Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-26
P R OSPE G T u S
N" ~" OF TIE
wv ASHINGTON SENTINEL, :,

MEL.
In doing so, it is proper should make known
the principles il will maintain, and the policy il
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cipes of the Democratic party Of Me United States
il does not propose 10 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 10 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 10 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 ahd il viii endeavor TO deserve the title) the
organ Of the Democratic party ot the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, as fundamental
truth fthot great party that the States formed the
Union between them By the ratification Of the Con
stituton as compacl; by which, also, they created
the Federal Government. and delegated TO Il,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with nm explci, reservation Of all
others 10 the States, 10 their separate govern
menls. The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, usurpa,ien Of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent 0!
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend tine Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Consttution--and thus by sedulousiy guarding.
the latter ii will the more efectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples of its action that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has moi been delegated by
the c. institution, according 10 strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that II
shall nI seek TO attain indrsctly an oblectthrough
the ise of constitutional po,cer, for the direct
attainme of which il has del>gdtton Of p0IcsT.
In fhar rrnrlS oil sad m he
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such a. is cearN IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 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 the freedom and prosperity of the people
OF the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
power, and more ar hs 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the Individual States the manage
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 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, and
honor of the States composing II.
The SENTINEL viii advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness 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 OF
weakness of some Of the nations of the Old World,
and the ambitious restessness OF others, com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
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, uRSs by their foreign or colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
gen0l, or our interests invaded. For when the
selfish interests Of other nations prompt foreign
colonial policy which lnfringes upon our rights.
and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unlriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrancs, and, II need be, by
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensfveyi IL must sometimes be
apparently aggreSStpe. 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 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 a continent with neghbors but colony, and
n wOrn-Out, anarCnlcal despOlsm. 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 vast-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those OF any other people living under
government. continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
s al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through our own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles of the sea, lying all around
US, look 10 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 barbarism and supersii-
tion 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 calledf
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 as the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest torslgn policy, such as the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate Il 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 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 magnanmous 10
the rights Of others, and firm and mmoveabc in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honort 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 truo 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
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which Il came into power
and in its honest labors to attain such an end u
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
I 7 ATER YEARS, by the Author Of . the
/ A Old House by the RIVER"