Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-21
To AnYERTIsERs.
PENNSYLVANIA.


Political movements in the Key Stone State,
during the current year, will be watched with
profound interest. 1t is not at all improbable,
while the battle hangs in so even scale, that
events initiated in the present contest there,
will decide the next national election. Repub-
hcans have recently had abundant cause for
encouragement and hope but nothing could
be more Immediately useful to them than a
division of the enemy or a diversion from
their camp-of which the Heavens now seem
to be full of promise.
The action of the Democratic State Conven-
vention, held at Harrisburg, last week, shows
that the Administration element is strongly in
the ascendant, and will show no mercy to dis
organizers and rebels, who were unceremo-
neously voted down, and thrown out of the
convention. Forney was not honored with the
poor compliment of abuse, and Gov. Packer
had fallen SO far below the reverence of his
constituents that a resolution, approving sim
ply of his State policy was voted down, three
to one. The resolutions of the convention
declare the "full and unabated confidence
of the democracy of Pennsylvania in Mr..
Buchanan and his administration, and by
a very decided implication, endorse that
part of his policy, wherein he differs from
Senator Douglas and his adherents. Feeble
attempts were made in behalf of pacific and
conciliatory counsels, but the large majority
were determined to secure an unequivocally
national platform, even though it might
prove scaffold ON which they would be glib
betted. AS might be expected, the Forney
Democrats returned home, oppressed with
most unpleasant sensations, and many of them
ripe for faction. The effect of their opposition
may not be developed Immediately. Asa par
ty, the Democracy had little to do this year
but to place themselves right on the record
The offices to be distributed are of compare
lively little Importance. There is little, there
fore, for the disahected to do, but to nourish
their Indignation till another year. when they
can use it for very useful purpose.
The Republicans of Pennsylvania have not
yet secured positive and homogeneous party
They have no fixed principles forming bond
OF union from one campaign to another. They
firmly believe in protective tariff, which is
not political issue but on the questions
which are issues in other States, between
the parties as they are now constituted, their
position is crude, immature and unsatisfac-
tory. In searching for names unmeaning
enough to include every body, they have vast
ed time enough to have consolidated a trium-
plant party by the discussion of positive princi-
pies and definite measures of public policy.
We are not entirely sure that a division of the
Union or the Peoples" party would not be
willing, tomorrow, for the sake of barren and
temporary success, to adopt all that part of the
Cincinnati platform relating to the government
of the territories, and in behalf of which Mr..
Douglas attempted to play the martyr and fail
ed. 1t has been the fault of the opposition
that, while it has kept up brave and heroic
fire upon the administration party, it has taken
no special pains to consolidate its own. And
whom the administration changes, as, thank
God it must, or when the contest is transferred
into new fields, and new issues are made, they
must undergo another transformation, and an
other modification of principles, for the benefit
of those hating and timid people who will not
leave their old parties without an assurance
that the new one is very much the same thing.
1t is the duty Of political parties, on the con-
trary, while securing votes, to advocate pub
lie sentiment that will make their success posi-
tive and vital There is little virtue in the
victories of large parties, unless they represent
right principles, by which they are ready to
stand to the bitter end.
The division which is inevitable in the ranks
of the Pennsylvania Democracy, will bring into
the field new temptation to induce the opposi-
ton to change their ground once more, and weak
en- their affiliations with the only body of men in
the Union with whom they can have any cor
dial sympathy, and whom they cannot afford
to abandon. Yet there is little in either wing
of that corrupt and wicked party which should
have the slightest weight with those who sin
cerely desire to see the government justly ad-
ministered, and the rights of all men, of all col
ors and creeds, respected. five were asked to
form union with one of the factions, for the
sake of defeating the other, and were allowed
to take our choice, it is by no means certain
that Senator Bigler would not present in be-
half of Mr. Buchanan stronger and more
logical claims than Mr.. Forney would in be-
half of Mr.. Douglas. Both are soldiers of
fortune, to whose recorded political lives and
positions the Republican party is irrevocably
hostile.