Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-20
P R 0SP EC T u s
swASuJNcTnN SENT,NE. /,

i ton, in September, political newspaper, IN
der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl.
| MEL
In doing 50 IL is proper 1 !houd make known
| the principles II will maintain. and the policy il
! will advocate.
| Il will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cples of the Democratic party Of the United Statss
II 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 its
views.
| 1t will not be ambitious TO commend itselfto the
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. 1t 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 may conflict with them from
whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
/ be (and II will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
| organ OF the Democratic party of the United
! States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, as a fundamental
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification of the Con.
stituton compact; by which, also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated TO II,
a. their common agent, the p1Wers expressly
specified in il, with explicit reservation of all
others to the States or to their separate govern
.ments. The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated, is, therefore, an nsurpaIor OF the
| reserved authority nf the States by the agent of
1 their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights of tho Slaies-2under
| the CoDstituton--and thus by 4ednlously guarding
the latter il will the more eHectualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former
With regard 10 the exercise Of the powers OF the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
The rnciples Of its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercis no power which has moi been delegated by
the O. institution, according to strict and fair in
terpre ton Of its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek TO attain indirectly an object through
the Use of constitutional porcer, for the direct
| attainme of which it has dekga,ion Of potcsr
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose except such as s clearly IN
tended by III 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 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 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eo,csrns-while II con-
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy 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 exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
cided; but should Temper frmness with liberaity,
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 to colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination tc repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, will
prompt to 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 infringes 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 he properly defcnsiUe, must sometimes be
apparently dggressipe 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 ii 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 no 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 ol
the world. Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, md 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 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 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 us 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 superst-
/ 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 called 2
/ A mission so full Of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, il properly directed, must
j make our confederacy the harbinger of peace TO
| the world, well as the peaceful arbiter Of its
| destiny
The SENTINEL WILL therefore, advocate a bold
and earnest foreign policy, such the condition Of
/ the country demands; but 1t will advocate II under
the flag ofthe country-nowhere else Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachabe good faith of the country. To
be respectable home and abroad, and to be great
| in the eyes of the world, II 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-it cannot then
be false to those Of other nations
Such, then, is the chart by which 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 is own party--tbe personal
enemy Of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
best wishes for il. success in the establishment OF
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
ATER YEARS, ny the Author of :. the