, such the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
| and unimpeachable 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 il right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong. IL must be liberal and magnanmous to
| the rights of Others and firm and mmoveable in
| insisting on its own. II must, in 6ne be true TO
its own interests, rights, and honor--t 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
Res, wishes for it's success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which Il came into power;
| and in its honest abors to attain such an end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
r ATIaR YEARS, ny the Author Of g the
| u y Old House by the RIVER"
4 Mr.. Rutherford's Children, second volume.
Pebbles from the Lake Shore, or Miscellaneous
/ poema bv Charles Leland Potter, A. M