Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-01-15
Brother Barker:

We have no intention of going into an
elaborate reply 10, or analyzation OF the
three or four columns of malicious slang con-
cerninc US, in the last AlisghaRian. By 90"
ino 50. we would extend more attention to
the impotent malice of the old Mounte6ank
,,ap It deserves. We shall notice only one
or two points which seem to merit some
Consideration. and then dismiss the subject.
With regard to the movement which was
started last summer, for the purpose OF pro
curing the destruction of this establishment
bv an infuriatcd mob, it is we'll known that
It was carried on under the special patron
age Of old Barker. He was the soul OF the
movement. ana it was not his fault that 1t
failed. But it was we'll Tor him and his
r,vrmidors that it did fail. II they had
made the attempt, he and his cowardiy
crew would have met with reception the
recollection of which they would have car
ried with them to their graves. The assertion
that 4 reasonable Ertra, or one sympathi-
zing with the rebels, was ever issued from
this office, is a bold and malicious lie, manu-
featured out of the whole cloth, without
even the shadow Of truth to sustain it
But old Barker thought to take advantage
of The excitement of the hour, before 1t had
subsided. and common sense had once more
gained the ascendency, to procure the de-
struction Of the only Democratic paper then
published in the county. He would then,
he felt, have the game in his own hands
He and his deputies, would then be at lib
erty 10 publish whatever lies suited them !;
for, the Democracy would be without the
means of contradicting them. And yet the
old Mountebank who thus attempted to give
q fatal stab to the liberty Of the press and
The freedom of speech in this county, hypo-
critically pretends to be the friend of iber-
ty in its broadest and most unqualified
sense-so much so that he is in favor of
enancipating the negro slaves in the South
ern States and raising them to a social and
political equality with white men. He is
in favor Of giving negroes rights to which
they are not entitled, and at the same time,
in favor Of depriving white men OF the
rights with which the God of Nature has en-
dowed them Nothing is more Justly dear to
the American people than the liberty of
the press To free nation it is of inesti-
mable value, and formidable to tyrants on
ly. If it were in our power to address ev>
cry citizen of the Republic, VIC would say to
them, adopting the language of another
% Let it never be forgottcn-let it be instil-
led into your children. that tie Liberty Of
the Press is the palladium of all your civil
political and religious rights as Ameri-
can citizens, and II is therefore your duty to
guard its preservation with sleepless care
The price Of liberty is eternal vigilance. y
Barker was the leader OF the men who plot
ted the destruction of the liberty of the
press in this county. He and his followers
are welcome to all the glory ard shame of
the attempt. The people will not soon for
get them for it. We certainly have no
reason TO feel ashamed Of our course during
the campaign last fall. II was nObly sus-
tained by the Democracy of Cambria. Bar
ker and his deputies falsely charged us
with being a traitor and secessionist. The
gallant Mountaineers repudiated the lie by
l,l00 of a majority Democratic gain in
one year of 700 votes. While we were tri-
umphsntly sustained. old Barker received a
rebuke so blighting. so whitening. that if
he had not been dead to the feelings Of shame
honor and manhood. it would have caused
him to shrink away from the public gaze.
ashamed Of the contempt, scorn and odium
he had by his course drawn on himself and
bis political hangers On But You might as