Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-19
PROSPE CT u s
..wAsHINCTON SENTINEL.

1
| i ton, in September political newspaper, un-
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL
In doing so, il is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
/ will advocate.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples Of the Democratic party of tie Unted States
II 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.
| 1t will not be ambitious to commend itselfto the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
| seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
| sentiments which are common TO the genuine
/ Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
| ton OF all such may conflict with them, from
! whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
| be (and il will endeavor to deserve the tite) the
| organ of the Democratic party Of the United
| States. a
| 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 a compact; by which alse, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
| az their common agent, the powers expressly
| specified in IT, with an explicit reservation OF all
Others to the States, or their separate govern
| ments. The exercise OF any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent oi
their own creation
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights Of the Staes--under
the Constitution thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter, il will the more efectuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec ceral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rincipes of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the C, institution, according TO strict and fair in
ierpret tion ofits language and spirit; and that IT
snail seek TO attain indirectly object through
the excl Use of constitutional YOtoer, for the Gsrect
attanme I of which il has no delegation OF porcsy.
In other> words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for ,urpose, except such "a IS clearly in
tended by III Constitution.
In respect 10 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
terna 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 llbertyj and
by leaving TO the Individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic coneerns-whe II 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 exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper irnness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strotest
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
pursue.
The national policy of the world in this age is
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense oil
weakness of some of the nations OF the Old World,
and the ambitious restessness OF others, com
81 hou IAyr NaI
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries u,Less by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, 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
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
war
Our foreign policy should, indeed be defensive,
but TO be properly detensipe, i must sometimes be
apparentlp dggresstpe. 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 an American
foreign policy We must have il. We cannot
avoid it il we would. We have larger interests and
O greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
of a continent, with neghbors but a colony, and
b WORKOUT anarchical despotsm. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
Tendencies, is washed by the two great oceans oil
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. coniinent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is al our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa and the isles Of the sea- lying all around
us, look to the rising power, through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though peaceful influences, the bless
ngs of liberty civilization and religion, are des-
tined to triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which IL is called!
mission SO full of hope though laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiier of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands but it will advocate it under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unmpeac liable good faith of the country To
be respectable home and abroad, and 10 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 magnanmous TO
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests rights, and honor--it 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 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
hest wishes for it's in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power;
| and in its honest abors TO attain such an end II
1 will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadutor.
II ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of 50 the
1 IL Old House by the River"
Mr.. Rutherford's Children, second volume.