The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-10-03
The Approaching Contest.


AS this is the last paper we shall issue
previous to the election, it may be we'll TO
take hasty glance of the field on which
the great battle is TO be fought on Tuesday
next. In one par! of this field the black
banner of Disorganizatio,a is boldly dis
played, and the members of the democrat
ic host must be on their guard, and think
deeply on the issues of the battle, lest
they fall into the trap prepared for them.
Democrats who have for years contended
for the triumph of their principles and the
success of their party, should no, run the
risk of defeat by deviating from the beaten
path, nor obey the dictates of traitor in
their ranks, because that traitor happens
to have been their personal friend. The
duty which they owe to their country,
their party and to themselves, positively
forbid the adoption of such course, and
all feelings OF a personal character should
give way to the success of cause in
which '.principies, not men," is the mot
to on the banner under which we fight.
The greatest difficulty is in relation to
the democratic candidate for Congress.
There are two Uolunteer candidates out
in opposition to the regular nominee
Gen. Joseph M'Donald and Alexander
M'Klnney, Esq, both of whom solicited
a nomination at the hands of the party to
which they profess to belong. We say
they are uoltnfeers, because both of them
submitted their claims to the consideration
of the Ligonier Conference, and pledged
themselves to abide the issue as demo-
Gratis, and they should feel bound as hon.
orable men, to yield to the decision of
that Conference. But because the honor
was conferred upon another, they are now
endeavoring 10 wreak their vengeance
upon, and to break down their own party
because that Conference did not entertain
as good an opinion of them as they did of
themselves. Did they not pledge them
selves TO abide by the nomination of the
Ligonier Conference! Did they not
,coiUe any prior right they might have
had to the nomination by this action 3
And when John Snodgrass was nomina-
ted-a purer democrat than either of
them-a man who would not be guilty of
an attempt to defeat his own party because
II did not see proper to nominate him
should they not turn in and assist in his
election =! Every sincere democrat would
feel himself bound to pursue this course.
But what has Joseph M'Donald done
that the old landmarks of the party should
be broken up, in order that he may be ena-
bled 10 defeat his own party-that because
he was not nominated, Reorganization
should stalk abroad in our ranks! Has
he ever been democrat only at such
times as he wanted an office! And has
he not OH several occasions used his ex-
ertions to defeat the regular nominees of
the democratic party, and is he not doing
it now! Is he the head and front of the
democratic party IN the county, and are
the people capable of Judging for them
selves, or must they submit to his dlctatIon
He does not claim a nomination, further
than the one conferred on him by a mass
meeting in Ebensburg, and is this suffi-
cient to furnish him with an excuse to dis
organize the partyl We acknowledge
that we have better opinion of the oe.
mocracy of the people of Cambria county
We think them able anG capable of think
ing and acting for themselves, independent
OF the dictation of any man.
John Snodgrass was fairly and legally
nominated, according to the established
usagss of the party, and is consequently
entitled to the support of every hones
democrat. No matter what may have
been our preferences previous to the nom.
nation, the cardinal doctrine Of our party