Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-02-09
e. ID. MURRAY, ESE tor.
-. G. ZAHM, Publisher.
OUR NEIGHBOR.

cerning the Editor Of this paper, which appeared
in the Noun taineer last week. We entertain a
very exalted opinion of neighbor, and are
always pleased when he displays his natural and
cultivated graces to the best advantage. His
refined sarcasm cuts like 'two edged glaive,"
and richly does he merit to be recognized as the
prince Of 5araddlers. What do you read, my
lord2'' said Polonius to Hamlet; "words, words, !"
was the answer. In answer te similar inter
rogotary, reader Of the NOuntaincer might ap-
propriately adopt the answer of fHamlet-"words,
words, sir for ideas are like angel visits few and
far between"
Our neighbor q few weeks ago sneered at us
because we dared to say that We despised the
course pursued by the renegade Forney. He
seemed to think that it was superlative impu-
dence on our part to censure the political conduct
of a city Editor. Never having entertained or
endorsed the aristocratic doctrine that man is
above or has right to regard with contempt
the merited censure of the humblcst of his fellow
citizens, because he occupies prominent position
before his fellow countrymen, we stated our views
on the subject in the next number OF our paper,
in as few words as possible. Little did We then
apprshend the volley of wrath and sarcasm that
has since been showered on our devoted head, as
the just punishment Of our folly and presumption,
But for the present the storm is over, ard we
still survive. We need not fear another tornado
before at least another week.
Our neighbor charges with having assaiied
the sanctity of Mr.. Forney'S private life. This we
deny. We have never said anything concerning
him calculated to produce the impression that he
was not in private life kind hearted and arnia-
bic man. We may, however, say this subject
that j. c. Noon, Esq, Editor of the Nountaineer,
was the first person ever heard denounce Col.
Forney, for having written the famous ''Consuelo
Letter" He maintained tha. the fact of Col.
Forney having written that letter was good and
sufficient reason to justify Democratic members
Of the Legislature in refusing to vote for him for
United States Senator. This occurred some two
years ago, aud it is wonderful what changes a
few short months will bring about. The Editor of
the Hountaineer was then the enemy, we might
almost say the calumniator, Of John W. Forney
he is row his follower, his disciple, although
he would fain deny the fact. But our neghbor
is an adept at changing his position with regard
to political issues. His views, therefore. with
at all surprising He performed still more re-
marka6le somerset at March court, last year,
when he appeared on the political arena as ran
ting Lecomptonite. Three months previous
TO that time he was fierce Lecomptonite. We
pray Heaven that his next somerset may not land
him in the Black Republican ranks.
Our neighbor charges us with having expressed
through the columns of our paper, a determina-
tion to oppose Senator Douglas for President in
1860, if he should be the candidate of the Democ-
racy for that office. Two weeks ago we refuted
this vile calumny, and proved that our neighbor,
in order to place US in a false position, resorted
to the low trick Of misquoting US. We have said
in our paper more than once, that if Senator
Douglas is willing to be spoken of as Northern
man. the especial advocate of the rights of the
North, he never can and never will receive our
sapport. The Democratic party knows no
North, no South, under the Constitution. If
Senator Douglas really endorses the reasonable
doctrines of John ". Forney, is Mr.. Noon pre-
pared to say he is acting the part of sincere
Democrat If Senator Douglas is willing to be
spoken of as the enemy of the South, and the
friend of the North, is he a national Democrat
Was not this the position in which Cd Forney
sought to place him, in the speech which we
quoted2 These are interrogotarics which our
neighbor will please answer at an early tIay. We
made 10 attack on Senator Douglas-we merely
asked, "does he endorse John w. Forney2"
With regard to 'tdisciples and masters we
have only to say that we did lot interd to insn-
uate that Mr. Noon was tie tool OF Col. Forney
If unfortunately We pressed his corns, we are
sorry for it. Our neighbor should not be SO SEN
sitive, or SO ready to retaate supposed in
jury by calling hard names. When he asserts
that we are the tool of any man or combination
Of men, he asserts that which is untrue This
stale caiurnny which appeared in the INountaineer
some SIX or eight months ago, we thought had
been abandoned. 1t is now what Daniel Webster
would have called "the very cast off slough of a
polluted and shameless press" The Editor of a
Jolnt-stock newspaper should be the last man in
the world to talk about "life of vassalage'' and
n Estate OF subserviency.' Being himself the tool
of clique of demagogues. it is but natural shat
he shod seek to place others the platform which
he occupies. Although our neighbor procIaims
himself to the world as tho P-r-o-p-r-i e-t-o-r of
the Mountdineer. we have good authority for
saying that he is motor at least that he was not
three weeks ago the proprietor of that paper
Less than three weeks ago. respectable citizen
OF Washington township told us that he was one
of the owners of the !hountainee, that it was
joint stock concern; and that he was a stockbo,-
der to the amount Of fifty dollars. Til, state
ment was not made in confidence to us. We w;l,
give his name. if required to do 50.
We never made common cause with Al,
enemies Of the Democratic party, and always
~~eortcd its men and measures. We new