Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-13
P K OSP EC 7 u s
OF THE
w AsHINGTON SENTTNyGS. !,

| MEL.
/ IL doing so, il is proper | should make known
I the principles il will maintain and the policy il
| will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples OF the Democratte purity Of the U,itcd Satey
II does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnment, except in so far an in
/ dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
party may represent its opinions and express, it's
i views.
/ 1t will not be ambitious to commend itself 10 the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowa of~tSe
sentiments which are common TO the genuiuA
/ Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may confict with them. from
whatever quarter they may come. II viii seek 10
be land il will endeavor II deserve the ttle) the
organ Of he Democratic party cf The United
| States.
| The SENTINEL viii maintain, fundamental
truth of that party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification of the Con-
/ stituton t.oWprcI; by which alse they created
| the Federal Government, and rlegat,d e Il,
4 as their common ageat the poVers expressly
/ specified 10 with an -yplicit reserVsop of all
/ others 10 the States 10 their separate govern
ments The exercise nf any nowers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore us,,rpatinn ~ the
| reserved authority or the states ny h, agepi ~
| their own creation,
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend tt.e Tnlon
upon the basis Of the rights Of the States-.unler
| the Consttuton-and thus by ss'dnlousy guarding
| the latter il will the more .drctualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
With regard 10 the exercise OF the powers ~ the
| FeL eral Government, the SENTINEL viii take as
the rnciples OF its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercis power which has not been delegated by
the G. Institution, according 10 strict and fair n-
| lerpre ton of its language and spirit; and that ii
| shall nj seek To attain indirectly an object through
the Use Of Constitutional po,cf, for the Gfect
attainme OF whieh it has no deiegat5oa Of poscer.
| In oh upr1s a m # he
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must he
used for no hurpose, 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. 1t will labor TO
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy: that tins Government will besi
promote the freedom and prosperity OF the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
| power, and more anxious to preserve liberty and
| by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eonccrms-while IL 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 Il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself the exigences,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper frmness with lrberaity,
ana make It's nlgnest en(ts consist with
| 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 ofthe nations Of the Old World,
and the ambitious restlrssness OF others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
! self
Our settled determination tc repe interference
| from abroad with domestic concerns, will
| prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries, ,leSs by their foreign colonial policy our
| peace should be threatened, our security endan
! gered, or interests invaded For when the
selfish interests of other nations prompt foreign
| or colonial policy which nfringes upon our rights
| and places in the pathway Of our commerce a
dangerous and unfriendly rival such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, and, if need be, by
| war
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defenSfUe Il must sometimes be
| apparently aggTeSsirs. Our administration should
be vigilant watchful, and energetic, The world
1 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 il 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
| worn-out, anarchlcal despotsm. We 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 To
! 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 one
government. A continent, TO a great extent, un.
/ explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il al feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
i 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
ings Of liberty civilization, and religion, des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
tion Of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission 10 which il is called 2
/ a mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed must
make our confederacy the harbnger of peace 10
| the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate a bold
/ andearncst foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but will advocate il under
/ the flag OF the 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 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 IL must be liberal and magnanimous 10
| the rights of others, and firm and Immoveable in
insisting on its own. 1t must, in fine, be true 10
its interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO those of other nations.
i 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 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 oi
the great principles upon which itcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor.