The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-31
SATURDAY, JULY 81, 1869.

PAChER SLEIIhh Of fACOEIIAH Ch
ASA PACKERS letter accepting the Democratic
Gubernatorial nomination will be found in
another portion of to-day's TELEGRAPH. Its
most remarkable feature is the studious
avoidance of national politics. The platform
of the State Convention embraced several of
the true-blue Democratic planks which were
antaeonized and ridiculed by number of the
Democratic journals in other States. The
World thought that one of the resolutions
conceded too much, and the New York citizen
expressed the belief that the stubborn re-
affirmation of old heresies indicated that the
party needed another whipping in this State,
which it would be pretty sure to get.
Packer displays his native Yankee shrewd-
ness in dodging these troublesome issues.
The bulk of his letter might have been writ
ten by the candidate of any party; and it
would emanate as appropriately from cham
pion of Republicanism as from a leader in the
Israel of old-fashioned Democracy. The
faithful are not even regaled with screed of
doctrine against negro suffrage, and not a
single blast is blown in favor of the precious
State rights which, in the judgment of the
leaders of the party, have been shamefully
violated by the adoption of the new constitu-
tional amendment at the last session Of the
Legislature.
1t is evident that Asa Packer does not CON
slider it polite to endorse the current senti-
ments of his party. Democracy down South
is reduced to the strait of seeking shelter
under so-called Conservative National Union
Republican banner, while their candidate
in this Commonwealth contents himself with
a silence on national topics, indicating that
he is either ashamed or afraid to pronounce
the shibboleth of his organization.
BY discarding, in this unceremonious man
ner, all partisan dogmas and doctrines, and
assuming the privilege of making platform
out of the materials that, in his Judgment,
are most attractive to voters, the Democratic
candidate manages to construct a creditable
creed. The good men of all parties desire
the preservation of the State credit, the re-
duction of governmental expenses the promo
tion of general prosperity, the just execution
of the laws, the extension of educatona
facilities, the suppression of legislative cor.
ruption, and the prevention of all impropel
uses of the public funds. We are glad tha
these promises are made, and if Packer
should be elected we hope he will faithfully
redeem them.
It is curious circumstance that while the
resolutions of the Democratic State Conven
ton all refer to national topics and ignore
State issues, with one or two trifing excep
tions, its candidate has adopted an exactly
opposite course. The party marches in one
direction and its leader in another. The
party cares so little for the State reforms he
processes to have at heart that it did not
say word in their favor, beyond the ex.
preston of the opinion that a reform in the
State finances is 'imperatively demanded
And we are by no means sure that the
party will not be disposed to resent his
neglect or refusal to endorse its ideas on ma.
tional affairs, by refusal to respond to his
sentiments on State topics. His jealous sup.
porters in the Fourth ward will scarcely ap
plaud to the echo his avowed determination tC
exercise the pardoning power in a caution.
and sparing manner; and if the pickpocket'
who thronged the avenues to the State Con
vention were well assured that this pledge
would be faithfully adhered to- he would lose
many votes Besides, what will the despe
rately Democratic districts say to a further
extension of the school system? 1t has re-
quired years of persistent effort to reconcile
portions of Berks county to the present law
and if they believed that Packers election
would really lead to an advance movement in
the same direction, all their old hatred fol
John Adams and their old love for Genera
jackson would not prevent diminution OF
the standard majority in the Democratic
stronghold.