Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-18
P ROSP Il G I u S
wv AsHINl:TON sENTINEf.


i I PROPOSE to publish in the city OF Washing
| 1 ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
| der the name of the WASHINGTON SENTl
MEL
/ In doing 50, il il proper | should make known
| the principles il viii maintain, and the policy il
| will advocate.
/ II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cpes Of the Democratic party Of the United States
/ il does propose to be the organ Of any Depart
ment Of the Government, except in 80 far as an In
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of that
| party may represent its opinions and express It's
| views.
twill not be ambitious commend itselfto the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public slpport by the bold avowal OF the
| sentiments which common TO the genuine
! Democracy of the Union, and by the condemna-
tion Of all such may conaict with them from
| whatever quarter they may come II VIII seek 10
he (and il will endeavor 10 deserve the title) the
| organ OF the Democratic party OF The United
/ States.
The SENTINEL will maintain, ~ tundainenloi
truth of that great party that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con.
sItuton compact; by which also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 70 :,
/ 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. usurpaton Of the
reserved authority of the States by the aarnt ~
| their 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 il will the more edectuav strengthen
/ and perpetuate the former.
| With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
| Fec sral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall
| ercis power which has not been delegated t'y
the G. nstituton, according 10 strict and !ar m
erpre, ton of its language aud spirit; and that II
\ hall IN ptf ind
the exel Use of constitutional poacer. for the tr.rt
attainme of which has 40 Delegation Of po'o~r.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no ,urpose, except such AZ IS clearly ia
| tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administration 1t the
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
| policy of the Democratic party II viii 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 10 preserve liberty; and
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic oonoeJns-whe II con
tents itself with guarding the coniederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion OF the common
interests, and defence of the common rights, aud
honor of the States composing it.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigences,
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper firmness with liberality,
and make its highest ends consist with the strctest
| 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 III this age ls
| essentially aggressive. In the growing sense OF
weakness Of some of the nations OF the Old World,
| and the ambitious restlessness of others, com
Il has daNa
| self
Our settled determination &c repe interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 avoid il in the affairs OF other coun
tries H,lsSS 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
dangerous and unfrendly rival such policy must
be resisted by remonstranc-, and. if need he, ly
war.
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but TO be properly dcfensIUe. 4 must sometimes be
apparently aggrsssipe. Our administration should
be viglant, watchful, and energetic The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
poliii, al, deeply concerning American trade and
American power IL is time we had an 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 continent with no neighbors but colony, and
. worn-out, anarchical 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 more
varied and essential 10 civilized life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources vastour facilities and capacity for
| internal and foreign commerce more extended
| than those Of any other people living under one
government. A continent, TO great extent un.
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
il 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 us 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 to triumph over the barbarism and supersti
| ton OF the millions Of the world. And shall such
| a people refuse 70 lay hold upon their destiny, and
| act upon the high mission 10 which II is caxedf
A mission full Of hope, though so laden with
| responsibility, which, IL properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world, well 1 the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition Of
the country demands; but Il viii advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. It's foreign
| policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeac liable good faith of the country. To
be respectable at home and abroad and 10 be great
| in the eyes OF the world II must ask for nothing
but what il right, and submit 70 nothing that -
| wrong Ii must be liberal and magnanimous to
the rights of others. and firm and immoveable IN
insisting on it, 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, shall endeavor
| 10 be honest and truthful The true friends OF
democratic principles we shall cordially support
and defend. Its enemies IN the held 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-the personal
| enemy of none Of the other.
| The present Democratic Administration has our
| test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il tcame into power;
and in its honest labors 10 attain such an end II
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor.
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