Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-22
Pennsylvania--Her Position and her
Masnr;txr


The recent unparalleled majority given by
the democracy of Pennsylvania to the State
tiekes, reaching as it viii full forty thousand,
naturally suggests some reflections as to the
causes which produced this result. 1t is not to
be denied that the unsullied characters OF the
democratic nominees, and their peculiar adap-
tltude 70 the positions for which they were NOM
mated, had controlling influence in stimulat-
ing the party to industry and activity in all
sections OF the commonwealth. The fame of
Knox as competent, honest, and intelligent
judge, and the reputation of Forsyth for firm
ness and fidelity in the discharge of delegated
public trusts, was so proverbial had so grown
into the thoughts and judgments of the people
that when their names were presented on the
same ticket, the result was not conjectura-
one. so, too, with Mr.. Banks and Mr.. Brawl
ley. Both of these gentlemen had served one
official term, and the citizens were thus enabled
to Judge Of their fitness for the stations they
held. In this manner, then, was the State ticket
presented. 1t was not composed of doubtful or
untried men. 1t was not nominated as a mere
political maneuyre, the triumph of one party
these entered into the convention, and hence
the cordial and hearty support which the ticket
received in all parts Of the State.
But potent as were these influences in pro-
ducing the gratifying result in the sold Key
stone we are far from shutting our eyes to an
other element that entered largely into the con-
test, and with the most happy and benign eff
feet. In our commonwealth, the contest did
not turn on the spoils question, nor was the
democracy torn asunder and emasculated by
the mere matter as to who shall hold the Offices
under the general government. These were
looked upon by the sturdy, staunch, honest
democracy of the old Keystone as secondary
considerations, and the contest was fought for
the initial points in the American inaugural of
President Pierce; for the broad and universal
principles of liberty and brotherhood laid down
in that democratic chart; for the admirable and
pointed manner in which those principles are ex-
pounded in the letter of Secretary Marcy in the
Koszta case, and for the general doctrines which
were enunciated by President Pierce as the basis
on which his administration would rest. These
were the levers by which the democratic force
of the State was welded, and made so over
whelming in the recent conflict. No time was
wasted in rummaging into the past for evidence
by which to open some long-healed feud, and
thus produce discord and distraction, where
concert and harmony should exist. The presses
of this State were not made the vehicles of per-
sonal SANDER on distinguished members of the
democratic party, nor their columns prostituted
to the utterance Of falsehoods calculated only to
injure the party and its candidates. All these
things were avoided, and the battle was fought
fairly on the platform of the party as laid down
at Baltimore, unpolluted by isnas and untouched
by sections.
With this broad and comprehensive basis for
party action, Pennsylvania took the field. She
had no grievances with the general government
to'impede her progress or paralyze her efforts.
One of her distinguished and popular sons had
been called to a seat in the cabinet of General
Pierce, and thus was her claims on the conf
dence and gratitude of the nation, for past SER
vices in the political arena, recognized and
rewarded in an open and available manner. As
to the distribution of the minor offices, this is
a question that could not for one moment be
allowed to throw shadow on the political hori-
zon of this State The shouts of the awakened
and exultant democracy were not to be broken
in upon by the shrill cry of some disappointed
ofice-seeker, whose only idea Of political duty
is to vote the ticket when in office, and oppose
it when not successful. The dignity and en-
nobling influence of principle is too sacred in
this State to be sacrificed on the altar of per-
sonal likes or dislikes, or inundated at the
shrine of by-gone political affiliations. Let the
dead past bury its dead-to-day is the advent
Of new men, Of fresh, generous spirits, whose
only thought is the principles Of the party in
their sacredness and purity, and whose only
aim is to fulfil that mission which is mapped
out in the inaugural Of President Pierce.
1t was this idea, and these great principles
which acted in such gratifying manner in the
State contests through which the democracy Of
Pennsylvania has just passed. In all quarters
of the State the party was unit upon all
national and State issues. The inviolability of
the Constitution, the gradual and peaceful ex-
tension of the area of freedom and the bold
and fearless announcement of the entire con-
currence of Pennsylvania in the doctrines of the
protective character of the American flag over
her native and adopted citizens, no matter where
their wanderings may lead them, was the in
centives to action in this State. The democ
racy of Pennsylvania look upon the admins
tration Of General Pierce as founded espe-
cially upon these great fundamental principles,
and hence the rally they made to testify by
their acts the faith that is in them. Before this
outburst of pride and patriotism, the force Of
the opposition disappeared like leaves before
the autumn blast, and the voice of the democ-
racy Of the "old Keystone" is heard in all
parts of the Union, as in tones Of prophesy,
predicting the future Of an administration which
is based upon the great progressive, humanita-
rian principles and impulses of the wonderful
age in which we live. The majority in Penn
sylvana is the index to the feelings Of the peo-
| pie with relation to the doctrines laid down by
General Pierce in his inaugural, as well as Of
confidence in the patriotism, honesty and fdeli-
| ty, With which he has acted upon the platform
upreared by his own hands. May it not also
be considered in the light of rebuke to that
spirit of faction which would sever the bonds
Of democratic union, and expose the nation to
renewal of those sectional animosities which
| were exercised by the passage of the "compro-
mise act" and the triumphant election of Gen
eral Pierce on that question. ~ ldany argus.
ARTLEss SMPLIcITg--A certain little boy of
this city, who recently Host his father found him
self debarred thereby from attending school as
formerly, and, in the funess of his faith, he deter
mined to seek the ,rhnreuaithal at that fnntstool