Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-13
P PROSPE G I U s
..,yasuINGTON SENTINEL. !"

the principles II WIN MAINTAIN, anu the Po'''y y
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cipes of the Democratic party Of tie Ontted States
il does not propose TO be the organ OF any Depart
ment of the Government, except In so lar as an IN
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express us
views.
II will not be ambitious 10 commend itselfto the
people by a blind hattery of their rulers. II 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 as may conflict with them, rom
whatever quarter they may come. II Will seek 70
be land it will endeavor 10 deserve the ttle) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States
The SENTINEL will maintain, az Fundamental
truth of that great party, that the States formed the
Union between them by the ratification OF the Con,
sttution as q compact by which, also, they created
the Federal Government, and delegated 10 II,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in H. with an explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States, or 10 their separate govern
ments The exercise of any powers beyond these
thus delegated is, therefore, an usurpaton OF the
reserved authority of the States BY the agent OF
their own creation.
The SENTINEL will uphold and defend the Union
upon the basis of the rights OF the States-uhder
the Consttution-and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more eiiectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former
With regard TO the exercise of the powers OF the
Fec era Government the SENTINEL will take rs
the rincples Of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, nstution according 10 strict and far IN
terpret ton Of its language and spirit and that
shall nc seek attain u,trecfy an object through
the exel Use of constitutional po,cer, for the direct
attanme of which il has no delegation Of Po'cey
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly ara ted, and all granted powers must be
used for purpose, 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. II VIII labor to
nculcate this cardinal doctrine OF Democratic IN
terna policy that this Government VIII 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 eoncernS-whlle 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 IT,
The SENTINEL will advocate such aprogreSslve
foreign policy as will suit itself 10 the exgencles,
and correspond with the expanding interests ol the
country That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; !; but should temper frmness with hberahty,
and make its highest ends consist with the srlctes
principles of Justice. The real interests Of the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTNEbW
pursue
The national policy of the world in this age
essentially aggressive. In the growing sense oi
weakness of some of the nations of the Old World
and the ambitious resllrssness of others, com
mon motive TO colonial extension has developed
self
Our settled determination &c repel interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, WI
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
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 remonstrance, and, II need be, sy
war.
Our foreign policy should, indeed, be defensive,
but TO be property defensive, II must sometimes be
apparentlv aggresSiUe. Our administration should
be vigilant, watchfu, and energetic. The world
is full of important movements, commercial and
political deeply concerning American trade and
American power. IL is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have II. 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 a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
a worn-out anarchcal despotism. We are the
olny people whose own land, without colonial de-
tendencies, ~
the world Our agricultural productions are more
varied and more essential TO civilized life, and Ia
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vas-our facilities and capacity for
internal and foreign commerce more extended
than those of any other people living under one
government. continent, 10 great extent, un-
explored and exhsustless IN its yet hidden wealth
is al our 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 10 triumph over the barbarism and superst-
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
A mission so full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbter OF ITS
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
and earnest foreign policy, such as the condition OF
| the country demands but il will advocate II under
| the flag ofthe country-nowhere else. Its foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
| ndNnimpeachabe good faith OF the country. 10
be respectable at hope and abroad and TO be great
| in the eyes Of the world, IL must ask for nothing
| but what il right, and submit 10 nothing that Is
wrong. Ii must be liberal and magnanimous TO
the rights of others, and firm and mmoveable in
| insisting on its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights and honor-it cannot then
| be false 10 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 press OF its own party-the personal
enemy of none of the other
The present Democratic Administration has our
lest wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which tcame into power:
and in its honest labors to attain such an end Il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadJutor