Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-03
Pr OSP ECT II IS
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..W ASH NGTON SENTfNEL,r

| der the name oi the w ASftlNrIOs ocSiii
/ MEL atf h@
| In dong so, il is proper should make knowp
the principles il viii maintain. and the policy 4,
| will advocate t
| Il viii support cordially and earnestly the prn
ciples of the Democratic purity Of the U,eied taiss
il does not propose 10 be the organ OF any Depart
ment Of the Government, excep, lnso far as an IN
! dependent maintenance Of the doctrines OF that
party may represent lis opinions and express lls
! views 0
| II will not be ambitious TO commend itself 10 the
| people by blind iattery of their rulers. II VIII
| seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
| sentiments which are common to the genuine
| Democracy of the Union, and hy the condemna-
tion Of all such as may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter ihey may cope II wiH sees 20
| be land il viii endeayor 20 deserve the ulf) inr
| organ Of the Democratic party OF the Dnred
| States. a.
Il. The SRsrIsEl will mainiain fundsmemsl
truth of that great party haIthe States formed the
| Union between them by ihe Ttiiicaiiau II The on
stitu,ion compact, 10y Malehsai-G they rrt''te
| the Federal Government, ami delegated /" II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in il, with an exnhcit reservation ~ All
Others 10 the States or 10 Their separate govern
| menus The exercise opauy powers beyond ihese
Tins delegated is, therefore, An ysGrpatieb oi tiie
reserved authority ~ tne -taIes hy The A9eiH -
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend tbe l'nioh
upon the basis of the rights OF the Ststes-n nnder
the Copstitution-aid thus by Seduiously euassing
the latter il will the more eaactaaiiy strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise OF the powers dtthe
Fec srai Government, the SENTINEL Will iaksas
The rincipes of its action, that Congress shalt ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G., Institution, according to strict and tarfn-
terprt ton of its language and spirit and that u
shall n, seek TO attain idwectLy object through
the xe se Of constitutional poioer for the dayecf
,Nfxsr II hos 4Gf
In other words. all powers exercised must he
clearly gra led, and all granted powers must be
used Cor no purpose, except such asis clearly IN
tended by tn Constitution.
In respect 10 the internal administrators OF The
Government, The SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II Will labor 70
inculrate this cardinal doctrine of Democraiicln
ternal policy that this Government will be1
promote the freedom and prosperity oil ihe people.
OF the States, by being less ambitious to exercise
power, and more anxious 10 preserve liberty apq
by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment Of all their domestic conceras--while ii con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country to the promotion oil the common
interests and defence of the COMMON rights, and
honor of the States composing IT.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself tothe exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
eided; bui should temper Grinness with hberalny,
and make It's highest ends consist with the strietesi
principles of justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be it, guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
| pursue.
The national policy OF the world IA this age IS
| essentially aggressive, IN the CROWNS sense,2i
weakness of some of the nations of the Old Worli,
| and the ambitious restessness OF others, a com
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
| from abroad with our domestic concerns, wi
! promp, 10 avoid il in the affairs Of other coun
tries aass hy their foreign colonial policy our
peace should be threatened, our security endan
eered 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
be resisted by remonstrance, and, II need be, by
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
bur 10 be ryonerlp defe1,stpe Il must sometimes be
apparentiy dggrtSsiue Our administration should
be vigiant, 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 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
q 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 tc
human Ijrogress--our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-onr 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, IN
explored and exhaustless IN its yet hidden wealth
II Ifnaf
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 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 barbarsm and supersti-
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
people refuse TO lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II Is called I
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the hsrbinger of peace 10
the world, AZ well the peaceful arbiter Of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate boid
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
the country demands; but = wii ~dvchais y 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 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. Ii must be liberal and nagnanimons TO
the rights Of others, and firm and imnoveabe 10
| insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights and honor-t cannot then
be false to thoss Of other nations.
| Such then u the chart by which we shall he
| guided. independent and free, we shall endeavor
10 be honest aud truthful. The true friends OF
| democratic principles we shall cordially support
| and defend Its enemies in the field or IN ambush
VIC 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 its own pariy--the personal
enemy of none of the other.
| The present Democratic ADMINISTRATION has our
best wishes for its success in the establishment OF
| the great principles upon which il came into power
and in ITS honest labors to attain such an end y
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadlutor,
4 4 ATER YEARS. py the Author OF the
/ IL Old House by the River
Mr.. Rutherfords Children, second volume