Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-08
PR OSP e G I u s
OF THE
NV WASHIN(sTON SENTINEL.

der tue name OF the WASHlNGION SENT I
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
eiples Of the Democratic party Of hs United States
it does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depart
inent OF the Government except in so far 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 itselfto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. Ii will
seek public s.ppor 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 as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek 10
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the ttle) 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
stitntion as compact by which, alse they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 Il,
their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an explicit reservation of all
others 10 the States, or TO their separate govern
mcnts The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, nsurpation 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 States-undrr
the Consiitution-and thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, il will the more ehectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take as
the rincples OF its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
he G, nstiiuion, according to a strict and fair in
terprel ton offs language and spirit; and that II
shall nc seek to attain indirectly object through
the exei Use of constitutional po0er for the 1trect
aitainme of which il has no dekgation Of poioer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted aud all granted powers must be
nsed for no ,urpose, except such as is clearly IN
tended by th 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
incucate 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 ooncerns-while 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 1t.
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 firmness with hberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictes
principles of justice The real interests OF the
country upon each occa asion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL will
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, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries unless 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 nfrlnges upon our rights
and places in the pathw of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO he property dsfe1sSsUe t must sometimes be
appayentky aggressfre. 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 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 neighbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchical 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 10 civilized life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vastour facilities and capacity for
.nernal and foreign commerce more extended
than those Of any other people hving under one
A aos
explored and exhsustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il al our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through own limits Europe, Asia
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
US, look TO us as 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 10 triumph over the barbarsm 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 TO 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 10
the world, as well the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands but II will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotess honor
and unimpeachablc good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad, and 10 be great
in the eyes of the world, il must ask for nothing
but what is right, and submit 10 nothing that Is
wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanmous 10
the rights of others, and firm and immoveabe 10
insisting on its own. Ii must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 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 It's own party--the personal
enemy of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
est wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJuor.
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