Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-19
THE APPROACHING STATE CONVENTION

THE APPROACHING STATE CONVENTION.
Under curiouSly worded call of the State
Committee, of which Henry w FULLER is
chairman, State Convention will be held at
Harrisburg, on the 9Th proximo, for the pur-
pose of nominating candidates to be supported
by the Opposition" in this State. The Re
publcans of this County have elected delegates
to this Convention, and we presume that 1t will
embrace all those opposed to the present Ma
tional Administration We must confess that
while we are no great sticklers for names, we
do not exactly fancy this attempt to ignore the
term Republican, for the senseless cognomen
of "Opposition," or Peoples party" A party
which has no higher aim than to "oppose" the
measures of National Administration, though
that Administration may be faithess to cor
rect principles and abandoned and corrupt, is
ephemeral, unstable and unreliable. Its exis
tence depending upon the dement's of Others
it may to day, be lifted upon the topmost wave
of success, and tomorrow be sunk iuto the low
est depths of defeat. Any party, to be sue
cessful, or even to be worthy Of confidence,
should be founded upon the eternal principles
OF Truth and Progress. 1t should present to
the consideration of the thoughtful, correct
and beRefcent measures OF public welfare and
improvement, which, in due time, shall win
their way to the public heart and mind, and
become the settled policy Of the nation. To
take advantage of the miSdeeds of others, may
suit the demagogue, and answer for the pur-
pose of the day, but the far-seeing and enlight-
ened statesman, will place his dependence upon
the almighty force and Importance of truth,
and the honesty and Intelligence of the people.
We see an attempt, or rather a willingness,
in certain quarters, to ignore the existence of
the Republican party of the country, and to
evade the issues which that party was formed
to meet In times of great financial distress,
the public mind may be drawn from the real
and great issues which are surely working their
way to a solution in the destiny of the country,
but as prosperity again dawns, and business
resumes its natural channel, we come back to
the great, living ISSUE to find that the antago-
niSm between Free and Slave Labor is still as
irreconcilabIe as ever, and that the grasping
spirit of the Slave OIigarchy is still threaten
ing the interests of the Free white men Of the
North. There are those, we know, too timid
for this battle, who endeavor to shut their eyes
to this fact. They regard temporary success
as preferable to the ultimate triumph of cor
rect principles. Such men, while they profess
sympathy with the objects of the Republican
party, are nevertheless, unwilling to adopt its
name, or publicly avow its doctrines.
! Such we have no doubt will be found
in the coming State Convention. Indeed, as
victory seems almost within our grasp, we
should not be surprised if they would attempt
to control it, so as to shape its action within
their own timd and narrow minded policy If
allowed full scope, they would have party
without head, or body, or tal-a nondcscript
having no object except opposition to some
body else. 1t is a favorite plan Of some of the
Pennsylvania politicians that they should have
| nothing 10 huVOcdte. Sucn men are dctuaCeQ
by the most mercenary motives, and success is
their certain destruction. We hope to see the
State Convention put in nomination good men
men Of character and ability-aud then lay
down platform which shall stand the test of
time-which will assert the principles of HUI
man Freedom-vindicate the interests of North
ern Freemen-Set forth the wants of the Com
monwealth-and repudiate the corruption and
wickedness of the National Administration
The people will expect bold and plain asser-
tion Of principles at that Convention. Should
it be done, the battle of 1860 will be an easy
conquest, but should weakness aud vascilIation
prevail, disaster and defeat may overtake us.
FOREIGN NEws.-By the arrival of three
European steamers at New York on Saturday