Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-12
P ROSP E G I u s
Nv AsHINCTON SENTINEr.n y

L IL
der the name Of the WASHINGTON SENTI
MEL
| In doing So il is proper should make knowr
| the principles il will maintain, and the policy j
will advocate. ta lltsaf lH.
| II will support cordially and earnestly the prln
ciples of the Democratic party o tie United State
II does not propose TO be the organ Of any Depar
ment OF the Government, except in so far as il
| dependent maintenance of the doctrines of tha
| party may represent its opinions and express ia
views.
| II will NOT be ambitious to commend itself 10 he
| people by blind fattery of their rulers. Il will
seek public support by the bold avowl of the
sentiments which common to the genuine
democracy of the Union, and by the condemns
| ton of all snch as may conflict with them, from
whatever quarter they may come Il will seek tc
| be land il will cndeavor TO deserve the tte) the
organ OF the Democratic party Of The United
States. 3 H .a ~
| 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 Il
| a. their common agent, the powers expressly
| specified in il, with explicit reservation nf all
others to 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--nnder
the Constituton--and thus by seduously guarding
the latter, it will the more effectually strengthen
and perpetuate the former.
With regard TO the exercise of the powers of the
Fel eral Government, the SENTINEL will take as
the rinciples Of its action that Congress shall
ercis no power which has not been delegated by
the G, institution, according strict and fair in
terpre, ton of its language and spirit; and that il
shall ne seek to attain indirecty an object through
the Use of constitutional poorer, for the rec,
attainme of which it has no delegation of poaoev
In other words all powers exercised must be
clearly gra ted, and all granted powers must be
used for no 'urpose, except such is clearly in
tended by tn Constitution. ,mt.ff4s,
In respect 10 the internal administration of the
Government, the SENTINEL will sustain the settled
policy of the Democratic party. II will labor TO
inculcate 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 concerns-while il 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 il.
The SENTINEL will advocate such progressive
foreign policy as will suit itself to the exigencies,
and correspond with the expanding interests of the
country. That policy should be energetic and de-
cded but should temper frmness with liberality,
and make IFS 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 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 determination tc repe interference
from abroad with our domestic concerns, viii
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 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 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 TO be properly dJe,lstUe, IL must sometimes be
apparently 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. II is time we had an American
foreign policy. We must have il. We cannot
avoid it II we would, We have larger interests and
greater stake in the world and its destiny, than
every other people. We occupy the best portion
OF a continent, with no neghbors but a colony, and
q 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 TO civilized life and to
human progrcss-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
A n.
explored and cxhaustless its yet hidden wealth
is al our feet. European trade seekAihe 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 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 calledl
| mission so full Of hope, though 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 its
destiny.
and earnest foragn policy such as the condition Of
the country demands; built will advocate il under
the flag ofthe country--nowhers else. It's foreign
policy must be consistent with the spotless honor
and unimpeachable good faith Of the country. To
be respectable at 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 magnanimous "a
the rights Of others, and firm and Immoveabe in
insisting its own. II must, in fine, be true 10
It's own interests, rights, and honor-t 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 oi
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 it's 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 il tcame into power
and in its honest labors TO attain such end il
will find the SENTINEL its friend and coadiutor.
| ru q, N st,x