Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-03-02
Den1ocrot & 5entlalel.
&. ID. MURRAY, Editer.
ID. &. XANNA, Publisher.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH 2, 1859.
THE STATE CONVENTION

ble at Harrisburg on the 10th inst The result
Of its deliberations will be waited for by the
Democracy Of the State with feelings Of intense
anxiety: and we sincerely hope that 1t will be
composed of intelligent, sincere and conservative !
members Of tie party--men who belong to the
Democrats party because they love is princi- |
ples, and not because they regard 1t as 'step- |
ping-stone" to place and power. The crisis I
requires united action on the part Of the members
Of TIE Convention Last fall the party encoun-
tered disastrous defeat. The Republican State
ticket was elected, and il the contest for mem
Jers of Congress cur opponents were equally
successful. II is unnecessary to Institute an In
auiry into the causes which produced these
disastrous results. II the Democracy on the
second Tuesday of last October had presented an
unbroken front to the enemy, if sincere members
of the party had not unfortunately allowed them
selves to be persuaded by disappointed aspirants
for Office under the national Administration to
temporarily abandon the party to which they
belonged, and whose principles they loved, the
entire Democratic State ticket would have Eeen
elected, and our noble old Commonwealth would
not be represented in the next Congress by
majority Of Black Republicans.
Experience keeps dear school, but still it is
mark Of wisdom to profit by her lessons. What
have the Democracy to gain by quarrelling
among themselves, and allowing their enemies to
triumph Can they reasonably hope for success
in 1860, if they allow themselves to be defeated
in 1859? They should remember that, when
united, they always in days gone by triumphcd
over their enemies, and that when divided they
never failed 10 encounter defeat. Therefore, let
past differences be henCeforth forgotten, and har
nlony be the watchword If the opposite course
is pursued if the spirit Of faction prevails, if men
are preferred to rpeasuresdefeat is rs certain as
that the election will take place on the second
Tuesday Of next October.
We have been told within the last week that
an effort will be made to procure the passage OF
resolution by the State Convention declaring
Stephen \. Douglas to be the first choice of tie
Democracy Of Pennsylvania for the Prcsi 'ency
in 1860. Va hope nothing Of the kind will be
attem pied. The attempt to procure the passage
Of such a resolution by the Convention would be
productive Of very disastrous results, and render
Union and Harmony in the approaching cam
paign impossible. We are confident that the
resolution, if offered, would not pass, but its re
lection would Of course furnish an excuse tc
discyntcntcd spirits to kick in the traces" The
agitation Of the presidential Question: by the
Convention would net only be imprudept but
ebsolu,Hy wrong. 4 higher duty viii devoIve
on il ,Laa tlat Of forwarding the claims of any
aspiraut to lie PrCsidcncy-tho dQty Of endeay'
cr.ng to restore harmony ana confidence to The
distracted ranks e tie party.
"To be or not to be IS now the question" Will
the Democratic party-an issue Of paramount
importance to Tie people Of the United States.-
The claims Of political favoritcs should be forgot
ten, and factous feelings husled to rest durinl
the coming campaign. Secure a Democrat
victory on ihc second Tuesday Of next October
and il viii then De time enough to talk abou
the Presidency. The woE!, of uniting the part
and bringing back the disalIected to our rank
viii be sufficient TO occupy cur attention unit
the next election If we triumph next fall, tn
voice cf Pennsylvania VII te potent IL til
Charleston Convention.
1t is of course the interest Of tie enemies
our party to promote dissensious in our rank
But unless we are struck by judicial blindness
we Will rot allow their efforts TO lie crowned h
success. We sincerely hope the members OF II
State Convention will Danish the spirit Of IA
ton from their midst, and endeavor to place Il
party in position in which It can march 10
ward confident of success on the day Of eectio