Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-13
P ROSP EC TU S
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Nv WASHlNGEON SkINIINII1s.'
II PROPOSE 10 publish in the city of Washing
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 u
will advocate.
II will supper, cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party of the United 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 itsefto the
people by blind hattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowa OF the
sentiments which are common TO the genuine
Democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. II Will seek 10
be (and ii 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 a compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in it, with explicit reservation OF all
others to the States, or their separate govern
ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, ,'snrpation OF the
reserved authority Of the States by the agent ~
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis Of the rights of the States-under
the Conslitution--and thus by sednlously guarding
the latter. il will the efactnally strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard to the exercise OF the powers of the
Fec era Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rincpes of its action, that Congress shall ex
ercis no power which has not been delegated 10y
n tr,firp NO n a strict and fair
terpre, ton of its language and spirit and that II
shall nc seek TO attain indirectly object through
the exei Use of constitutional po0ey for the direct
attain1ne of which it has no delegation o po,csr.
In other words, all powers exercised musi be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers nlusi he
used for no purpose, except such as is clearly n
tended by tn 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
inculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
ternal policy that this 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 to the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestie eonee,ns-whlle 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 will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself TO the exigencles
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with liberalty
and make its highest ends consist with the strictest
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, a com
mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us to avoid il in the affairs of other coun
tries n,less 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 hfringes upon our rights
and places in the pathway OF our commerce a
dangerous and unfrendly rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, Il need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly defensips, Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigilant waichful, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning American trade and
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 a continent, with neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out anarchcal despotism. 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 te
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, TO a 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 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 TO the rising power, through the
agency Of whose example, and ever widening and
extending, though pesceful influences, the bless
ings Of liberty, civilization, and religion are des-
tined TO 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 II Is called
A mission so full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, IL 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 a bold
the country demands but II will advocate u under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its 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
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 magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and immoveable in
insisting on it's 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 lis 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 II came into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such an end u
| will find the SENTINEL it's friend and coadJutor.