Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-18
P ROSP E G 7 u S
OF THk
wv ASHINGTON SENTINEL

will advocate.
Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples ofthe Democratic party Of tie Unsted 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 It's
views.
II will not be ambitious TO commend itself 10 the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. Il 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 as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
be (and it will endeavor to deserve the ttle) the
| organ of the Democratic party OF the United
| States.
! The SENTINEL will maintain, fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con-
stitution compact; by which, also they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO T.,
as their common agent the powers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States, 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is therefore, usurpation of the
reserved authority OF the States by the agent OF
! their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of the States-under
| the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter it will the more efectually strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
L
Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rnciples 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
terprei ton of its language and spirit and that II
| shall nc seek to attain indirectly an obJectthrough
the exel Use of constitutional yocsr for the direct
attainme Of which it has no allegation Of poscer
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
| clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, 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. II will labor TO
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic IN
ternal policy that tins Government will best
promote the 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 ooncerRS-whlle 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 il.
The SENTINEL. will advocate such progressive
foreign policy 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 frmness with lberaity,
and make its highest ends consist with the srictest
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 restlessness OF others, com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| self.
Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 10 avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries unless by their foreign 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 infringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway of our commerce
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 defenstve, II must sometimes be
appdrentlv aggreSsiUs Our administration should
be vigant, 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 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 no neighbors but colony, and
o worn 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 10 civilized life, and Ia
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. A continent, 10 a great extent, un-
explored and exhaustess IN its yet hidden wealth
is al 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 10 as 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, are des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
| ton Of the millions of the world. And shall such
people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission to which Il is calledf
mission 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 It's
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
the country demands; but il will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith OF the country. To
be respectable al home and abroad, and TO be great
| i'm 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 TO
| the rights Of others, and firm and Immoveable IN
/ insisting on its own. Ii must in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights and honor--t cannot then
i be false to those of other nations.
! Such, them 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 des
/ nounce.
To our future brethren of the press we extend
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel IS the
rival of no press OF is own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which came into power;
and in its honest labors to attain such an end Il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and condJutor.
II AFTER YEARS. nv the Anfhnr of s. the