Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-08
PROSPE TU s
OF THE
wv AsHINGTON SENTINEL,


/ ton, in September, political newspaper un-
der the name or the WASHINGTON SENTI.
MEL
In doing So II j. proper / should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy II
will advocate
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples of the Democratic party of the United States
it 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 us
views
Ii will not be ambitious to commend itself to the
people by blind fattery of their rulers. II will
seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
i 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 10
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 10 II,
| az their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in IT, 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 usurpation of the
reserved authority of the States by the agent al
| their own creation.
| upon the basis of the rights of the Statcs-under
the Constitution-andt thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, will the efiectually Strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
1 With regard to the exercise of the powers OF the
| Fec eral Government the SENTINEL will take as
| the rincpes of its action that Congress shall
| ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the C, institution according to strict and fair in
terpret tion of its language and spirit; and thar II
shall nj seek to attain indirectly object through
~. he
attanme of which il has no detegatton Of p0ioer.
| In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no 'urpose, 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. 1t will labor 10
incucate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy that this Government will bes'
| 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 to the individual States the manage
| ment of all their domestic eoacerns-while 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 1t.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
1 country. nat policy SROulu DC cHerSelC ana ut-
cded; but should temper frmness with lberality,
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 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 dissemination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt 10 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 nfringes 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 10 be property detenSiUe Il must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vgilant, watchful, and energetic. The world
| is full of important movements, commercial and
political, deeply concerning. American trade and
/ American power. Ii is time had American
| foreign policy. We must have it, We cannot
| avoid il If we would. We have larger interests and
a greater stake in the world and it's destiny, than
| every other people. We occupy the best portion
o 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 are more
varied and more essential 10 civilized life, and te
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources 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
il al our feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which at our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
| Africa, and the isles Of the sea- lying all around
| us, look 10 us 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, des-
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and supersti-
ton Of the millions of the world. And shall such
a people refuse 10 lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which il is called
| A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make confederacy the harbinger Of peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such the condition OF
the country demands; but il will advocate il 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 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 magnanmous 10
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true TO
its own interests, rights. and honor-it cannot then
be false 10 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 ol
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 its own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
tesi 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 it
} will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadjutor
II ATER YEARS, Dy the Author Of . the
III hy The Rtvp