Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-04
P R OSP e G 7 u s
OF THE ~
wv AsHINGTON SENTINEL

| If PROPOSE TO publish in the city of Washing
u ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI-
MEL
the principles il viii maintain, and the policy ii
will advocate.
II will support cordially and earnestly the prin
cipes OF the Democratic party Of tie United States
IL does not propose TO be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnment, except in so far an in
dependent maintenance of the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express It's
views.
Il will not be ambitious TO commend itseifio the
people by blind fattery of their rulers, |, will
seek public support by the bold ayowai OF the
sentiments which are common to the genuine
Democracy of the Union. and by the condemna-
tion of all such as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come. Il will seek to
be (and il will endeavor to deserve the tte) the
organ of the Democratic party of the United
States.
The SENTINEL will maintain as n Fundamental |
truth ofthat great party that the States formed the
Union between them by The ratification of the Con
sttutlon compact; by which, also. they crented
the Federal Government, and delegated ~ H.,
as their common agent, the powers expressly
specified in H. with explicit reservation OF all
others 10 the States, or TO 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-under
the Consttution--and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, il will the effrctnaly strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard To the exercise Of the powers Of the
Fec eral Government, the SRNTINEL will take as
the rincples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution according to strict and fair in
terpre, ton OF its language and spirit; and that II
shall seek TO attain indirectly ectthrough
the Use of constitutional poroer, for the direct
altanme of which il has no dskgatiOn of p0toer
In other words, all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no purpose, except such as is c!earlv 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 will labor 10
nculcate 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 eoncerns--while il con-
tents itself with guarding the confederacy from
external violence, and directing the foreign policy
of the country 10 the promotion of the common
interests, and defence of the common rights and
honor of the States composing II.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy will suit itself To the exgencies,
and correspond with the xpanding interests OF the
country. That policy should he energetic and de-
cided; but should temper hrmness with liberany,
and make lis highest ends consist with the strictest
principles of Justice. The real interests OF the
country, upon each occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL viii
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,
o,ls sh nf hArs
mon motive to colonial extension has developed
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, aRiesS 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 q foreign
r 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, ~
war
Our foreign policy should indeed, be defensive,
but to be properly defenSiUe, II must sometimes be
apparently aggressive. Our administration should
be vigiIani, 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 II. We cannot
avoid il il we would We have larger interests, and
q greater stake In the world and It's deStlny than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
Of a continent, with no neighbors but colony, and
q worn-out, anarchcal despotism. We 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 more essential 10 civilized life, and 10
human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more 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 exhaustess in its yet hidden wealth
is al feet European trade seeks the great East
through avenues which 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 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 dcs
tined 10 triumph over the barbarism and superstl
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 il 10 caled2 7
A mission full of hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, If properly directed, must
make our confederacy the harbinger Of peace TO
the world, well as the peaceful arbiter of its
destiny.
The SENTINEL will, therefore, advocate bold
aud foreign policy, such as the condition oi
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. 10
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 magnanimous TO
the rights Of others, and firm and lmmoveable in
insisting on its own. II must in fine, be true to
its own interests, rights. and honor-t 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 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
test wishes for its success in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which itcame into power
| and in its honest labors TO attain such an end Il
| will find the SENTINEL its friend and cbadjutor.