Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-22
ROSPE G I u s
. OF THE
wv ASHINGTON SENTINEL


| i ton, in September, political newspaper, un-
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI.
MEL.
! In doing so, il is proper | should make known
the principles II will maintain, and the policy il
1 will advocate.
| IL will support cordially and earnestly the prn
cpes of the Democratic party Of tie United States
II does not propose 10 be the organ of any Depart
ment OF the Cove rnment, except in so far as IN in
| dependent maintenance OF the doctrines OF that
party may represent its opinions and express it's
| views.
| II will not he ambitious 10 commend itself 10 the
| people by blind battery of their rulers. II will
| seek public .pport by the bold avowal OF the
| sentiments which are common TO the genuine
| democracy Of the Union, and by the condemna
! non Of all such as may conflict with them, from
| whatever quarter they may come. II will seek TO
he (and il will endeavor to deserve the ilIle) the
/ organ of the Democratic party Of the United
! States.
The SENTINEL will maintain as fundamental
truth OF that great party that the States formed the
| Union between them by the ratification OF the Con
/ -ituton compact; by which also, they created
| the Federal Government, and delegated 10 H.
| az their common agent, The powers expressly
| specified in ii. with explicit reservation OF AL
others To the States or 10 their separate govern
ments. The exercise ofany powers beyond thes-
thus delegated, is, therefore, usurpaton OF the
reserved authority of the States by the agent oi
| their own creation.
/ ne SENTINEi VIII upnOld ana ueithu UhOU
i upon the basis of the rights of tho Staes-under
| the Constituton--and thus by sedulously guarding
| the latter, il will the more efectualy strengthen
| and perpetuate the former.
| With regard to the exercise of the powers of the
| Fec eral Government, the SENTINEL will take
the rnciples of its action, that Congress shall ex-
| ercs no power which has not been delegated by
the G, Institution, according 10 strict and fair IN
terpre, tion of its language and spirit; aud that II
shall seek to attain ndirsctty an oblectthrough
the ise of constitutional po,oey for the Gnsci
| attainme of whish il has allegation Of poroer.
| 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 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 to
| nculcate this cardinal doctrine of Democratic in
| ternal policy:--lhat this Government will best
| promote the freedom and prosperity of the people
of the States, by being less ambitious 10 exercise
| power, and more anxious TO preserve liberty; and
| by leaving 10 the individual States the manage
ment of all their domestic eoneerns-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 as will suit itself to the exgencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests OF the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cided; but should temper 6rmress with liberality,
and make lis highest ends consist with the strlctesi
| principles of justice. The real interests OF the
| country, upon ea, occasion demanding attention
will be its guide in the course the SENTINEL vii
1 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
| mon motive 10 colonial extension has developed
| 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
| 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 unfriendy rival, such policy must
| be resisted by remonstrance, AMI, If need be, by
war
Our foreign policy should. indeed, be defensive,
but 10 be properly dsfensiUe. 4 must sometimes be
| apparentiy aggressive 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. IL is time we had an American
foreign policy We must have il. We cannot
avoid il ii we would. We have larger interests, and
/ greater stake in the world and lis destiny than
/ every other people. We occupy the best portion
/ Of a continent, with neghbors but a colony, and
. worn-out, anarchica despotism. 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 life. and o
| human progress-our mineral and manufacturing
resources more vast-our facilities and capacity Tor
/ 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 exhaustIess IN its YET hddeq wealth
il at our feet. European trade seeks the great East
| through avenues which are al 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 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 10 triumph over the barbarism 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 10 which II Is called
A mission full OF hope, though so laden with
responsibility, which, II properly directed, must
| make our confederacy the harbinger OF peace 10
the world, as well as the peaceful arbiter of iis
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 spotess honor
and unimpeachable good faith of the country. To
be respectable al 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 magnanmous 10
the rights Of Others and firm and nmoveable in
insisting on its own. Il must, in fine, be true 10
its own interests, rights, and honor-it cannot then
be false TO 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 OF
democratic principles shall cordially support
and defend. lis enemies IN the field or in ambush
we shall oppose, and on all proper occasions de.
nounce.
To our future brethren of the press extend
the hand of friendly greeting. The Sentinel is the
rival of no press OF It's own party-the personal
enemy Of none Of the other.
The present Democratic Administration has our
hest wishes for its in the establishment OF
the great principles upon which il came into power
and in It's honest labors to attain such end il