The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-02
STATE POLITICS.

The Democratic Lenders In Council at A1tossa
Tho Democratic standard TO be Advances
Living Issues to be Made tho Battle-cry-The
Now Democratic Piatform-Conhdoncc In
From Our Own Correspondent
ALTOONA Dec. 1, 1870.
The Democratic State Committee met here
yesterday, and with 1t large number of the
leading Democratic politicians were in consult
tation. No formal action was had on any sub
jcct beyond authorizing the chairman of the
committee to call State Convention at such
time as he should deem expedent, between the
9TH of March and the 1st of May to
nominate candidates for Auditor-General,
Surveyor General, and delegates at large
to the proposed Constitutional Convention. The
Republican Convention is fixed for the 10th of
March, but the time was determined upon early
last summer, when the 'ring" operators
hoped to defeat constitutional reform. Now,
however, all parties concede that convention
will be called to revise the Constitution, and the
Democrats have wisely given their chairman q
discretionary period of ten months to await
legil lative action on the reform movement
should differences as to details delay the passage
of the Convention bill.
While no formal action was taken on any
question of policy, there was general and free
Interchange of opinions, and all the leaders
erscy to take an advanced position in accord
with the progress of events. They mean to
tale q new and distinct departure and cease
antagoniziug the dead issues which have passed
into history. They mean to advance their
standard, and grapple with tn Giving questions
which are vital to the nation. While few If any
of them will change their ,pnvictions as to
negro suffrage, or the reconstruction policy of
the Government, they accept inexorable results
and accomplished facts and will fling
off the mll-stones which have hung about their
necks. They will make the centralizing ten
denotes of the General Government the central
figure of their creed, and In this they will ap-
peal to a sympathizing sentiment that is as
old and sacred as the love of liberty itself
among the people. They will declare for reve-
nue. reform and for liberal modification of
the present high tariff policy, and demand that
a permanent tariff policy, based upon the
revenue standard, with Just discrimina-
tion in favor OF our Industry, is
more essential to the progress and prosperity
of the country than restrictive duties, which
must be but temporary. They will also declare
in the most positive terms in favor of thorough
reform in our State administration, and present
an unbroken front for it in the Legislature.
They will demand the sacred maintenance of
our national credit and the reduction of taxa
tion, especially upon the industry and necessa-
ries of the country, to the lowest point consis-
tent with safety to the national finances.
Although no declaration of principles was made,
it was agreed with great unanimity that the
State Convention shall proclaim the policy of
the party as l have detailed it, and it may be
accepted as settled that it will be SO done.
The advance movement of the Democratic
party may, therefore, be accepted as fully and
fairly inaugurated and the campaign of 1871
will present different aspect than have any of
the struggles of the past five years in this State.
The Republicans will be dsarned of their most
formidable weapon against their often defeated
but still hopeful and powerful enemy, and
the incentive that tens of thousands of
quiet, patriotic Republicans have had
to vote to preserve the results OF the war, will
cease to be operative in the Republican ranks.
Undoubtedly the Democratic leaders are more
confident of success in the next contest than
they have ever been since the war, and the dis
tracted and paralyzed condition that Cameron's
prostitution of power has left the Republican
party in, is not the least of the grounds on
which the Democratic politicians base their
hopes Of decisive victory in 1871.