Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-12
PR ROSPE u S
.w AsuyNrTnN SENTTNEI.n

| ton in September, political newspaper, un-
| der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTl
| MEL.
| In doing so, il is proper should make known
| tho principles il will maintain, and the policy u
| will advocate.
| Ii will support cordially and earnestly the prin
ciples 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 lis opinions and express lis
views
| II will not be ambitious to commend itselftoth the
people by blind fattery of their-rulers. II will
| seek public support by the bold avowal OF the
| Democracy of the Union, and by the condemnn-
| on of all such rn~y eoaaiot with them from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek to
| be (and il will endeavor to deserve the ute) the
organ Of the Democratic party of Inc Umted
| 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
-tititon compact; by which also, tney created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 IT,
az their couimon agent, the powers expressly
specified in IT, with an explicit reservation OF all
others TO the States or TO their separate govern
nents The exercise Of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpai@n Of The
1 reserved authority Of the States Nv the nge't' =
their own creation.
The SENTINEL viii uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis OF the rights of the States--under
the Constitutional thus by sedulously guarding
the latter, ii will the more effectuay strengthen
and perpetuate the former
| With regard To the exercise of the powers OF the
| Fer eral Government the SENTINEL will take a.
he rnciples of its action, that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the c. institution, according TO strict and fair IN
terpre, ton fits language and spirit; and that II
shall n, seek attain indirectly an object through
IL for ha ,y1v.~
attainme of which il has no delegafson Of po1rer.
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose except such ~ is clearly in
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 10
incucate 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 TO exercise
power and more anxious to preserve liberty; and
by leaving to the individual States the manage.
ment of all their domestic ooacerns-while IT 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 H.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided but should temper frmness with llberality,
and make It's highest ends consist with the srietest
principles of Justice. The real interests oil 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 restlrssness OF others, com
u,pp nntiy 10 deyeiOped
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, vii
prompt us 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
pered 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 remonstrance, and, if need be, by
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly defenstpe Il must sometimes be
apparentlv aggressipe. 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 IT, We cannot
avoid il il we would. We have larger interests, and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
of a continent, with no neghbors but colony, and
a worn-out, anarchical despotsm. We are the
ony 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 to civilized de, and 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, TO great extent, un-
Hans
is at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which are al our doors, or must
be made through own limits. Europe, Asia,
Africa, and the isles Of the sea, lying all around
us look TO 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, are des-
tined TO triumph over the barbarism and supersti
ton of the millions Of the world. And shall such
a people refuse to lay hold upon their destiny, and
act upon the high mission TO which II IS caledf
A mission so full of hope though so laden with
responsibility, which, if properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbnger Of peace 10
the world as well the peaceful arbiter OF its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy such as the condition oil
the country demands, but il will advocate il under
the flag Of the country--nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unmpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable al home and aDroad ana 10 De 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. its own. Irmust, 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 we 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
hest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power;
| and in its honest abors to attain such nm end II
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor
/ II ATER YEARS, ny the Author Of :" the
| Il 4 Old House by the RIVER
/ Mr. Rutherlords Children, second volume